The DC10-44 is specifically designed for pushback and towing operations (with a tow bar) for civil and military aircraft with a maximum
ramp weight of up to 400 tonnes.
Total airplane weight, assuming a full fuel load, was 2857 lbs, 299 lbs over maximum
ramp weight.
Max
ramp weight is 4358 pounds, giving the tested airplane a useful load of 1287 pounds, or 134 pounds less than in Piper's advertising literature.
However, when fully ballasted the Challenger 150 is also able to perform pushbacks on Boeing 767-200/300 series aircraft at their maximum
ramp weights.
The DC10-44 incorporates the latest cab, in-cab Layout and other features, many of which have been incorporated across the complete range of Douglas conventional aircraft towing tractors including the latest forward control, four-wheel drive DC5-42 conventional tractor that can be ballasted from 5 tonnes to 7 tonnes, designed for pushback and towing operations with regional type aircraft with maximum
ramp weights up to approximately 50 tonnes.
Available in six- or seven-tonne versions, it is designed to handle regional aircraft types with maximum
ramp weights of up to 50 tonnes.
Douglas has sold approximately 500 towbarless tractors to customers throughout UK, Europe, Scandinavia, North America, Middle East, North Africa, South East Asia and the Far East including China and Japan for handling civil transport aircraft with
ramp weights of 50 tonnes and above.
With
ramp weights of over 600 tons, the giant aircraft will not only impose new demands on tow-tractors; it also places new demands on the airport paving surfaces.
Having sold approximately 400 TLTs for customers handling civil aircraft with maximum
ramp weights of 50 tonnes and above, Douglas recently launched its TBL-50 for handling smaller regional-type aircraft.
