A German Panavia Tornado IDS 45+22 assigned to the Tactical Air Force Wing 51 “Immelmann” (Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 "Immelmann") (AKG 51) at Schlewig Air Base in Germany being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U318 aircraft tractor on April 16, 2025. The Panavia Tornado is a multirole combat aircraft. It is equipped with advanced equipment and sensors that make it suitable for performing penetration missions at very low altitudes during the day and at night and in all possible weather conditions. The Unimog is a German light truck manufactured by Daimler-Benz, initially produced by Boehringer in Gaggenau, Germany. The name Unimog comes from the German UNIversal Motor Gerät (“universal motor machine”). The design dates from shortly after the Second World War. The Unimog has been supplied under the Mercedes-Benz brand name for decades. Schleswig Air Base was known as RAF Schlewigland from around 1945 to 1958 when it was used by the Royal Air Force. "Immelmann" was a German Eindecker fighter pilot from the First World War, Lieutenant Max Immelmann, after whom two different aircraft manoeuvres are named. Photo: Werner Davidsen.

A British AgustaWestland Merlin HM.1 medium lift helicopter being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor on April 13, 2025 at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose which is an air base located near the town of Helton situated on the Lizard Peninsula in the south of Cornwall in England. The British Royal Navy has ordered 44 of the helicopters which are made by a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in Yeovil of the United Kingdom and Agusta in Vergiate of Italy. The first was delivered on May 17, 1997 and entered service on June 2, 2000. All the helicopters were delivered by the end of 2002 and assigned to the three squadrons namely 814, 820 and 824 Squadrons at the home base Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose which is one of the largest helicopter bases in Europe with employment for 3,000 personnel. Photo: Clive Saunders.

A General Dynamics F-16D Fighting Falcon assigned to the Turkish Air Force’s 132nd Squadron and based at Konya Air Base in Turkey being towed by a Rahvan aircraft tug during the Anatolian Eagle 2021 exercise, held from June 21 to July 2, 2021 at Konya’s Third Main Air Base. The exercise was attended by the Turkish Air Force and Navy, the air forces of Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Qatar. On the NATO side, the E-3A AWACS was involved in the exercise. The pictured F-16D, along with nine other F-16C/Ds from the 132nd Squadron, performed the role of aggressor, engaging in combat with various types of threats in scenarios that changed daily. The aircraft tractor is produced in Tümosan which is one of the leading manufacturers in Turkey with a rich history of 39 years in the production of tractors and diesel engines and which supplied the diesel engines for the Rahvan aircraft tractor the first domestic one registered with the Turkish Air Force. Photo: aycaninhavasi.

In the foreground; A German Eurofighter Typhoon assigned to the Tactical Air Force Wing 73 “Steinhoff” (Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 73 "Steinhoff") stationed at the home base Rostock-Laage which is located near Rostock in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U318 aircraft tractor during the Day of the German Army (Tag der Bundeswehr) on June 8, 2024 at Faßberg Air Base which is located 2km from the municipality of Faßberg in the German state of Lower Saxony. In the air: An NH90 TTH helicopter “Heideflieger” assigned to the Demonstration Team of the German Army stationed at home base Faßberg. The name “Steinhoff” of the Tactical Air Force Wing 73 was named after the German fighter pilot Johannes Steinhoff who shot down 176 aircraft during the Second World War. After the war he played an important role in the reconstruction of the German Army. Photo: Runway 26 Aviation.

A Dutch MQ-9 Reaper the M-001 drone assigned to the 306 Squadron at Leeuwarden Air Base being towed by a Spijkstaal ATA E800 electric tractor on April 10, 2025. The MQ-9 Reaper was one of the participants in exercise Ramstein Flag 2025 held at Leeuwarden Air Base from March 31 to April 11, 2025. The MQ-9 Reaper is a medium-altitude unmanned aircraft and is a further development of the MQ-1 Predator.

This unmanned reconnaissance and attack aircraft was developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., a company with offices in San Diego and nearby Poway in the United States.

With specifications: Engine type: Garrett TPE331. Cost per piece: 16,900,00 US Dollar. Top speed: 482 km/h. Range: 1,850 km. Wingspan: 20 m. Length: 11 m.

The Spijkstaal ATA E800 electric tractor which is made by tractor manufacturer Spijkstaal which is located in Hoogvliet, the Netherlands. The tractor is equipped with a powerful AC motor and an 80 Volt, 930 Ah battery, allowing this tractor to perform at maximum capacity for a long time.

With specifications:Cost price: 82750,- euro. Towing capacity: 80,000 kg. Voltage: 80 Volt. Maximum speed: 20 km/h. Length: 3.5 m. Width: 1.65 m. Ground clearance: 0.02 m. Turning circle: 3.24 m.Photo: Johan Van den Bunt.

A McDonnell Douglas KDC-10 de Prins Bernard of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, a tanker and cargo aircraft, being towed by a Schopf LATT FM68AB aircraft tractor on November 4, 2019 at Eindhoven de Welschap air base. This McDonnell Douglas KDC-10 tanker (c/n 46965) has been sold to the American company Omega Air Refueling Services. This means that the first of two flying tankers of the Royal Netherlands Air Force will be phased out and replaced by the Airbus A330-MRT. Photo: Frank van den Hurk.

A Dutch General Dynamic F-16A block 5 the J-235 assigned to the 323 Squadron at Leeuwarden Air Base since March 18, 1981 being towed to the shelter area by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor on February 3, 2025 at Eindhoven Air Base. The F-16 in question, the J-235, had already been decommissioned in 2007 by the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The F-16 was transported on January 3, 2025 by low loader from Gilze-Rijen Air Base to Eindhoven Air Base where the F-16 will be used to allow future aircraft technicians to gain practical experience. The F-16 serves as a learning object in the so-called training dock made possible by a partnership with the various Regional Training Centers (ROC) and the Technical Education Center (VTOC) Fokker. Here, students with the specializations aircraft maintenance technology and avionics technology can gain practical experience in the field of technology in defense. Photo: Thomas De Kock.

In the foreground an A/S32A-45 Mid Range aircraft tug and in the background a Boeing F/A-18 Hornet at Naval Air Station Ventura County in the US state of California. The Hornet has been assigned to the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron with the Blue Angels since 1987, based at Naval Air Station Pensacola in the US state of Florida. In 2021 they transitioned to the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. Photo: U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

A Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II with marking F-013 assigned to the 322 Squadron at Leeuwarden Air Base being towed on April 1, 2025 by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor. This during exercise Ramstein Flag 2025 at Leeuwarden Air Base held from March 31 to April 11, 2025. Photo: Jörg Schumacher.

A Polish jet trainer PLZ I-22 Iryda built by aircraft manufacturer PLZ-Mielec being towed by an Ursus C-360 3P tractor at Mielec Airport, Woiwodschap Subkarpaten, Poland sometime in 1986. Aircraft manufacturer PZL Mielec, formerly WSK-Mielec and WSK "PZL-Mielec" is a Polish aircraft manufacturer based in Mielec and it is the largest aircraft manufacturer in post-war Poland. In 2007 it was acquired by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation which retained the brand name. PZL Mielec has built a total of seventeen PLZ I-22 Iryda jet trainers including prototypes, the first of which flew on March 3, 1985. The jet trainers were also known as the M93 Iryda and M96 Iryda. Photo: Photographic Archive of Lech Zielaskowski.

Tracma TD2500 V-2067 aircraft tractor moves a French Dassault Mirage 2000N fighter jet in the centre of the collection on 27 March 2025, right next to a Mirage 2000C-S4 fighter jet and opposite the duo of a Sepecat Jaguar GR1.AXX41 fighter jet and a Transall C-160 twin-engine transport aircraft on the outdoor grounds of the European Fighter Aviation Museum (Musée Européen de l'Aviation de Chasse) in Montélimar near Ancône Airport in the Drôme department of France. Photo: Musée Européen de l'Aviation de Chasse-Officiel.

Two British Hawker Siddeley HS-1182 Hawk's of the Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Waddington Air Base in Lincolnshire, England, one aircraft taking off and another in the foreground about to be towed back to the Aircraft Servicing Platform by a Schopf F59 aircraft tug. This is a platform where aircraft are positioned for their daily flight. The Red Arrows, the best aerobatic demonstration team in the world, consisting of nine identical aircraft, were formed in late 1964 to replace a number of unofficial teams that had been sponsored by the RAF Commandos. The aircraft of the Red Arrows are of the aircraft version: "British Aerospace Hawk T.1A" from BAE Systems powered by a Rolls-Royce engine. BAE Systems ( = British Aeropace Systems) is a manufacturer of civil and military aircraft and supplier of military land systems based in Farnborough, England. The aircraft are also modified to be able to generate smoke. Diesel is mixed with a dye and sprayed into the exhaust of the jet to produce red, white or blue smoke. The Red Arrows will have completed almost 5,000 flights in 57 countries by the start of 2024, the team’s 60th season. Photo: Richard Hull.

The new aircraft tractor of the company Satys at Lelystad Airport, The Netherlands, namely a Douglas Super Taskmaster painted in a yellow color by the same company.

Specifications of the aircraft tractor the Douglas Super Taskmaster:

Manufacturer: Douglas in United Kingdom

Year: 1996

Hours: 3950

Engine: 4 cylinder Perkins 1004

Transmission: Graziano Pst2

Front axle: British FPW

Rear axle: Clark

Nominal towed mass: 27500kg

Vehicle weight: 6000kg

Nominal power: 67000kW

Electricity: 24 volts

Length x width x height: 4.3 x 1.95 x 2.0 meters

Satys since March 2018, is a French industrial company and is present in 11 countries and 60 cities in Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia. Satys is active in the field of spraying and sealing (new and existing) aircraft, engineering and manufacturing of aircraft (VIP) interiors, cabling for the energy, medical, aviation and railway sectors. Photo: Cees Romeijn.

