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Need a Tug? Electric Works for Most

But they’re complex and pricey, so try a full-sized tug before you buy one. Battery-powered models from AC Air, Best Tugs and AirTug are standouts.

You certainly aren’t going to move a Cessna 340 very far by hand, but an AC Air Technology remote-control tug can. That’s an AC Air Tracktech model parked near the nosewheel.

When we looked at the crowded aircraft tug market a couple of years ago, we found that battery-powered electric models dominate for overall reliability and cold-weather ops.

So after moving to an airport where I now need to move my own 3500-pound piston single in and out of a hangar, I set out to build a short list of top contenders. Here I’ll share some tips for shopping, how you might make the right decision (these things cost a fortune to ship) and the electric models that I think are standouts for features and capabilities.

Phil Lightstone

Contributor Phil Lightstone is a Canadian-based writer and podcaster, and flies a Rockwell 114 Commander.