Kubota preferred as aircraft tugs

[flyidaho]

The second time I've seen a Kubota used as an aircraft tug, in fact the only brand tractor I've seen as a tug is the K brand, cool.

But, the medical services pilot made me cringe when he started the tractor at what sounded like 3/4 throttle, and then immediately, like a second later started working it. I hope he doesn't treat his fling wing that way, it just seemed kind of crude and uncaring and not the way I expect any pilot with advanced ratings to treat any kind of machinery. And no, he was not going out on a call, oh well, not my tractor. If it was I would have called him out!

 

[BAP]

Actually, tractors of many brands have been used as tugs long before Kubota came to be.

 

[coachgeo]

Actually, tractors of many brands have been used as tugs long before Kubota came to be.

yup.. and my favorite is the Unimog Tugs

 

[armylifer]

Starting a tractor (Diesel non-turbo) engine at 3/4 throttle does not necessarily cause any more harm than starting it at idle. In fact, depending on how long since the last engine shut down, it may be beneficial to start it at 3/4 speed. In my tractor, the full throttle speed is ~3400 RPM. 3/4 of full throttle is ~2550 RPM. If my engine was shut down for just a few minutes and I needed to start it again I will often start it at the last RPM setting that I shut it down on. If the engine was started while still hot, the oil pump will come up to full pressure faster than if I started it at an idle. I expect arguments contrary to what I have written because we all care about our equipment and experiences vary. Anyway, just my $0.02 worth.

 

[100 td]

I wouldn't be too concerned about starting at any revs, being intimately involved in power generation, when a genset is automatically called online it is started at full speed, that being 1500/1800 rpm, it takes about 10 or so seconds to get into sync with the other sets that are on line, the circuit breaker closes and the set takes 80~100% load instantly, depending on what is required. This is from ambient @ 37F~111F. This is for a 500kW V12 turbocharged genset. Many sets may have heaters if they hang around low temps for long periods, go lower etc, but in this particular bank of 6, they ran up in those temps no preheat or oil pumps, just full noise from startup.

 

[helomech]

We use a L3400 to tow our aircraft. A AW-139 in the pic, a S-92 and a S-76 aircraft.

 

[LovesDauphins]

If he started that Agusta like that....I'd be really concerned..at least Kubota's don't have a tattle tale torque light...

That's a sharp looking 119...

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'm getting the laugh out of the life flight tug with no ROPS!
Yea it'a flat, but "Brown stuff" happens everywhere!

 

[helomech]

I'm getting the laugh out of the life flight tug with no ROPS!
Yea it'a flat, but "Brown stuff" happens everywhere!

Can't have ROPS around helicopters. Will damage lots of M/R blades and at 300k a piece that gets expensive.

 

[ipz2222]

When I was in the Air Force, we used a tug that had a 440 dodge eng with front and rear steering. Max speed was 24 mph, but man did it have pulling power.

 

[G.rid]

Can't have ROPS around helicopters. Will damage lots of M/R blades and at 300k a piece that gets expensive.

So if the blades can droop enough to hit the ROPs, what happens to the poor driver of the tug?

 

[Lencho]

Maybe the tug stays out of the way until the chopper lands. I was wondering if they land on the trailer like that - looks very precise!

 

[LovesDauphins]

Maybe the tug stays out of the way until the chopper lands. I was wondering if they land on the trailer like that - looks very precise!

Yes - they do land on the dolly....sometimes it's easy...sometimes it's not. sometimes its fun The biggest problem is if the dolly isn't held in place (wheels chocked, etc).....several videos out there to show the fatal results.

 

[helomech]

So if the blades can droop enough to hit the ROPs, what happens to the poor driver of the tug?

You have to watch your head. Blades on some model can go very low to the ground.

 

[BAP]

So if the blades can droop enough to hit the ROPs, what happens to the poor driver of the tug?

Called Headless Tugman

 

[helomech]

So if the blades can droop enough to hit the ROPs, what happens to the poor driver of the tug?

Guess I did not understand what you meant at first. The aircraft are not running when a tug is hooked to them, but as you turn the tug, sometimes the blades go above the tug. I have had to move blades as I turn and duck under others. Not running at the time.

 

[flyidaho]

My day job is operating a crane service. I got called out once to load a medical helicopter onto a flatbed trailer for transport to a facility several states away for a major inspection and/or tear down. I remember they had a special shackle that was the designated lifting point, and unlike a lot of things I pick up there was not much doubt of where the CG was! The entire job took about 5 minutes, less then my set up and tear down time, not to mention the 1 hour drive just to get there. I of course asked why they didn't just land on the trailer, and got the answer "too expensive." My fee was peanuts compared to what a buggered up trailer landing would cost I was told!

I guess some mechanical habits are just hard to break, throttling way up immediately upon start up is not for me, like the thread on pre heating it is very good to know that many don't bother and have no problems. My welder generator starts at full throttle, no matter what, then after 60 seconds or so it throttles down, drives me crazy but hey it runs fine so no big deal I guess.

 

[D2Cat]

My Miller welder generator does the same thing. It has a circuit to increase the RPM when you strike an arc and maintains that RPM until 15 seconds afterwards, then idles down.

I think if I have the switch set to power, not weld, it might not do that.

 

[ItBmine]

They use them at the airport in my neighboring city too. Can't remember if they have an L series, but they have a few B series that also pull the baggage carts and mow.

And an M series that mows.

 

[G.rid]

Guess I did not understand what you meant at first. The aircraft are not running when a tug is hooked to them, but as you turn the tug, sometimes the blades go above the tug. I have had to move blades as I turn and duck under others. Not running at the time.

Thanks Helomech.
When I read that they land on the dolly, I assumed the tug would have to hold it in place. The dolly doesn't look very heavy to hold itself in place, even with chocks.

Called Headless Tugman

Nice BAP