A Lockheed F-104 Starfighter D-6682 built under license by FIAT and operational with the Royal Netherlands Air Force on September 8, 1965 and assigned to the 312 Squadron at Volkel Air Base. In the photo it is being towed by a David Brown Taskmaster 950 on June 30, 1973 during the open days of the Royal Netherlands Air Force at Deelen Air Base (EHDL) and during the 60th anniversary of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. On August 19, 1974, that F-104 crashed in a field between the Berlikum–Franeker road and the Franekervaart near Berlikum. The pilot, the then 26-year-old Second Lieutenant Reint Dragt, saved himself with the ejection seat and came down near Minnertsga and his F-104 drilled deep into a potato field. The cause was a faulty operation of the “Kicker” that automatically comes into operation when the F-104 gets into a stalled condition but reacted while the F-104 was flying quite low above the water of the Wadden Sea near Vlieland. This caused the F-104 to briefly touch the water surface, causing control difficulties during the rest of the flight and sending the F-104 to go into a spiral dive. Photo: Mick West.

A Northrop NF-5A Freedom Fighter of the Turkish display team “Turkish Stars” assigned to the 134th Aerobatic Squadron Command based at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command at Konya Air Base in Turkey. The display team was formed on November 7, 1992 and showed their skills for the first time in the Netherlands at Volkel Air Base during the Royal Netherlands Air Force Open Days held on June 15 and 16, 2007. The NF-5A was an ex K-3036 Royal Netherlands Air Force fighter aircraft built under license in Canada and became operational in 1970 and was sold to Turkey in 1989. They were both NF-5As and NF-5Bs witch have been sold to Turkey with the difference that the NF-5B the two-seat trainer version is of the NF-5A fighter-bomber. In the photo, the Turkish NF-5A is towed over the parallel runway of Volkel Air Base by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K. Photo: Maurits Even.

An MD-3A mule aircraft deck tow/start tractor tows a U.S. Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat fighter jet onto the deck of the aircraft carrier USS "Kitty Hawk" (CV-63) and prepares it for catapult launch during Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 6, 2003. The F-14 first flew on December 21, 1970 and first deployed with the U.S. Navy in 1974 aboard the aircraft carrier USS "Enterprise" (CVA-65), replacing the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Photo: ENS Legare.

A McDonnell F/A-18C Super Hornet of the Swiss Hornet Display Team being pushed into its shelter by a DC-5 Tugmaster Douglas aircraft tug following the RAF Cosford Air Show on June 9, 2019 in England. Photo: Mike Parker.

A Russian carrier tractor_3401 GSKB-LAZ towing a Yakovlev YAK-38 fighter jet. The Yakovlev Yak-38 (Russian: "Яковлев Як-38"; NATO reporting name: "Forger") was the only operational VTOL fighter aircraft of the Soviet Naval Aviation and later the first operational fixed-wing aircraft based on aircraft carriers. It was developed specifically for and served almost exclusively on the Kiev-class aircraft carriers (heavy cruisers in Russian classification). Photo credit: Air Force.

A Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet assigned to the Blue Angels Naval Flying Demonstration Squadron based at Naval Air Station “The Cradle of Naval Aviation” Pensacola, a Marine Corps Air Station near Warrington, Florida. The Super Hornet is towed by an A/S32A-45 Mid Range aircraft tug during the Naval Air Facility El Centro Festival, an air show held in El Centro, California on March 12, 2022. The team consists of 7 Super Hornets and a C-130 Hercules which is divided into 3 groups: Super Hornets: 1 to 4 fly in a diamond in tight formation at low speeds performing various maneuvers. 5 and 6: fly solo, performing their tricks often at close to the speed of sound. A C-130 Hercules "Fat Albert" normally used for troop and equipment transport flies alone. The Super Hornet: 7 as a backup is also used for flights with usually VIPs. November 5, 2020 the F/A-18 Hornets were replaced by the much larger F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The Blue Angels annual tour always ends at the home base Naval Air Station Pensacola. Photos: Oscar Garza.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is towed by a Toyota JASDF 2t Class aircraft tractor at the Singapore Airshow held at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore, on February. 5 to February, 11, 2018. Photo: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

A Turkish Air Force General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon being towed by a Rahvan aircraft tractor. TÜMOSAN, one of Turkey’s leading manufacturers with a 39-year history in the production of tractors and diesel engines, supplied the diesel engines for the “Rahvan”, the first domestic aircraft tractor registered with the Turkish Air Force. Photo: Main Gun.

A General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds”, based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The F-16C is towed by a Ford F350 XL Bobtail aircraft tow truck during the “Thunder & Lightning” over Arizona Air Show, November 6-7, 2021, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The demonstration is a mix of six F-16Cs performing formation flying and solo routines. The four-ship Diamond formation showcases the precision and training of U.S. Air Force pilots, as well as the grace of the F-16Cs. In 1992, the Demonstration Team switched from the F-16A to the F-16C, the difference being that the base of the fin is short and thin on the F-16A/B and longer and thicker on the F-16C/D with a blade antenna extending out the front. Photo: Oscar Garza.

A Blackburn Buccaneer XX894 is a British mid-wing jet attack aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force from 1960 to 1994 and was built by Blackburn Ltd. in Brought, Yorkshire in England. It was assigned to 16 and then 15 Squadrons at RAF Laarbruch Air Base in Germany until the end of 1975 and then to 12 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth Air Base in Scotland before being withdrawn from active service in 1994. It is pictured being towed by a Massey Ferguson MF50 aircraft tractor at Cotswold Aerodrome (formerly RAF Kemble Air Base) Gloucestershire in England in February 2025. The Buccaneer has been restored to an airworthy condition by volunteers of the Buccaneer Aviation Group in a special hangar at Cotswold Aerodrome and is now on display to the public. Photo: The Buccaneer Aviation Group.

A Dutch General Dynamics F-16 block 20 MLU (Mid Life Update) Fighting Falcon with marking J-009 built under license by Fokker operational with the Royal Netherlands Air Force on March 6, 1991 and assigned to 313 Squadron (Tiger Squadron) at Volkel Air Base. The F-16 is now used as an instruction aircraft for the AMTC (Aircraft Maintenance Training Centre) (former training dock) at Volkel Air Base. In the picture the F-16 is picked up from the shelter by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor for a ride to the maintenance shed after returning from a late evening-wave flying in December 2009 at Volkel Air Base. Photo: Maurits Even.

Arjen Boerman on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 spotters day: “It was the afternoon wave of my farewell to the F-16 at Volkel Air Base, with the very appropriate fini flight of various F-16 pilots. I couldn't make it on Friday due to various commitments, but given the crowds and the weather, Tuesday more than made up for it. Enjoyed the livestream!” The photo shows a Dutch General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon that was operational with the Royal Netherlands Air Force from October 3, 1983 and was still active in the summer of 2022 and was assigned to the 312 Squadron at Volkel Air Base and was one of the last F-16s at its farewell on September 27, 2024. The F-16 is also being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor on the Spotters Day on September 24, 2024 at Volkel Air Base. Photo: Erik Boom.

An Austrian Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon marked 7L-WC assigned to the 2nd Squadron of the Austrian Air Force surveillance squadron operating at Zeltweg Air Base now known as Fliegerhorst Hinterstoisser (LOXZ) Austria’s main military airfield in the state of Stiermarken. The military airfield was also used as a race track in the 1960s. The Eurofighter is painted in a new attractive tiger look in the Austrian national colours of the flag. All Eurofighters of the 2nd Squadron form the “Tiger Squadron” and as such are members of the “Association of Tiger Squadrons”. The Eurofighter is pictured being towed by a Schopf F57 aircraft tractor in February 2025. Photo: Michael Weinberger.

A British Panavia Tornado GR.4 fighter jet with registration ZA611 of the Royal Air Force assigned to the 41 Squadron stationed at RAF Coningsby Air Base in the English county of Lincolnshire being towed by a GSE-72030 Hallam HE50 aircraft tractor in April 2007. The GR.4 is a combination of upgrade packages and capacity improvements of the GR.1, the Tornado we know today just as important as it was back then when it was put into service in 1979 by the various air forces such as Italy, United Kingdom, Germany and Saudi Arabia. After a very extensive career of 40 years, the Panavia Tornado was withdrawn from active service with the Royal Air Force on March 31, 2019. Photo: 41 Squadron RAF.

A Dutch Lockheed F-104G Starfighter with marking D-6657 that was built under license by the Italian FIAT and assigned to the 323 Squadron Leeuwarden Air Base on March 25, 1965 and written off on February 9, 1978 due to a crash near Havelte, Drenthe in which the pilot escaped well due to the ejection seat. In the photo the D-6657 is towed by a David Brown Taskmaster 950 in '73/'74 to the run-up north at Leeuwarden Air Base. Photos: Eddy ten Oever.

A Dutch Lockheed TF-104 Starfighter, marking D-5816 assigned to the 322 Squadron and operational since November 27, 1967 with the Royal Dutch Air Force at Leeuwarden Air Base, was towed onto the South Line by a Douglas Super Taskmaster aircraft tractor on 17 April 1980. On the left, a Royal Canadian Air Force Havilland CC-132 Dash 7 airliner, supporting the Canadair CF-104 Starfighters of the Royal Canadian Air Force, flying from Leeuwarden Air Base as part of the NATO-exercise Elder Forest, which was held in the United Kingdom on April 30, 1980. Photo: Gerrit Hiemstra.

An American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E/F Super Hornet assigned to the Blue Angels, the United States Navy flight demonstration team based at Naval Air Station Pensacola located near Warrington, Florida, being towed by an A/S32A-45 Mid Range Tow Tractor during the Miramar Air Show, held from September 27 to 29, 2024 at Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego, California. This registration 2 F/A-18E/F had developed engine problems on the ground prior to its Air Show appearance and had to be towed for maintenance and was replaced within minutes by a spare F/A-18E/F. Photo: Good Mood.

