VW Touareg Pulls a Jumbo 747
23-Nov-2006, 10:21 AM
#1
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VW Touareg Pulls a Jumbo 747
OK..i still cant imagine how is this possible.
A Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI diesel has succeeded in towing a Boeing 747 weighing approximately 155 tonnes. Watched by engineers, Volkswagen personnel and bemused passers-by, the Touareg V10 TDI completed seven complete runs on the auxiliary runway at Dunsfold Aerodrome, 40 miles south west of London.
The vehicle was a standard production Touareg fitted with a special towing adaptor to connect it with the aircraft towing link and loaded with 4.3 tonnes of metal ballast to bring its total weight to just over seven tonnes (7,030 kg) including the driver, an engineer from the technical department at the company’s headquarters in Germany.
The Touareg’s engine, self-levelling air suspension, wheels, tyres and structure were all standard. Changes to the outer body panels were made for photographic purposes, so that the vehicle was visually the same as the next generation Touareg which is due to be launched next year.
Although an initial trial used an operational Boeing 747-400 weighing 190 tonnes, this aircraft was not available for this attempt. In its place, an ex-British Airways Boeing 747-200 weighing 155 tonnes was used. The aircraft, first flown in 1980 and retired last year retains its full complement of 500 seats, 11 toilets and complete landing gear, albeit without an operating braking system. The original engines were removed last year to make way for dummy items used in the filming of a recent motion picture. Despite this, the aircraft still weighs 155 tonnes.
Conditions for the attempt were far from perfect. A strong headwind combined with torrential rain and resulting standing water prompted concerns over traction on the wet surface. Despite the scale of the attempt the vehicle needed little preparation. The engine was warmed up before a brief visual inspection of the tyres prior to the attempt being given the green light.
The Touareg’s standard towbar (fitted with an adapted towing bracket) was hooked up to the nose wheel collar of a Boeing 747 and the chocks were removed. The driver selected ‘drive’ and the low ratio, second gear setting on the Touareg’s six-speed gearbox. The required tractive effort is at its highest during the initial pull to overcome the static friction of the aircraft tyres on the runway. Flatspots form on the aircraft’s 18 tyres under the 155 tonnes of weight and additional resistance must be overcome to get the aircraft rolling.
The driver pressed the accelerator around halfway down in second gear before easing off as the aircraft gained momentum. With no visible loss of traction the Touareg began dragging the 70m (231 ft) 747 along the runway, maintaining an even 5mph in the process. Having covered an estimated 150 metres the driver eased back on the throttle before slowly engaging the Touareg’s brakes to slow both the vehicle and the aircraft to a stop.
After the attempt the driver commented: ‘I was a bit disappointed we couldn’t find something heavier to tow as it was a bit too easy! If anyone could lend us a heavier aircraft then please let us know.’
The vehicle was checked after the repeated runs and no side effects of the demands made on the engine and transmission could be found. The engine temperature remained normal, as did the transmission and the tyres survived without a hint of the forces passed through them.
The attempt was designed to demonstrate the reserves of strength and durability of the Touareg V10 TDI diesel. Dean Sheed, Volkswagen General Manager for New Zealand, was not surprised at the Touareg’s success: “Anyone who has driven a Touareg with the V10 TDI diesel engine and experienced its 750Nm of torque will understand its immense towing capability. The high torque levels offered by TDI diesel engines give the Touareg equally impressive performance both on and off the road.”
A Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI diesel has succeeded in towing a Boeing 747 weighing approximately 155 tonnes. Watched by engineers, Volkswagen personnel and bemused passers-by, the Touareg V10 TDI completed seven complete runs on the auxiliary runway at Dunsfold Aerodrome, 40 miles south west of London.
The vehicle was a standard production Touareg fitted with a special towing adaptor to connect it with the aircraft towing link and loaded with 4.3 tonnes of metal ballast to bring its total weight to just over seven tonnes (7,030 kg) including the driver, an engineer from the technical department at the company’s headquarters in Germany.
The Touareg’s engine, self-levelling air suspension, wheels, tyres and structure were all standard. Changes to the outer body panels were made for photographic purposes, so that the vehicle was visually the same as the next generation Touareg which is due to be launched next year.
Although an initial trial used an operational Boeing 747-400 weighing 190 tonnes, this aircraft was not available for this attempt. In its place, an ex-British Airways Boeing 747-200 weighing 155 tonnes was used. The aircraft, first flown in 1980 and retired last year retains its full complement of 500 seats, 11 toilets and complete landing gear, albeit without an operating braking system. The original engines were removed last year to make way for dummy items used in the filming of a recent motion picture. Despite this, the aircraft still weighs 155 tonnes.
Conditions for the attempt were far from perfect. A strong headwind combined with torrential rain and resulting standing water prompted concerns over traction on the wet surface. Despite the scale of the attempt the vehicle needed little preparation. The engine was warmed up before a brief visual inspection of the tyres prior to the attempt being given the green light.
