Afternoon, need an easier way to steer the skywagon when backing it into the hangar under human power, what’s the best bar you’ve found for the tail wheel?

Angus

If you’re doing it manually what about just a thick loop of rope?

Already running the loop of rope, need a bar that allows precise steering of the tail wheel ideally while assisting to move it, as I have about 4” per side on the wing tips in my hangar.

My tail wheel is rigged taught, and doesn’t break easily (I’m ok with that for runway handling until convinced otherwise, I’m of a pliable mind), would like a bar to steer it while keeping the wheel in the normal position.

NineThreeKilo wrote:If you’re doing it manually what about just a thick loop of rope?

I'm going to need a picture or video, how do you "steer" an airplane with a rope while pushing it at the same time

I make my own. It has a sliding handle so it I can have more leverage and longer tow behind vehicle.
DENNY

I have a '56 C180 that I keep in a ~40' T hangar w/minimal clearance at the wing tips. When done flying, I park perpendicular to the hangar, grab the off-side BAS tail pull handle, swing the tail into the hangar and back in on the centerline stripe until the right main tire hits a pre-positioned wheel chalk. Easy. I'm 71.

I made a hand-truck style tow bar that pulls the tailwheel onto the step with one of those ratcheting tie-down straps. I have an incline into my hangar, so I wound up putting an electric scooter motor on it with a 48V battery but it also works fine as a manual system. You could throw one of these together pretty easily. The whole thing pivots the tail wheel for steering and doesn't take up much room.

Bogert makes the best one I know of. I've used them for years.

+2 for Bogert towbars. I have 2, one for my skinny tailwheel and one for the fat bushwheel.

Taildragger dragger- no bending over.

These work great I keep 1 in the plane all the time and used it in the hangar
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... bars18.php

Till I got 1 of these a bit pricy but I just had to have one.
https://acairtechnology.com/collections/compact-tugs

I got put on their reconditioned list and picked it up for $3200. Works great!

I use the same as glider in the plane. It works great and is easier to maneuver the plane than the BAS handles.

In the hangar I bought a power tug. It works great for my operation.

MW

Glidergeek wrote:These work great I keep 1 in the plane all the time and used it in the hangar
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... bars18.php

Looks like the one I have. Works great.
Spendier than I recall, but then everything is more expensive than it was 20+ years ago.

BAS pull handles are great when out & about, esp for pushing the airplane forward,
but for pulling into the hangar a towbar works better IMHO.

flyingjack wrote:Taildragger dragger- no bending over.

I give the taildragger dragger 2 thumbs down. The wheels are solid and they are mounted on a long cantilevered arm. If your hangar doors slide on rails, the bump shock from going over those will bend the cantilevered arm and crack the welds. I don't know how many time I weld repaired mine before giving up and building my tailwheel hand truck with pneumatic tires,

[quote="Glidergeek"]These work great I keep 1 in the plane all the time and used it in the hangar
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... bars18.php

This is the one I use and it works great. Good price also.

Fabricated this and been using on our 180 for 30 years now. Also works well with the Federal wheel penetration tail ski.

Thanks guys, looking more and more like I should just make one. Want one that clamps pretty well for steering and won’t pop off.