A Swiss Northrop F-5E Tiger II with marking J-3073 assigned to the Swiss Air Force Squadron (Fliegerstaffel) 8 “Vandalo” stationed at Meiringen Air Base being towed by a Lektro 89 tow barless electric aircraft tractor on February 3, 2025. The Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter is a light fighter-bomber of American design. The first F-5 was designed and built in 1953 by Northrop Aircraft Inc., in Hawthorne, California. Later the company name was changed to Northrop Corp. Aircraft Group. The Fliegerstaffel 8 was founded in 1925 and in 1993 it received its first F-5E witch eventually replaced the Hawker Hunter there. In 2017, the F-5E received a squadron-related color scheme on the vertical stabilizer with a red sawfish “Vandalo” because the future of the F-5E at Fliegerstaffel 8, as with 6 and 19, is uncertain. Photo: Markus Frey.

David Brown VIG1/100 Tug aircraft tractor from 1941 at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, UK. Photo: Just Jane Airshow Team.

A British Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 fighter jet marking ZK306 assigned to the XI Fighter Squadron based at RAF Coningsby Air Base, Lincolnshire in England. It had to shed its canopy over the North Sea after a bird collision on January 23, 2024. After this emergency situation, in which the pilot remained unharmed, it returned safely to RAF Coningsby Air Base. In the photo, the fighter jet without a canopy is being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor. Photo: Chloe Witt.

A British Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II assigned to the 617 Squadron at RAF Marham air base being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor in 2018, Photo: Just Jane Airshow Team.

A German Panavia Tornado IDS the 44+75 assigned to the Tactical Luftwaffengeschwader 51 (Tactical Air Force Wing 51) “Immelmann” being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog (UNIversal MOtor Gerät) U404 aircraft tractor on January 22, 2025 at Schleswig Air Base, Germany. Immelmann is a flying maneuver named after Max Immelmann (1890-1916). Max Immelmann was also known as the Eagle of Rijsel and was a German pilot during World War I. He was a flying ace and was the first pilot to receive the military decoration Pour le Mérite. Photo: Werner Davidsen.

In the foreground a Goldhover AST-2E PHÖNIX E aircraft tractor that can tow aircraft without a tow bar and is made by the well-known manufacturer in the world of heavy transport vehicles, namely Goldhover AG in Memmingen, Germany. In the background a Boeing 757F cargo plane from DHL where the photographer of this image had the privilege of being one of the 20 lucky ones who were allowed to participate in the Spotters Day on June 24, 2024 at Brussels Airport. Photo: Jef Pets.

Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighter jet with registration J-3080 of the Swiss Air Force demonstration team or “Patrouille Suisse” being pushed into the hangar by a Lektro tow barless aircraft tractor on January 23, 2025 at Meiringen Air Base, Switzerland. The demonstration team flies six such fighter jets that are painted in the colors of the national flag. It was founded on August 22, 1964 and last flew their Hawker Hunters in 1994, switching to the much faster and more agile Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighter jets to which smoke systems could be added. Photo: Markus Frey.

An American Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft assigned to the 78th Fighter Group at RAF Goxhill airfield, United Kingdom being towed by an M2 high-speed tractor aka M2 Cletrac in April 1943 at RAF Duxford airfield, United Kingdom. During the Second World War, RAF Goxhill airfield was transferred to the American 78th Fighter Group in August 1942 and after which it was transferred to RAF Duxford airfield in April 1943 and where she remained stationed until October 1945. From here they were involved in flying operations in the summer of 1944 during the D-Day landings on the coast of France and with flight operations during Market Garden in the Netherlands. Photo: American Air Museum Archives.

A French Dassault Mirage 2000 assigned to the Escadron de Chasse et d'Expérimentation 1/30 at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base being towed by a Tracma TD1500C aircraft tractor during the NATO Tigermeet held from May 13 to May 24, 2019. The flying units that are members of the NATO Tiger Association meet annually to practice together and to strengthen mutual ties. In 2019 it was held at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base which is a frontline French Air and Space Force combat base located approximately 2 km north of Mont-de-Marsan, in the Landes department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in the south-west of France. Photo: Photo Ops.

A Polish Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 assigned to the II Squadron at the 33rd Lotnicza Air Base near Powidz, Poland being towed by a Star 266 medium truck in 1995. Photo: Wacław Hołyś / Październik 1995.

A Dassault Mirage III RS the R-2102 of the Swiss Air Force assigned to the Fliegerstaffel 10 at the Dübendorf military airport being pushed into the mountain shelter by a Mowag-AEG aircraft tractor on January 7, 2025. The Dübendorf military airport was a military airfield of the Swiss Air Force northeast of Dübendorf in Switzerland, located east of Zurich it includes it Flieger-Flab-Museum. Photo: Pascal Delcampe.

In the foreground: An American P-51D Mustang “Ferocious Frankie” being towed by a Ford 2000 Dexta tractor on April 16, 2024 at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, a village in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. The tractor was produced in Dagenham and Essex in England. The P-51 Mustang is a World War II long-range fighter aircraft and fighter-bomber first built on October 26, 1940 by North American Aviation Inc. in Inglewood, California, USA. It was painted in 2002 in the livery of the 361st Fighter Group, an air combat unit of the United Kingdom Army Air Forces that operated during World War II. In the background: An American Boeing B-29 Superfortress which is a four-engine propeller driven heavy bomber mainly used by the Americans in World War II and the Korean War. Photo: Peter Green.

A Dutch military Airbus A330 that is used for transporting persons and equipment and for refueling fighter aircraft in the air. In the photo the Airbus is being towed by a Schopf LATT FM68AB aircraft tractor on March 21, 2024 at the Welschap or Eindhoven Air Base. Photo: Rob Martaré.

A Dutch MQ-9A-5 Reaper unmanned reconnaissance aircraft with marking M-001 assigned to the 306 Squadron at Leeuwarden Air Base being towed by an ATA E800 electric aircraft tractor on November 4, 2024. The drone is remotely controlled from a sea container located at this Air Base. Photo: Hanviation.

An American Agusta Westland AW139 of Italian make with registration N302FD that is used by the Los Angeles Fire Department as a firefighting helicopter and has been deployed in the forest fires that have been raging for days in Los Angeles, California. In the photo, the helicopter is being towed by a Tug MA30 baggage and aircraft tow vehicle on January 11, 2025 at National Helicopter Service at Van Nuys Airport in Van Nuys, California. Photo: Mike Henniger.

An American restored Curtiss P-40 Warhawk being pushed into the Maloney hangar by a Hebard J233 Shop Mule aircraft tractor on January 11, 2025 at the Planes of Fame Air Museum located in Chino, California. The Hebard aircraft tractor was produced by Northwestern Motor Cooperative (NMC) in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The Curtis P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938 and was produced until 1944 at the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, New York. Photo: Craig Bryant.

A Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II the F-008 assigned to the 323 Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) at Edwards Air Force Base in the American state of California being towed by a Mecedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor during the Royal Netherlands Air Force Days on June 14 and 15, 2019 at Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands. On October 31, 2014, the 323 Squadron moved from from the Netherlands from Leeuwarden Air Base to Edwards Air Force Base where it was involved in the operational test and evaluation phase of the F-35. The F-35s, the F-001 and F-008, flew over from America especially for the Air Force Days, where they were set up for the static show on the parallel runway of Volkel Air Base, where visitors could view the aircraft up close. Photo: Christiaan van de Donk.

In the photo a restored Havilland Comet series 4 passenger aircraft of the former British airline Dan-Air being towed outside the hangar by a Hough-Paymover T-225 SL aircraft tractor after it was given a new paint scheme in the colors of Dan-Air. The restoration was carried out by volunteers from the Duxford Aviation Society in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Dan-Air airline was founded in 1953 as a subsidiary of the London-based ship brokerage firm Davies & Newman and merged into British Airways in 1992. The De Havilland Comet series 4 was introduced in 1966 by Dan-Air and was equipped with 4 Rolls-Royce Avon jet engines and could accommodate 81 passengers. Photo: Ken Pettit.

A Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, D-8288, built under license by Fokker and assigned to the 323 Squadron stationed at Leeuwarden Air Base. It was operational with the Royal Netherlands Air Force from December 9, 1964 to December 15, 1980 and then sold to the Turkish Air Force. In the photo the D-8288 is being towed by a David Brown Taskmaster 950 during the Leeuwarden open day on July 1, 1968. It appears that this photo was taken from the control tower. Photo: Eric Casius.

Pictured is an Atlas Cheetah being towed by an ATT-II (Aircraft Towbarless Tug) Echtmann aircraft tractor designed to lift and tow aircraft and helicopters up to 40,000 kg manufactured by BL-Advanced Ground Support Systems Ltd. located in Israeli city of Petach Tikva. The Atlas Cheetah is a South African fighter aircraft designed and produced by the South African aircraft manufacturer Atlas Aircraft Corporation founded in 1956 (later Denel Aeronautics in 1992) based in the South African province of Gauteng. It was a division of the South African government conglomerate 'Armaments Corporation of South Africa' commonly known as 'Armscor'. The Cheetah was primarily designed and developed in the 1980s for use by the South African Air Force (SAAF) and deployed during the Border War that took place between South Africa and occupied South West Africa (now Namibia) and Angola from 1966 to 1988. It was a major upgrade over the SAAF's French-built Dassault Mirage III fleet. Photo: Port Elizabeth SAAF Museum - Unofficial Page.

ATT-II (Aircraft Towbarless Tug) Echtmann Amalchim aircraft tractor. Photo: Dean Wingrin.

A British Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 assigned to the Number 3 (Fighter) Squadron of the Royal Air Force stationed at RAF Coningsby Air Base in the English county of Lincolnshire. In the photo the Typhoon is about to be pushed into the shelter by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor on 27 September 2012. On Saturday 6 October 2012 this Typhoon was seen in action during the 2012 RAF Lossiemouth Enthusiasts Day in Moray, North eastern Scotland. Photo: Niall Paterson.