The Touareg’s standard towbar (fitted with an adapted towing bracket) was hooked up to the nose wheel collar of a Boeing 747 and the chocks were removed. The driver selected ‘drive’ and the low ratio, second gear setting on the Touareg’s six-speed gearbox. The required tractive effort is at its highest during the initial pull to overcome the static friction of the aircraft tyres on the runway. Flatspots form on the aircraft’s 18 tyres under the 155 tonnes of weight and additional resistance must be overcome to get the aircraft rolling.
The driver pressed the accelerator around halfway down in second gear before easing off as the aircraft gained momentum. With no visible loss of traction the Touareg began dragging the 70m (231 ft) 747 along the runway, maintaining an even 5mph in the process. Having covered an estimated 150 metres the driver eased back on the throttle before slowly engaging the Touareg’s brakes to slow both the vehicle and the aircraft to a stop.
After the attempt the driver commented: ‘I was a bit disappointed we couldn’t find something heavier to tow as it was a bit too easy! If anyone could lend us a heavier aircraft then please let us know.’
The vehicle was checked after the repeated runs and no side effects of the demands made on the engine and transmission could be found. The engine temperature remained normal, as did the transmission and the tyres survived without a hint of the forces passed through them.
The attempt was designed to demonstrate the reserves of strength and durability of the Touareg V10 TDI diesel. Dean Sheed, Volkswagen General Manager for New Zealand, was not surprised at the Touareg’s success: “Anyone who has driven a Touareg with the V10 TDI diesel engine and experienced its 750Nm of torque will understand its immense towing capability. The high torque levels offered by TDI diesel engines give the Touareg equally impressive performance both on and off the road.”
23-Nov-2006, 12:42 PM
#7
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a friend of mine who used to work at pearson internation told me that It was Jetsgo, and they used ford rangers to push back aircraft, and tow around baggage carts because they were a low budget company they used regular trucks to move around their planes.
23-Nov-2006, 01:21 PM
#8
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Originally posted by Team Rukus
a friend of mine who used to work at pearson internation told me that westjet or whatever company that went bankrupt recently used to use ford f150 or 250 for these exact reason. because they were a low budget company they used regular pickup trucks to move around their planes.
a friend of mine who used to work at pearson internation told me that westjet or whatever company that went bankrupt recently used to use ford f150 or 250 for these exact reason. because they were a low budget company they used regular pickup trucks to move around their planes.
23-Nov-2006, 01:59 PM
#9
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Originally posted by Team Rukus
a friend of mine who used to work at pearson internation told me that westjet or whatever company that went bankrupt recently used to use ford f150 or 250 for these exact reason. because they were a low budget company they used regular pickup trucks to move around their planes.
a friend of mine who used to work at pearson internation told me that westjet or whatever company that went bankrupt recently used to use ford f150 or 250 for these exact reason. because they were a low budget company they used regular pickup trucks to move around their planes.
It was Jetsgo, and they used ford rangers to push back aircraft, and tow around baggage carts
23-Nov-2006, 02:06 PM
#11
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Originally posted by Cynikal.Mindset
diesel torque pwns you!
how u think those little *** taxi carts move planes y0?
diesel torque pwns you!
how u think those little *** taxi carts move planes y0?
Small??
to push back a fully loaded widebody aircraft ( 767, 747, A330, A300 etc. )
you use something like this
http://www.douglas-tugmaster.co.uk/u...ef1915e4a5.pdf
most of the big tugs usually have 2 engines, one for the front tires... and one for the back
24-Nov-2006, 05:07 PM
#17
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something for you guys to think about since %80 of my job is towing aircraft!!
Aircraft like your car are on inflated wheels which have bearings incased in them. the only hard part about towing the big aircraft is stopping them when they are moving under tow. The tugs we use to move aircraft have 4.0 litre jeep engines we also have one that has a 5.0 litre mustang engine.our biggest tug only has a detroit diesel.
i dunno it may impress you guys but i have seen people use thier arms to move aircraft. nothing special to me. Good publicity stunt though!!!
Aircraft like your car are on inflated wheels which have bearings incased in them. the only hard part about towing the big aircraft is stopping them when they are moving under tow. The tugs we use to move aircraft have 4.0 litre jeep engines we also have one that has a 5.0 litre mustang engine.our biggest tug only has a detroit diesel.
i dunno it may impress you guys but i have seen people use thier arms to move aircraft. nothing special to me. Good publicity stunt though!!!
24-Nov-2006, 08:46 PM
#19
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,647
Its like those muscle-heads in those Worlds Strongest Man competitons pulling buses and stuff. Once it gets rolling, momentum would keep it rolling without much effort. Stopping on the otherhand might be an issue if it was moving fast enogu.
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