FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1963
1963 - 2168.PDF
FLIGHT International, 12 December 1963 AIRPORT EQUIPMENT . 969 Air-conditioning concertina hose by Bell's Asbestos & Engineering Ltd Douglas DC7Q Tugmaster tractor Air Conditioning Particularly well known in this field, M. L. Aviation Co Ltd manufacture a range of mobile air-conditioning ground units. Typical is the Coolair Mk 6, designed to condition the interiors of large commercial aircraft. Total air delivery is 1901b/min, with a maximum cooling capacity of 240,000BThU/hr in ambient conditions of 110CF and 60 per cent relative humidity. Another well-known maker of air-conditioning equipment is Sir George Godfrey & Partners Ltd, who offer a trolley unit for cooling, heating and pressure testing. Trailer-mounted oil-fired pre-warming units for aircraft engines and cabins are among the range of heating equipment made by Dragonair Ltd. Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd make an Artouste-powered unit for air-conditioning and pressure testing. Bell's Asbestos & Engineering Ltd manufac ture air-conditioning concertina hose in 5in and 8in bore sizes and lengths up to 25ft. Its construction provides a measure of insulation. Tractors Added to the basic range of Tugmaster tractors made by F. L. Douglas (Equipment) Ltd is a new model, the N.S.4, with a tractive effort of 4,0001b and available either with manually operated gearbox or torque con verter and automatic transmission. Next in size is the N.S.6, which has been operating for some years with K.LM, Middle East Airlines, South African Airways and other operators. Model DC10/4 is a four-wheel-drive tractor i which has a tractive effort of 12,5001b and is fitted with torque converter and automatic transmission. A Mk 2 version has a tractive effort of approximately 17,0001b and similar transmission system. The DC7 (maximum t.e., 30,0001b) is available with either Cummins or Rolls-Royce diesel engine, torque converter and automatic transmission, while the DC7Q is an identical tractor but fitted with Leyland 230 h.p. engine and similar transmission, and has a maximum '•«• of 32,0001b. The DC7Q is also available as a four-wheel-drive unit of identical per formance, but is offered with either front- wheel or four-wheel-steering. The three standard aircraft-towing tractors built and marketed by David Brown Construc tion Equipment Ltd are the Taskmaster, Turbo Taskmaster and Turbo Taskmaster Super. All are powered by 42.5 b.h.p. engines. The Taskmaster, equipped with twin-range gearbox giving six forward and two reverse speeds, develops a drawbar pull of 3,7001b and is suitable for towing aircraft up to 45,0001b gross weight. Turbo Taskmasters are equipped with Brockhouse hydraulic torque converters and have a drawbar pull of 6,2001b. Use of the torque converter enables this machine to handle aircraft weighing up to 110,0001b. The Turbo Taskmaster Super has twin rear wheels and is designed for towing aircraft weighing up to 150,0001b under average inter national airport conditions. Power-assisted steering and vacuum braking are also available. Among other tractor manufacturers are Mercury Truck & Tractor Co Ltd (who number BEA among their customers), Lansing Bagnall Ltd, and Stacatruc Ltd (formerly I.T.D. Ltd); the last-named also supply tractors, including heavy-duty aircraft tugs, made by the internationally known Clark Equipment Co. Arising less frequently in civil aviation than in military are situations in which confined spaces make the use of a tractor difficult, and here aircraft handlers and skates come into their own. The handler made by M. L. Aviation Ltd and illustrated here operates by transmitting drive direct to the undercarriage wheels and will move a 44,0001b aircraft up a 2° incline at a speed of 1.5 m.p.h.; a larger model is available for handling aircraft of up to 50,0001b. Other manufacturers of handlers and skates include John Curran Ltd and H. W. Edghill Equipment Ltd. Apron and Runway Cleaning Snow in winter and miscellaneous "foreign objects" at any time of the year spell opera tional hazards on airport surfaces, but there is a variety of ground equipment to deal with them. David Brown Taskmaster tractor Manufactured specifically for the purpose by Lewin Road Sweepers Ltd is a tractor-drawn sweeper-collector which sweeps a width of 7ft 6in and is fitted with water sprinkling equipment. The brush mechanism is self- compensating, and there is an adjustable collector box mounted on retractable wheels to facilitate removal. Capacity of the box is 10 cu ft and the water tank holds 120 gal. Used in gang formation and towed by the company's "Sweepmaster" sprinkler-sweeper- collector, the combined units will sweep a width of 20ft. David Brown Construction Equipment Ltd can supply their tractors fitted with a snow- clearance and general sweeping brush. Front- mounted and driven from the tractor power take-off via a cardan shaft, the non-clogging steel-bristle brush, available in several sizes, can be angled to right or left. Lacre Ltd are responsible for the Bedford Lacre runway sweeper, a suction-sweeper vehicle designed to pick up both small and large debris. Hydraulic power is used for driving the brush, lifting the suction box from | Left, M.L. aircraft hand ler for use in confined spaces Right, Lewin runway sweepers ganged to Lewin sprinkler/sweeper/ collector
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