A DHC Boeing CH-47F Chinook CAAS helicopter of the Dutch Royal Air Force assigned to the 298 Squadron at Gilze-Rijen Air Base. This helicopter will be towed from the static show by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog aircraft tractor during the 'Tag der Bundeswehr' held on June 8, 2024 at Faßberg Air Base in Germany. This airbase is best known as the base of the Transport Helicopter Regiment 10, which operates helicopters such as NH90 transport helicopters. The 'Tag der Bundeswehr' (Day of the Armed Forces) is an open day during which the German Armed Forces annually opens all its doors to the public in one day at various locations of the German Armed Forces throughout Germany to provide insight into its work, equipment and daily operations. Photo: Birdman99 Aviation Weblog.

A Dassault Mirage III RS the R-2109 of the Swiss Air Force being towed out of the hangar by a Mowag 37 aircraft tractor on September 21, 2024 at Buochs ​​Air Base in Nidwalden, Switzerland. This during the visit of the Aviation Club Basel (Aviatic-Club-Basel) to Buochs ​​Air Base for a photo shoot and this at the invitation of the Mirage Association Buochs (Mirage-Verrein-Buochs). This association has set itself the goal of safeguarding the history and cultural resources surrounding the Mirage era in Switzerland at Buochs ​​Air Base. The aircraft tractor was specially built for the Swiss Air Force by a partnership between AEG and MOWAG, which resulted in the Mowag 37 or also called the Flz Sch 4x2 and is mainly used to tow the Dassault Mirage III S and the Dassault Mirage III RS. Mowag is the abbreviation for 'Motorwagenfabrik', a Swiss manufacturer of military vehicles based in Kreuzlingen. Photo: Werner Stucki.

A Colombian ATR-72-600 passenger plane of airline Clic Air being towed by a TLD JST-25 aircraft tractor on November 17, 2024 at El Dorado International Airport, the largest airport in Colombia in the city of Cúcuta. Clic Air formerly known as Easy Fly is an airline operating in Colombia with its main focus on serving intermediate cities and cities not served by other airlines. The ATR-72-600 is a twin-engine turbo-prop passenger aircraft built by the French-Italian aircraft manufacturer Avions de transport régional (ATR) in Blagnac a suburb of Toulouse in France founded in 1981 as a joint venture. The aircraft can accommodate 78 passengers and two crew members. The aircraft tractor TLD JST-25 has a Cummins QSF 2.8L diesel engine with a Graziano PST2 Powershift automatic transmission. Photo: Spotters Armenia.

A Dassault Mirage IIIB-2(RV), a two-seater fighter jet of the French Air Force, being pushed into the hangar by a Tracma TD1500C aircraft tractor on November 25, 2024 at Châteaudun Air Base located southeast of Châteaudun, a commune in the French department of Eure-et-Loir. Photo: Patrick Loiseau, CANOPEE.

A Northrop F-5F Tiger II the J-3211 assigned to Zielflugstaffel 12 of the Swiss Air Force being towed into the cave shelter by a Bucher FS10 aircraft tractor on November 19, 2024 at Buochs ​​Air Base located in Nidwalden, Switzerland. Photo: Marc Wenger Photography.

A British Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II assigned to the British 207 Squadron at RAF Marham Air Base being towed out of the Hagar by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor ready for the flight program on November 17, 2024. The British 207 Squadron had been assigned since 2013 to the American Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) at the Marine Corps Air Station of Beauford (MCAS) in the American state South Carolina where they trained alongside US Marine Corps pilots. On July 16, 2019, the British 207 Squadron returned back to RAF Marham Air Base, where it will officially reform as an Oprational Conversion Unit on August 1, 2019 and train new F-35B pilots on British soil. Photo: RAF Marham Photographic Section.

A Dutch Northrop NF-5A, the K-3008, being towed by a David Brown Taskmaster 950 aircraft tractor in 1977 at the Welschap or Eindhoven Air Base. The NF-5A was assigned to the 314 Squadron “Redskins” which was stationed at Eindhoven Air Base. The Dutch NF-5s were a copy of the American-built F-5s, but built under license in Canada with extra options to the jet that the Americans did not want to grant. The K-3008 was operational in the Netherlands from 1970 to 1986, after which it was scrapped. Photo: Henk Schakelaar.

A British Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor on November 14, 2024 at RAF Lossiemouth Air Base. This fighter jet is assigned to the Number 1 (Fighter) Squadron stationed at RAF Lossiemouth Airbase near Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. The Squadron's motto is: “In omnibus princeps” (First in everything) reflects the squadron's status as the Royal Air Force's oldest unit having been involved in almost every conflict in the world from the First World War to the present. Photo: Kieran Driver.

A British Panavia Tornado GR.Mk.1 'MiG Eater' being towed by a New Holland T 7.270 agricultural tractor during the Duxford Summer Air Show held on 18-19 June 2022 at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in the English county of Cambridgeshire. This fighter jet is assigned to no. 15 (Fighter) Squadron stationed at RAF Lossiemouth Air Base near Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. Also this fighter jet participated to Gulf War in 1991 and is painted in desert pink camouflage-over-wash. During a mission against an airfield in Iraq this Tornado shot 'what was then thought to be' a MiG-29 fighter out of the sky hence the name 'MiG Eater' complete with terrifying shark teeth art on the nose of the Tornado. Only later did it become clear that it had been a Mirage F.1. Photo: Danny Lewis.

In the first two photos: A Dutch General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcon the J-259 being towed by a Reliance Mercury aircraft tractor on November 12, 2024 at Lelystad Air Base. The J-259 had been in the Satys paint shop at Lelystad Air Base since mid-March 2024. The J-259 is returned to its original version, which it was delivered to the Royal Netherlands Air Force as the first operational F-16 in the Netherlands on May 3, 1979. The intention is that it will have a place in the Traditiekamer at Leeuwarden Air Base. Photos: Wolfhounds Aviation.

A Saab Jas-39C Gripen of the Czech Air Force being towed by a SWE-Volvo FL6 truck on August 31, 2009 at Siauliai International Airport in Lithuania. Photo: Military Tv.

The first picture: A Dutch MQ-9 Reaper drone assigned to the 306 Squadron at Leeuwarden Air Base being towed from the shelter by a Spijkstaal 407S electric tractor on November 6, 2024 at Câmpia Turzii Air Base near the city of Cluj Napoca in Romania. This drone is controlled by a control system in a container at Leeuwarden Air Base. Flying in corridors of three, the Reapers collect information about maneuvers by Russian and Ukrainian forces and thay are the eyes and ears of NATO. Photos: Barend Westerveld.

A Charlatte TD 225 baggage tractor towing a trailer carrying an engine of a French Dassault Mirage 2000D fighter jet of the Fighter Squadron 1/3 Navarra at BA 133 Nancy-Ochey Air Base located approximately 11 km west-southwest of Neuves-Maisons in the department Meurthe-et-Moselle in France. Photo: Escadron de Chasse 1/3 Navarre.

Pictured is a restored Lockheed P-38J Lightning '162/23' 'Skidoo/Louise' (NX138AM) being towed by a Clark Clarcktor MILL-40 on November 2, 2024 at the Planes of Fame Museum, Chino, California, United States. On February 28, 2016, the P-38 was repainted and now bears the markings of 'Skidoo', and flown by Captain Perry J. "Pee Wee" Dahl of the 432th Fighter Squadron of the 475th Fighter Group. Appropriately enough, it now resides in the 'P-38 Lightning & 475th Fighter Group' hangar. The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was one of the best American fighter aircraft in the period 1942-1945. This fighter aircraft was so fast, powerful and reliable that it was deployed in many roles in the battle scene of many operations in the pacific and Europe. Photos: Craig Bryant.

An American Lockheed F-35A Lightning II the AF-01 which is a test aircraft assigned to Edwards Air Base, California, being towed by an Eagle TT-8 AWD aircraft tractor on March 24, 2018 at General William J. Fox Airfield in Los Angeles County, California, where it was on display during the Air Show witch was held there. Photo: Steven Comber.

An American Boeing B-52 Stratofotress bomber from the 5th Bomb Wing assigned to Barksdale Air Base in Louisiana, United States, being towed by a B-450 (USAF MB-2 Class) Tow tractor on September 13, 2019 at RAF Fairford Air Base in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. The B-52 was on display there as a static during the 75th anniversary of RAF Fairford, which has been used almost continuously by the US Air Force since it was first built for D-Day operations in 1944. The B-52 is one of the most iconic warplanes in the US arsenal. The B-52 'Stratofortress' was a product of the Cold War (1947-1991) and was developed as a strategic bomber with long range and high altitude. Photo: Andrew Bayliss.

Pictured an Italian Panavia Tornado Interdictor Strike (IDS) Attack interceptor fighter jet being towed by a Fresia F40T aircraft tractor in 2024 at Ghedi Air Base located approximately 15 kilometers from Brescia in northern Italy. The Italian Tornados are in use with the 6th Stormo (6th Fighter Wing) “Diavoli Rossi” (Red Devils) assigned to Ghedi Air Base. Photo: Fernando Gentile.

Pictured is the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia/STS-1 being towed by an INTERNATIONAL Harvester T300 aircraft tow tractor on March 25, 1979 at Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF). This facility is at the Kennedy Space Center Complex in Merritt Island, Florida. This is a class of hangars where the US Space Shuttle Orbiters underwent maintenance between the flights. Photo: NASA.

Pictured is one retired from RAF service Avro Vulcan B.2 XM655 bomber being towed by a RAF655 Douglas tow tractor on May 19, 2024 at the Wellesbourne Wartime Museum at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield in Warwickshire, UK. The aircraft is maintained to ground running condition by a dedicated team of volunteers known as the Maintenance and Preservation Society (MaPS). Photo: Thrust Aviation Imagery.

Pictured is a Dutch General Dynamics F-16A Block 10B Fighting Falcon with registration J-251 being towed by a Douglas Super Taskmaster aircraft tractor on June 21, 1985. The J-251 was built under license by Fokker and was operational with the Royal Netherlands Air Force on November 2, 1981 by the 322 squadron assigned to Leeuwarden Air Base. It was the first F-16 to achieve 2,000 flight hours in 1992. In October 1995, the J-251 was converted into an F-16A MLU (Midlife Update) Block 20. In January 2005, the J-251 was decommissioned and placed in storage at Gilze-Rijen Air Base and later sold to the Jordan Air Force. Photo: Peter Steendam.

