Ride along as I unbox my new Best Tugs Alpha 3 and see how it handles my Cardinal RG on an upslope taxiway. I'll also share my first impression of the locked and unlocked modes for backing into the hangar.
I bought a Best Tug in February 2019 for my Cardinal RG. I dealt with Paxton Patey. I couldn't be more pleased with the tug, though I have had a little steering difficulty getting used to pushing the plane (pulling is super easy). Paxton was terrific to deal with. I don't think I've ever encountered a company that was as friendly and anxious that the customer be pleased. It was quite unbelievable. I have had a Power Tow for many years but it got to the point that it was too difficult for me to start (the replacement Briggs and Stratton engine was the problem and not the fault of the Power Tow folks) ... I decided that being old and decrepid (in my 80s) I needed something easy and figured that going to an electric tug would be the answer. I researched everything out there and decided to go with Best Tugs. The quality of the parts is first rate. It is smooth running and has a fast setting that works great for pulling longer distances (like to the fuel pump area). And it nearly silent when running. In my opinion it is worth every penny.
Clearly traction will be the question! Just the condensation on the epoxy floor got it working a bit, but you can really put some weight on it so hopefully it will cut down into the taxiway.
What year is your 177 RG? We had a 1975 full IFR 177 RG and loved the plane. I lived in Central Calif at the time and found the plane was a underpowered on a warm and high altitude day.. But as long as I let it get up to best rate of climb speed in ground effect it was fine. A very nice flying airplane.
Mine is a 1976. I think "under powered' is relative... while any airplane can always use more power, hot days at high altitude can get your attention in any airplane. Reading the performance tables is always a good idea in those situations...
I hate to say... they treated me very well, let me bring it back and all. Nice little design other than not meeting my requirements. Made in Wisconsin... uses a worm gear drive for the transmission. Best Tugs told me their overall drive ratio is 41:1 and they use a high speed motor... such are the details which make the difference.
I only asked because I don’t want to buy a tug that is inadequate for my Cardinal. Best tug is a nice design and I’m intrigued. I was actually thinking of going with the 701E from priceless aviation products. I was quite impressed with their products and Best Tugs products at Airventure 2018.
We had a CFO Member who purchased one of those and never could get the double-pivot steering into his head. In my brief test here I didn't get into the feel details... it seems to me that the length of the link from the nose to the pivot will make a big difference. The 701E has a very long arm. Also this member pointed out that you can't push down to add aircraft weight for traction on the 701e, you must rely in the tug's weight. At the time he had switched to a track based tug and was offering his old 701 for a bargain price. If you remain interested you may want to track him down!
@@cardinalflyer Well done. Here be found a Best Tugs war and tea special slash debrief, Mike P tells a wee story. Relevancy followed by a chance of deja viewing. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KAVNoQuiyWs.html Why are some aircraft built plane? Found it: r
There are two modes: You can pull the pin and drive it in, wheels on the ground, with a sort of reverse response, or you can leave the pin in and just lean it a little for gentle curves. I find that just leaning it works very well for steering on the straight part of the push. If you want to turn more tightly, lift the towbar and turn to the required angle. It works very well. I have played with the 'pin out' mode a little and the logic isn't hard, the challenge I have is that I want to be watching the tail but also watching the tug angle... looking two ways at once. As soon as I work out the proper form of cross-eye I'll probably try that again. :-)
Great video except WHY do you not always carry a pocket knife? I carry two because I work with people who need a pocket knife and do not carry one. For the love of God people please carry pocket knife and a lighter or just be a girl.
I was not picking on you. I was just making a point that has never failed me. Caught in a storm and stranded with my boat my lighter and pocket knife saved my life on a crappy island til morning. I was just 24 then.
Anyone with any sense, who lives in a temperate climate zone, should always have a blade and fire whenever they leave home. A multi tool and a bic are always with me. Further, my wife and stepdaughter are likewise equipped.
I have several but don't carry one because I fly commercial very frequently and don't want to lose it at ATC. I do pre-purchase inspections of Cardinals just about anywhere... did over 70 of them in 2019. The virus will cut down my count in 2020... but so far I have inspected over 10% of the Cardinal fleet.
Yes, I still have the Powertow with a 'new' engine. It works fine, but along that process I concluded that long term I'd be happier with a tug that didn't require starting. When I was still recovering from my kidney transplant pulling rope starters was hard... so I'm preparing early for things getting harder as I get older. Like, in 20 years or so...
I have owned three now, looked at several others. If there is a better one out there, my engineering knowledge using that process didn't find it. I could post videos of at least one other tug failing on my ramp but they were very fair to me in taking it back.
