lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

I towed a (T-6 +/- 3600 lbs wt.) in and out of a hangar for years with the electric winch. Simple, cheap. Have to make a bridle to connect to the main gear and use some sort of a turn block to pull out. I just anchored it to by my car hitch. All in all a pain in the ass. My buddy also with a T-6 bought an old golf cart, 36 volt, added some weight over the rear drive wheels and it worked great – relatively cheap!

Bob Mitchell

L-320

N56SH

From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Joseph Neustein
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 05:12
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Re: Lancair ES tow

Thanks Colyn:

The supertow looks ideal but is a bit pricey: $2695
http://www.powertow.com/pdfs/supertow_brochure.pdf

With the winch I suspect the airplane still needs to lined up with a hand towbar in order to be pulled into the hanger and the winch will not help get it out :(

A lawn tractor set up is a great option.

On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 8:27 PM, Colyn Case at earthlink <colyncase@earthlink.net> wrote:

Joe,

I do not have a nose dragger. I have an electric tow buddy.

Two things to look out for:

1) lack of weight over the wheel. I thought I could overcome this with my own boddy weight but not really.

2) max speed is what gets you airplane inertia to get over bumps or ice if you have any. the electric two buddy is too slow.

My nominations:

a) run out lawn tractor with tow bar.

b) super-tow with the turntable under the nosewheel.

c) winch

Colyn

----- Original Message -----

From: Joseph Neustein

To: lml@lancaironline.net

Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 12:07 PM

Subject: [LML] Re: Lancair ES tow

Thanks to all who responded. I think some of the options suggested by the retractable crowd may not work well with the ES nose wheel fairing. I am summarizing the options so far:

allenmachine airplane winch with remote control about $410

http://allenmachineco.com/pages/data/airplane.htm

(seems compatible with any airplane)

40 EZ power tow $1195 plus Columbia nylon Bushing $65 and 10" extensions $40 shipping $100

http://www.powertow.com/40ez1.html

( JHeizer@comcast.net had an earlier post that he had used the powertow)

Wag-Aero electric tow buddy $1185

http://store.wagaero.com/product_info.php?products_id=14093

( no comments from ES owners )

aero- tow E200 $1325 dolly wheels $50 shipping extra

http://www.aero-tow.com/E200.html

(no comments from ES owners)

Nose dragger $1450 24volt up to 6,000# 1350 12V up to 3000# BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED :( see web site for quite a difference in price options for batteries http://dragger.com/battery-selection-for-12-24-volt-dragger/)

https://dragger.com/Nose-Dragger-DRAGGER/

(used successfully by many ES owners)

I am leaning towards the Nose dragger as being the least likely to scuff the wheel fairings or over torque the tow ear attatchment to the strut.

Joe Neustein

ESP phase I

--
Joseph Neustein, MD
7280 Valencia Drive
Boca Raton, Fl 33433
915-276-8316 mobile
509-271-2700 fax
jneusteinmd@gmail.com