Pictured is a British Serpecat Jaguar GR.3A fighter-bomber being towed by a Douglas Super Taskmaster JU84AA aircraft tractor on July 1, 2017 at the Royal Air Force Museum at RAF Cosford Air Base in Cosford, Shropshire, England. The Jaguar served with the RAF between March 1974 and April 2007 and was the replacement for the British Folland Gnats and Hawker Hunters. The aircraft is no longer operational here and has been replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon. Photo: Aviation Photography by Karl Drage.

A British Aerospace Harrier GR9A marked ZD378/26A of the 1st Fighter Squadron assigned to RAF Cottesmore Air Base in Rutland, England. In the photo it is being towed at that Air Base by a JCB RAF Fastrac 155-65 aircraft tractor on December 9, 2010. Photo: Aviation Photography by Karl Drage.

Choice of JCB 155-65 fastracs, machines are direct military stock, 3,500-5,500 hours, excellent condition. Rear drop side cargo body, front and rear tow pintles, 4 front spool valves. Selectable 4WD & Diff Locks. 2 speed Front mounted PTO (540 RPM & 1000 RPM). Front & Rear adjustable DIN 3 Tow bar coupling. Gross vehicle mass: 8,850 Kg's. Rear Trailer auto coupling. Towing capacity: 16,000kg. Max speed: 46.7mph. Gross combination mass: 24,390 Kg's.
CATEGORY: Tractors. MANUFACTURER: JCB. ENGINE: Perkins 160TW 6 cylinder Turbo Diesel. GEARBOX: JCB Selectatronic 36 speed Low, Medium & High ratio. STEERING PAS. TYRES: 445/70R24. L x W x H: 5.3 M x 2.4 M x 2.6 M. HOURS / MILEAGE: 3,500-5,500. YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 1995. Source and photo: Хомусчут Андрей.

A photo taken at the Pima Air and Space museum in the Tucson area of ​​Arizona. In the background an American Grumman F-14 Tomcat in the colors of the VF-111 Sundowners and used in the film Topgun as Tom Cruise's jet fighter. In the foreground an MD-3 Mule Aircraft Carrier Deck Tow tractor. The MD-3 Tow Tractor is a pneumatic tired and diesel powered, intended for towing all carrier based aircraft. Manufactured by Frank Hough Corp. ltd. in Libertyville, Illinois and came into service by the US Navy in the early 1950's. Photo: Logan Maloy.

The Republic P-47D Thunderbolt “Nellie B” is an American World War II fighter aircraft that was produced in 1945 by the American aerospace company Republic Aviation in Evansville, Indiana. For the first time in this millennium, the largest single-engine fighter aircraft of its time will arrive in the Czech Republic and thus become the "HEADLINER" of the 14th Contemporary Aviation Day 2024. In the Photo it is being towed by a Clarktor model Standard 24 aircraft tractor. Photo: BJ van de Maat.

An Avro Shackleton MR Mk.3, a British-made long-range maritime patrol aircraft, was operational with the 35 Squadron of the South African Air Force between 1957 and 1984 and assigned to Ysterplaat Air Force Base in Cape Town, South Africa. The aircraft is now preserved in airworthy condition and is on display at the South African Air Force Museum and is pictured being towed by a Toyota TD25 aircraft tractor on October 17, 2024 at Ysterplaat Air Force Base. Photo: John Wilson.

A US Air Force (USAF) Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor assigned to Fairford Air Base (EGVA) in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. In the photo, the raptor is towed to the hangar after a heavy rain shower by an NMC-Wollard MB4 diesel towing and pushback aircraft tractor on July 10, 2008. Fairford Air Force Base is the only forward operating American bomber base in Europe. It is still used as a base for missions including exercises with NATO and allied countries. Photo: Mark Williamson.

A Lockheed Martin F-16AM Fighting Falcon with marking FA-82 of the Belgian Air Force (BAF) assigned to Kleine Brogel Air Base. On October 9, 2024 this F-16 had a problem with the rubber of one of the main wheels during landing at Leeuwarden Air Base. Three fire trucks were used and later the F-16 was carried away by a Belgian Schopf F59 aircraft tractor. The Belgians were at Leeuwarden Air Base for the Weapons Instructor Course (WIC), which was held from September 2 to October 8, 2024. Photos: Jeroen Land.

A Polish PLZ-Mielec SB Lim2 fighter jet being towed by a Rofan ZD80 aircraft tractor on November 3, 2021 at Modlin Airport in Warsaw, Poland. This fighter jet is a Polish-built 2-seat MiG-15UTI built in 1952 by aircraft manufacturer WSK Mielec under license through a contract with the aircraft manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich based in the former Soviet Union with its headquarters in Moscow. The fighter jet is now regularly used at airshows in Europe, perfect aircraft for oldtimer and warbird fun. It is specially painted to depict Russian-Soviet pilot and cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's MiG-15. Photo: Tomasz Filipiak.

A Polish PLZ TS-11 Iskra jet trainer being towed by a Case-IH Farmal 75A tractor on August 24, 2024 at Mielec Airport located in Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland. The jet trainer belongs to the airline Fundacja Bialo-Czerwone Skrzdia and was built by the aircraft manufacturer PLZ-Mielec. The jet trainer made its maiden flight on February 5, 1960, and in 1961 it lost a competition with the L-29 and the Yak-30 as the Warsaw Pact's basic jet trainer. Photo: Tomasz Filipiak.

A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the F-038 of the 313 Tiger Squadron assigned to Volkel Air Force Base in the Netherlands, which is towed to the X-servicing platform next to the F-16s by an ATA E800 electric aircraft tractor. This happened during a photo shoot organized by Spotting Group Volkel that was held on September 27, 2024 at the farewell ceremony of the General Dynamic F-16 Fighting Falcon in the Netherlands. Photo: Theo Rombout.

A Dutch General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon the J-616 being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor on July 22, 2024 at RAF Fairford in the English county of Gloucertershire in the United Kingdom. The J-616 received a special color design on the tail and the kerosene tanks in honor of the 50th anniversary of the F-16. RAF Fairford or Royal Air Force Fairford is a “dormant” military air base in England that is not used daily, yet it is home to the annual military air show the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) which is the largest air show in the world with more than 500 participants from different countries. Including the J-616 that was exhibited in a line-up with other F-16s at the RIAT 2024 held from 19 to 21 July 2024. Photo: Martin Rendall.

An Italian Eurofighter Typhoon being towed by a Fresia F-40T 4x4 aircraft tractor on June 13, 2018 at Grosseto Air Base (GRS/LIRS) in central Italy in the Tuscany region. The Eurofighter Typhoon is in service with the 4th Squadron assigned to Grosseto Air Force Base and it replaced the outdated F-104 Starfighter in Italy in 2004. Photo: Bruno Pari.

A Dutch General Dynamics F-16AM Block 20 MLU Fighting Falcon with registration J-641 of the 312 squadron that was assigned to Volkel Air Base. It was operational as one of the last F-16s with the Royal Netherlands Air Force from October 3, 1983 to September 27, 2024 at the farewell ceremony of the F-16. In the photo it was being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor. Photo: Marcel R fotografie.

In the photo: A Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II the F-020 being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor on September 24, 2024 at Leeuwarden Air Base. The F-020 is the 700th F-35 built by Lockheed and assigned on September 29, 2021 to the 322 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force operational at Leeuwarden Air Base. Photo: Hans Mein.

A North American B-25 Mitchell “Champaign Gal” being towed by a Clark tructractor CT.40 on September 19, 2020 at Champaign Aviation Museum in Urbana, Ohio. The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American medium bomber from the aircraft manufacturer North American Aviation. During the Second World War she was deployed on all fronts, but mainly over the Pacific Ocean. Photo comes from the Facebook page: B-25 Champaign Gal.

A Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, a maritime AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft of the French Navy, being towed by a TLD TMX150-9 aircraft tractor on August 23, 2024 at Albert-Picardie Airport. The Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye is an American-made maritime AWACS aircraft that operates from aircraft carriers. It was developed by Grumman and is built by Northrop Grumman. Albert-Picardie Airport is an airport in Albert, a commune in the Somme department in the Picardy region in northern France. Photo: Christian Caffin Photographies.

The British Supermarine Spitfire N3200 Mark 1a was built in Southampton in 1939 and transferred to Squadron 19 at RAF Duxford in April 1940. Squadron 19 at RAF Duxford was the first RAF squadron to be equipped with the new Supermarine Spitfire. Pictured is this now restored Spitfire being towed by a Lansing Bagnall bagage tow tractor during the Battle of Britain Air Show, held from 5 to 7 July 2024 at the Headcorn Aerodrome in Ashford, Kent, England. Photo: Jarek Rozanski.

In the photo: An American McDonnell F-101 Voodoo number 1, 53-2418 fighter aircraft, not assigned to an operational squadron, being towed by a Hobart aircraft tractor with an APU (Auxillary Power Unit) on board, circa late 1954 at Air Force Base Edwards in the US state of California. The American McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a supersonic fighter aircraft originally intended as a long-range escort fighter for the Strategic Air Command. The fighter aircraft also flew in fighter-bomber, all-weather interceptor and reconnaissance roles. The fighter aircraft was in use with the US Air Force between 1957 and 1966. Photo: Viral Naturel.

Hobart 1956 aircraft tug with on board APU. Photo: Хомусчут Андрей.

An American Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat and amphibious aircraft from 1935 designed and built by the American aircraft manufacturer Consolidated Aircraft and employed by the US Army, being towed by a Massey Ferguson 35 tractor, during The Battle of Britain Air Show held from July 5 to 7, 2024 at the Headcorn Aerodrome in Ashford, Kent, England. The Consolidated PBY Catalina was the U.S. Navy's most successful patrol flying boat in World War II, but naval aviators also used the Catalina to attack ships at night and to search and rescue people stranded at sea. Photo: Jarek Rozanski.

A British Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 the ZK314 being towed from the hangar by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor in May 2022 at RAF Coningsby. Royal Air Force Coningsby, or RAF Coningsby, is a Royal Air Force military air base located 8.5 miles (13.7 kilometers) southwest of Horncastle and 9.7 miles (15.8 kilometers) northwest of Boston, in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. The Eurofighter Typhoon (Eurofighter EVA 2000) is a fighter aircraft designed and built by a European consortium consisting of 6 industries: EUROJET,  NETMA, Alenia Aeronautica, BAE Systems, Construcciones Aeronáuticas and European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (taken over by: Airbus Defense & Space) . Photo: DRW Aviation Photography. Source text: Wikipedia.

An English Electric Lightning F6 fighter jet the XR770 of the 55th Squadron being towed by a Douglas Tugmaster on July 16, 1980 at RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire in England. The English Electric Lightning was the RAF's Cold War supersonic interceptor, built by British aircraft manufacturer English Electric Aviation Limited. It was the only British fighter jet at the time that could reach a speed of more than Mach 2 and the British counterpart to the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. Photo: FighterControl.co.uk.

September 12, 2024 - The Italian Air Force today unveiled the new aircraft, the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master, which will replace the Aermacchi MB-339PAN demonstration aircraft in the coming years and which will be delivered to the Frecce Tricolori demonstration team of the 313th Traning Squadron. The presentation took place at the Istrana Air Base in Italy on the sidelines of the demonstration team's return home ceremony of the North American Tour. The new aircraft, the M-346, is already used by the Italian Air Force for the advanced training of pilots intended for the 4th and 5th generation aerotactical lines. With the M-346 aircraft, the Frecce Tricolori can continue to represent Italy in the world. In the photo, the new Frecce Tricolori aircraft is presented in a new color scheme from the Italian design agency Pininfarina and towed by a Fresia F40T AM*36110 aircraft tractor. Photo 1: Blog Before Flight-Aviation News and Pictures. Photo 2: Scramble Magazine.

A Dassault Mirage III fighter jet of the Swiss Air Force being towed by a MOWAG-AEG aircraft tractor on September 7, 2024 at Buochs ​​Airport, a regional airport in the city of Buochs ​​in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland. This during the 20-year anniversary of the Mirage Association Buochs, which has set itself the goal of continuing the 40-year era of the successful Mirage III in Switzerland. The use and maintenance of the advanced Mirage III is done by countless conscripts, mechanics and pilots who have spent a large part of their military service and/or working life with this system. Photos: Marco de Rijk.

An American Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, a strategic transport aircraft that is part of the 3rd Air Force and is assigned to Ramstein Air Base, an American/NATO Air Base in the German city of Ramstein-Miesenbach in the state of Rinland-Palts. In the photo, the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III is being towed by a Schopf F396 aircraft tractor on September 4, 2024 at Hinterstoisser Air Base in Zeltweg, Austria. This was two days before the AIRPOWER24 air show, which was held there for the eleventh time from September 6 to 7, 2024 with the motto: “Flying Freedom Enthusiasm”. Photo: Peter Steehouwer.

US Air Force (USAF) personnel of the 40th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron (EMXS), use a NMC-Wollard Model MB4 diesel towing and pushback tractor to tow a B-52 Stratofortress Bomber to it's parking space on the airfield, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Photo: Janice H. Cannon, USAF.

An Avro Vulcan B2 XL426, an ex-Royal Air Force bomber, being towed by a Mercury aircraft tractor on September 8, 2024 at hangar 5 of the Vulcan Restoration Trust at London Southern Airport, Essex, a ceremonial county in the East of England region. The Vulcan Restoration Trust is a registered charity that owns and maintains the Avro Vulcan. Photos: Barry Williams.

A American Boeing EA-18G Growler fighter jet being towed by an A/S32A-49 US Navy Carrier Aircraft Tug on May 11, 2024, on the American Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosveld in the South China Sea. The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a further developed two-seater version of the modern naval attack fighter F/A-18F Super Hornet. The Growler was introduced into the US Navy in phases from 2007, with the simultaneous divestment of its predecessor. The Boeing EA-18G Growler is assigned to “Rooks” the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137. The aircraft carrier is part of the 7th Fleet of the American Navy and routinely conducts operations with allies to maintain an open Indo-Pacific region. Photo: Aaron Haro Gonzalez.

A British Boeing RC-135 which is a military reconnaissance aircraft being towed by an FM 68 AB Schopf aircraft tractor on September 15, 2022 at Royal Air Force Station Waddington in Lincolnshire in England. This aircraft has participated in exercise Cobra Warrior, the tactical training event of the Royal Air Force. It is intended to complete the training to become a qualified weapons instructor, multi-engine tactics instructor and intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and space instructor. Waddington Station in Lincolnshire is one of the Royal Air Force's busiest air basis and is the hub of the British Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and the main operational air base for aerial intelligence aircraft and systems. Photo: Shaun Westell Photography.

A restored BAC Jet Provost T3A-XN582-95 training aircraft being towed by a British-made Lansing-Bagnall IIRC aircraft tractor on September 7, 2024 at the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington in the borough of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England. The BAC Jet Prost (originally Hunting Percival Jet Provost) is a jet-powered military training aircraft from British aircraft manufacturer Hunting Percival Aircraft Ltd. in Luton. The training aircraft was operational with the Royal Air Force from 1955 to 1993. Photo: Meteor NF14 WS788 Awart Winning Restoration Project.

A McDonnell Douglas AV-8B-15-MC Harrier II (V/STOL) formerly assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, is towed by an NMC-Wollard 100 baggage tractor on September 2, 2024 at Hickory Aviation Museum located at the Hickory Regional Airport in Hickory, North Carolina. The museum in the former airport terminal features a hangar with aircrafts and outdoor aircraft exhibits on the former airport ramp. The letters V/STOL on the Herrier stand for vertical and/or short take-off or landing. The NMC-Wollard 100 baggage tractor is powered by a petrol or diesel engine and has a double rear axle which provides a pulling force of 10,000 pounds or 44 kilo newtons. Photo: Hickory Aviation Museum.

A roll-out of a SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 fighter jet XZ384 being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 416 on September 5, 2024 at the RAF Coltishall Heritage Centre (RAFCHC), a museum and flying station in the English county of Norfolk. The flying station is a passion project of an enthusiastic group of ex-flying station staff and volunteers who highlight the RAF Coltishall Heritage Centre, its 69-year history with activities and exhibitions for all ages. Photo: Aircraftimage.

The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum in Miramar, California before closing. Currently in the process of being relocated to the Great Park (Old MCAS EL TORO) in Irvine, California. Pictured: An one last produced Douglas A-4 Skyhawk fighter jet of the American Navy and an A/S32A-45 Mid Range Tow Tractor. Photo: Steve D. Smith.

A Czech Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen of the 211 Tactical Squadron being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog during the NATO Tigermeet 2024 held from 3 to 13 June 2024 at Schleswig Air Base in Germany. With spotter days on June 7 and 10, 2024 with a maximum number of 1500 spotters each of those days. The Tigermeet is a joint military exercise between NATO air forces and friendly countries and was held for the sixtieth time in 2024. Photo: Edwin van Boxtel.

Moscow – Two more Tu-160M ​​strategic bombers rolled off the production line of the Russian aircraft manufacturer Tupoluev shortly before New Year's Day of 2023. The first aircraft was a newly built Tu-160M ​​in the context of a previously announced new-build reintroduction program. The second Tu-160M ​​was a thoroughly modernized variant. In the photo: A Tu-160M ​​being towed out of the hangar for a test flight by a BelAZ-74212 aircraft tractor of Belarusian make. Photo: KTS Avioción.

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is building under license the Saab F-39 Gripen E/F in final assembly line in Gavião Peixoto which was inaugurated on May 9, 2023. The Embraer Professionals working on the Gripen line have undergone extensive training at the Saab plant in Linköping in Sweden to ensure that they are well prepared for their role. The first Gripen E to be produced in Brazil will be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force in 2025. In the photo: A trailer with the fuselage of the Gripen on it being towed to the assembly hall by a Toyota 52-2TD-25 baggage tractor. Photo: KTS Aviación.

The XB-1 supersonic demonstration aircraft from American aircraft manufacturer Boom of Denver has successfully completed its second flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California. Following its historic maiden flight in March 2024, XB-1 continues to progress its flight test program, aiming for supersonic flight by the end of the year. The XB-1 program forms the basis for the design and development of Overture, Boom's supersonic passenger aircraft for 64 to 80 travelers that can be rolled out of the production hall as early as 2026 at Piedmont Airport in North Carolina, while maintaining a safety-first culture. Photo: Boom Supersonic.

Remote Controlled Airplane Pushback!
Name: Mototok Spacer 8600 Airplane Tow Tractor. Distinguishing features: Fully electric drive. Revolutionary in its simplicity. Extremely compact. Uniquely flexible. And very high performance. The Mototok's remote control allows the operator to move anywhere around the aircraft to view every protrusion point of the aircraft. The view at the aircraft never leaves the operator while the Mototok is in motion. Photo: Milirairy Pletuex.

In the photo: Russian Helicopters showed its latest development at Le Bourget 2013, namely the Kamov Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter (NATO code name: Hokum-B), which is currently towed by a Mulag Comet 4D aircraft tractor. Le Bourget is an event that is the largest and oldest exhibition of aerospace technology in the world and is held in the Parisian suburbs of Le Bourget. The 2013 Le Bourget event was the 50th International Air Show and was held from 17 to 23 June 2013. Photo: John T Dickens.

The Su-57 fighter jet is a Russian-made fifth generation fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. This aircraft first flew in 2010 and became part of the Russian Air Force in 2020. The Su-57 is designed to have stealth capabilities, supersonic speed and high. In the picture an export version of the Su-57 stealth fighter jet namely the Su-57E that is towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor and was unveiled for the first time by Russia on March 28, 2019, seeking a market for it in the Middle East. Photo: The B-2.

An Airbus A330-200 MRTT (Multi-role Tanker Transport) air tanker aircraft the T-056, which is registered in the Netherlands but owned by NATO, being towed by a Schopf LATT FM68AB aircraft tow tractor on 21 March 2024 at Eindhoven Welschap Airport/Air Base-EHEH in the Netherlands. Photo: Rob Martaré.

A General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon the 80-0492 NA of the 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron/474th Tactical Fighter Wing (Tactical Air Command), assigned to Nellis Air Base, Nevada, United States Air Force. Photo was taken at Soesterberg Air Base in The Netherlands, on June 4, 1985 after an emergency landing after witch it was being towed by a Douglas Super Taskmaster aircraft tractor. Photo: Jan Hossebosse.

A Lockheed F-104 Starfighter of the Italian Air Force being towed by an ATA aircraft tractor in April 1984 at Bevekom Air Base (French: Base aérienne de Beauvechain) in the Belgian Walloon Brabant municipality of Bevekom. Photo: Serge D'hollander.

In the photo: A Lockheed C-130 Hercules of the 15th Wing Air Transport of the Belgian Air Force being towed by a Schopf pushback tractor. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a medium-heavy transport aircraft with a four-engine turboprop that was in use by many NATO armed forces, including the Netherlands. In the Belgian Air Force it is been replaced after 47 years of loyal service by the Airbus A400M on December 17, 2021. Photo: Darren Bowers.

An American McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II of the 51th Fighter Wing being towed by a Coleman MB4 aircraft tractor in 1973 at Osan Air Base. Osan Air Base is an airport located near Songton Station in the city of Pyeongteak, South Korea, and serves the air forces of the United States and the Republic of South Korea. Photo: Jim Dennis.

Schleswig/Jagel Air Base is an air base of the German Air Force and home base of the Tactical Luftwaffengeschwader 51 or the Tactical Air Force Wing 51 “Immelmann” which houses reconnaissance variants of the Panavia Tornado. In the picture a Panavia Tornado of the German Tactical Air Force Wing 51 being towed by a Man Le 10.220 truck. Photo: Peter Libbert.

A British Hawker Suddeley Harrier GR.1 fighter jet of the 1 Squadron RAF being towed by a Douglas Turbo Taskmaster aircraft tractor of the 38 Group of the RAF during exercise “Snowy Owl” in March 1972 in West Germany. The exercise is to defend Western Europe against possible Warsaw Pact invasion during the Cold War. The Herrier uses its VSTOL capability which means vertical take-off and landing at locations without airfields allowing it to be close to the battlefield. Photo: Military Pletuex.

A Polish Sukhoi Su-22UM-3K fighter jet of the 1st Tactical Aviation Wing being towed by a Star 266 truck on November 23, 2023 at the 21st Air Base located about 5 kilometers east of Świdwin city center in Poland. Photo: Cezary Adamczewski.

An LTV Aerospace A-7E Corsair II fighter jet of the American Attack Squadron 72 (V-72) being towed by an MD-3A tow/starter tractor on the Forrestal Class super aircraft carrier the USS Saratoga (CV60) witch is located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya for special operations. Photo: Jeanluis.

An American Grumman F8F Bearcat being pushed into the hangar, of the Imperial War Museum Duxford, by a New Holland L60 tractor. This is in preparation for the Flyings Legends show on July 13 and 14, 2019 at Duxford Airport, Cambridge, United Kingdom. The Grumman F8F Bearcat is an American single-engine fighter aircraft introduced at the end of World War II. It served in the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the air forces of other countries until the mid-20th century. Photo: AV8Photo.

On Friday, December 8, 2023 a mass take-off was held at Volkel Air Base with the last F-16s of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Sixteen F-16s were on the flight line, of which thirteen ultimately took to the airspace. Two aircraft were left behind and one ultimately did not participate in the flight. In the picture: One of the F-16s being towed by a Mercede-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor with winter configuration in the form of a snow brush on the nose of the tractor that is also used for runway repair. Photo: DaRe Aviation Photography.

A North American B-25 Mitchell bomber of the Military Aviation of the Royal Dutch East Indies Army (ML-KNIL) being towed from the hangar by an International McCormick-Deering W9 45hp tractor in February 1947 at Tjililitan Airport in Jakarta, Dutch East Indie. After the Japanese capitulation, the B-25s were used, among other things, for passenger and freight transport. During the Police Actions by the Dutch army in the Dutch East Indies, the B-25s were used by the ML-KNIL as a command aircraft to direct operations on the ground from the air. In 1950 when the ML-KNIL was disbanded because the Dutch East Indies became independent under American pressure in 1949, the B-25s were transferred to the Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara (abbreviated: TNI-AU) the Indonesian Air Force. Photo credit: Alamy.

A British Hawk T2 jet trainer from the Flying Training School (FTS) assigned to RAF Valley on the Welsh island of Anglesey. The Hawk T2 is designed to train fighter pilots in air combat and the use of tactical weapons and to prepare them for operational fighter jets in the frontline such as the Typhoon and the Tornado. In the photo the Hawk T2 is being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor. Photo: Kieron Pilbeam.

An American bomber the B-52H Stratofortress “Wise Guy” being towed by an Entwistle Tow Tractor MB-4 Aviation GSE on April 11, 2019 at Davis-Monthan Air Base in the American state Arizona. The B-52H completed over there phase one of its regeneration process at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG). It is being returned to service to replace a B-52 that was lost during takeoff in 2016. This heavy bomber, produced by Boeing, has a large range and is suitable for both nuclear and conventional bombs. Photo: Teresa D. Pittman.

A British McDonnell Douglas TAVB-8B Harrier II being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor on July 15, 2023 during air show the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) held from July 14 to 16, 2023 at RAF Fairford Air Base in England county of Gloucestershire. Photo: James Bamford.

In the photo, an American McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle on the flight line, is coupled to an aircraft tractor, namely an NMC-Wollard Model MB4 Diesel Towing and Push Back Tractor on April 14, 2022 at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in the American state Carolina. The tractor is designed to tow trailers up to 80,000 lbs. and aircraft up to 175,000 lbs. on dry, flat concrete. The pulling force of the MB-4 aircraft tractor is 16,000 lbs. and the unit features four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering for easy maneuverability. The tractor is produced by American manufacturer Wollard International, which has been a global supplier of aviation ground support equipment for more than 70 years. Photo: Mystery Aircraft.

A Dassault Rafale-M of the French Navy being towed by a Sepma K35 deck tow tractor on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaules. The Dassault Rafale was designed and built by aircraft manufacturer Marcel Dassault Industries. An important difference between an Air Force Rafale and the Navy Rafale-M is that the Navy version has a more robust airframe that is necessary for operations on an aircraft carrier that places a unique stress on the aircraft. In the background the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Xavier Vavsseur.

In the photo a Fordson N tractor transporting a bomb trailer for the Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley, a British twin-engine bomber in use with the RAF that was the first of the Bomber Command to fly over Germany during the Second World War. This bomber can now be admired at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta. Photo: Whitley Photo Essay.

A Panavia Tornado IDS (IT MLU) with registration MM7082/6-62 of the Italian Air Force being towed by a Fresia F40T AM*36110 aircraft tractor in April 2024 at Ghedi Air Base (-Tente Lugi Olivari) in Italy. Ghedi Air Base is the home of the Italian Air Force in Ghedi, approximately 15 kilometers from Brescia, northern Italy. It is the base of the 6º Stormo of the Italian Air Force with the 102º Gruppo, the 154º Gruppo and the 155º Gruppo. The Panavia Tornado has been in service with Italy since 1981 and is expected to be retired in 2025. Photo: Domenico Sala.

A German Navy Westland WS-61 Sea King Mk.41 assigned to Nordholz-ETMN Air Base being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor on June 30, 2024 at Koksijde Air Base, Flemish Region, Belgium. The Westland WS-61 Sea King Mk.41 is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 and was specially developed for the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation. The first was put into service for the German Navy in 1972. Photo: FoxOne Photography.

An American Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird an unarmed military reconnaissance aircraft in Portage, Michigan, being towed to the Air Zoo museum by a Coleman G-406 tractor on April 7, 2004. The museum is a world-renowned Smithsonian-affiliated aerospace and science experience near Kalamazoo in the American state Michigan. Photo: mmmtaart in Reddit.

An American Grumman F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) towed by an MD-3A tow tractor on the aircraft carrier the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) in 1979. Photo: K Nice.

In the foreground: An American Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II fighter from Squadron VFA-147 Argonauts is towed across the deck by an A/S32A-49 US Navy Carrier Aircraft Tug on the aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson. Photo: US Navy.

An American Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II being towed by an A/S32A-49 US Navy Carrier Aircraft Tug on March 23, 2018 on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp which is on its way in the Philippine Sea. Photo: Flight Guardian.

David Brown VIGTC310 RAF tractor supplying mines for the Handley Page Hamden flown by the 408 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 in the United Kingdom under the RAF Bomber Command. Photo: Wikimedia from the Imperial War Museum collection.

A Belgian NH90-TTH transport helicopter from the 18 Squadron being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor on February 6, 2023 at Beauvechain Air Base located in the Walloon Brabant municipality of Bevekom. Photo: Thundershot Photography.

The McDonnell F-15C Eagle 78-0509 of the 159th Fighter Wing of the Louisiana Air National Guard is towed to Boeing Plaza during the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) AirVenture Oshkosh air show held July 25 to 31, 2016 at Wittman Regional Airport and the adjacent Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh in the American state Wisconsin. Photo: Carmelo Turdo.

In the background a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, which is a four-engine American heavy bomber designed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). In the foreground a Hebard Shop Mule tractor towing a bomb trailer. All this during the Sywell Airshow, held on June 22 and 23, 2024 at the Sywell Aeodrome home base in the English county of Northhamptonshire in the United Kingdom. The event is organized by #1: Sywell Aeodrome which is a local airport serving the towns of Northampton, Wellingborough, Kettering and Rushden as well as the wider Northamptonshire and by #2: Ultimate Warbird Flights which is the longest established supplier of Spitfire, P- 51 Mustang and Messerschmitt ME109 flights operating in Northhampton since 1985. Photo: Damien Burke.

In weeks 23 and 24 of 2024, the NATO Tiger Meet 2024 exercise was held at the German Air Base Schleswig, in which the Netherlands participated with various types of aircraft. In the photo, a Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II of the 313 Squadron is pushed into the shelter by a Mecedes-Benz Unimog aircraft tractor. Photo: Denis Rolando-Eugio.

A Westland Lynx helicopter of the British Royal Navy Air Force being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor in August 2016 at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, England. Photo: Kev Slade.

A Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II of the Norwegian Air Force being towed by a Fresia Atlas TT aircraft tractor on June 14, 2024 at Bardufoss Air Base in a mountain hangar in Norway. In a war situation, fighter planes on the ground are vulnerable, which is why the Norwegian armed forces spread them across various mountain hangars. These mountain hangars have been boosted to make them better equipped for increased activity by Norwegian and Allied fighter aircraft in Indre Troms which is a vast area along the border with Finland and Sweden. Photo: Forsvaret.

The last Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor for the US Air Force rolled off the assembly line of aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin Aeronautics based in Marietta, Georgia in the United States. This was accompanied with a ceremony on December 13, 2011 in honor of this moment of the last one of the 187 F-22s produced. It marks a bittersweet moment for the members of the F-22 team. Pictured the F-22 is towed out of the hangar by an MT Textron GSE aircraft tractor. Photo: Danielle Purnell.

A McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet of the Swiss Air Force being towed by a Douglas Tugmaster DC 5 aircraft tractor 24T 4x2 on june 7, 2024 at Payerne Air Base in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. Photo: Pat Patrick.

A Swedish Saab Grippen fighter plane of the Skaraborg Air Force Wing being towed by a Volvo FL408 Diesel truck on May 29, 2021 at a main airbase near Lidköping in the south of central Sweden. The fighter plane was developed and produced by Saab and the name “Grippen” is Swedish for Griffon. Photo: Jörgen Nilsson Photography.

A South African Atlas TP-1 Oryx helicopter being towed by a Clark GT/DT aircraft tractor during the SAAF Museum Airshow held on 4 May 2024 at Swartkop Air Base located in the city of Centurion in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Swartkop Air Force Base is the oldest air base in South Africa and was founded in April 1921 and Swartkop means Black Hill in Afrikaans and houses the SAAF (South African Air Force) Museum. Photo: Rayno Snyman Photography.

An American Republic F-105 Thunderchief being towed by a Harlan HTAG-40 aircraft tractor on June 3, 2024 at the Palm Spring Museum, located on the northeast side of Palm Spring International Airport in the American state California. The F-105 was a supersonic fighter/bomber that was used among other things during the Vietnam War and was the successor to the Republic F-84 Thunderstreak. The museum consists of three large exhibition hangars, a theater, a gift shop, an airport entrance for flight demonstrations, a research library, a simulator and an education center. Photo: Uretsky Aviation.

A Dassault Super Etendard fighter jet of the French Naval Aviation Service being towed by a Sepma K-60 Marine aircraft tractor during the NATO Tigermeet air show held from 22 to 29 June 2008 at the Landivisiau naval air base located between Brest and Morlaix in northwestern France. Fighter jet and aircraft tractor are painted in special tiger configuration. Photo: Paul Schaller.

A Convair XF-92A being towed in a hangar at the US Air Force National Museum by a Harlan HTA80 Cummins Diesel 8k DBP aircraft tractor on June 2, 2024. The Consvair (Consolidated Vultee Aircraft) was the world's first delta wing aircraft used for research which eventually led to the F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart interceptor aircraft. The aircraft manufacturer is the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Coporation which was created between a merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft in 1943. The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton in the U.S. state of Ohio. Photo: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

An American McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle being towed by an NMC-Wollard Model 100 aircraft tractor at the Air Hertage Aviation Museum on May 25, 2024. The Air Heritage Aviation Museum is located in a large hangar at Beaver County Airport, in the American state Pennsylvania. The F-15 is getting a small make-over there. Photo: Air Heritage Aviation Museum.

A hawker Fury MK.II being towed by a Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi V8 Automatic on May 30, 2024 at Duxford airfield. Preparation for disply at the Battle of Britain Airshow on June 1 & 2, 2024 at Duxford airfield. Photo: Imperial War Museum Duxford.

A restored 1942 Douglas C-53 Skytrooper “Beach City Baby”, an American military troop transporter that will be towed by an Eagle TT-8 AWD aircraft tractor on June 2, 2023 at Casa Grande Airport in Pinal County in the American state of Arizona. Over the past 7 years, remarkable efforts have been made by Jason Capra and his team at Vintage Wings Inc. to get this aircraft back into an airworthy condition. Photo: Joshua Gilliland.

In the foreground a SEPECAT Jaguar fighter-bomber of the French Air and Space Force Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence being towed to the hangar by a Tracma TD1500C aircraft tractor in early 2003 at Saint-Dizier-Robinson Air Base located in the Haute-Marne department of the Champagne-Ardenne region in northeastern France. The SEPECAT Jaguar is a fighter-bomber that was developed in the early 1960s by a French-British partnership between the companies Bréguet and British Aerospace. SEPECAT is the abbreviation of: Société Européenne de Production de l'Avion d'École de Combat et d'Appui Tactique (European company for the production of combat training and tactical support aircraft). Photo: A. Paringaux.

In the photo: A Havilland DH.104 Dove being towed by a Farmall H tractor to the Experimental Aircraft Association hangar at Meadow Lake Airport, Peyton in the US state of Colorado on May 18, 2024. The aircraft is an English twin-engine metal low-decker passenger aircraft from built by Havilland Aircraft Company just after the Second World War. The tractor is a medium-sized two-plow tractor built from 1939 to 1954 by the American manufacturer International Havester under the Farmall brand. Photo: Ethan Springer.

In the photo: A Eurofighter Typhoon of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor during exercise Cobra Warrior, which was held from March 9 to March 24, 2023. The Royal Saudi Air Force operated six Typhoons from Coningsby Air Base , Lincoln, United Kingdom. Exercise Cobra Warrior takes place twice a year and is the Royal Air Force's largest aerial exercise and is designed to train participants of allied Air Forces in high-intensity tactical air combat operations and is led by personnel from Waddington Air Base in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. Photo: Ian Hampson.

A decommissioned McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA-112) at Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas, United States, being towed by an A/S32A-45 Mid Range Tow Tractor on January 25, 2024. The F/A-18A is moved from Fort North to Westworth Village City Hall by the Marines of VMFA-112 in collaboration with local police. Photos: Petty Officer 2nd Class Oscar Diaz.

Static by the Westworth Village City Hall:

A Spanish Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star being towed by an Iberia aircraft tractor on May 11, 2024 at the aviation museum at Sabadell Airport. The airport is located southeast of the Catalan city of Sabadell in Spain. All aircraft from the museum's forward platform will be moved to the side field, allowing for better display and easier access to perform maintenance tasks. Photo: Fundació Parc Aeronautic de Catalunya.

A Dutch Republic RF-84F Thunderflash, the P-14 photo reconnaissance aircraft of the 306 Squadron stationed at Deelen Air Base, is being prepared for the next flight on January 11, 1957. In the foreground a Clarktor CT40 aircraft tractor and in the background the M-1 building. The P-14 was operational with the Royal Netherlands Air Force from October 1956 to March 1963 and then went to Turkey. Photo: Jan Scholten.

A French Dassault Mirage IIIB2-RV with registration number 247 being towed by a Tracma TD1500C aircraft tractor on May 14, 2024 at the Museum Canopee Châteaudun at Châteaudun Air Base east of Le Mans in France. The French Air and Space Force left Châteaudun Air Base on July 21, 2021 and to this day, Châteaudun's main purpose is the storage of all French military aircraft that have been decommissioned. Photo: La collection Canopee à Châteaudun.

In the background a Boeing Defense & Space Industries AH-64 Apache helicopter of the Royal Netherlands Air Force being towed by an ATA E800 electric aircraft tractor at Gilze-Rijen Air Base. Photo: Levi Duursma.

A Boeing-built MQ-25A T-1 unmanned aircraft is tested aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on December 21, 2021 in a remote oceanic region. Pictured is this $150 million ultra-modern drone being towed by an A/S32A-49 US Navy Carrier Aircraft Tug. Photo: The Daily Aviation.

The new colors have been unveiled of the McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet of the demonstration team of the 1st Canadian Air Division on May 4, 2024. This in honor of the hundredth anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force on April 1, 2024. Almost all photos show the Hornet towed by a Sellick aircraft tractor at Cold Lake Air Base in Canada. Photos: Canadian Forces CF18 Demo Team.

An American McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, the latest version of the US Air Force's main interceptor, assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force, Lakenheath in England, during exercise Juniper Falcon at Uvda Air Base in Israel that was held on May 7 to 18, 2017. This exercise takes place every year at many Air Bases including at this one and is held between the American, European Command and Israeli Defense Force. In the photo the F-15E being towed by an aircraft tractor without a towbar, the NadHaf IAF Equipment. Photo: AiirSource.

A Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon of the American Air Demonstration Squadron the “Thunderbirds”, one of six towed by a Ford F-350 Bobtail airfield tractor during the California Capital Airshow held on September 24, 2021 at Mather Airport in Sacramento, California in the United States. In addition to demonstrating the elite skills all pilots must possess, the “Thunderbirds” demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the U.S. Air Force's premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Photo: Oscar Garza.

On April 22, 2024, the new color scheme was unveiled of the Typhoon demonstration aircraft the ZJ913 of the 29 squadron at Coningsby Air Base in Lincolnshire of the Royal United Kingdom Air Force. It was designed to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 2024. In addition to the camouflage and iconic black and white stripes used by most Allied aircraft on D-Day, the ZJ913 also carries the letters FM-G on both sides, which is a specific code representing the Hawker Typhoon, which was flown by Denzil Jenkins the commander of 257 Squadron at the end of the Second World War. In the photo is the ZJ913 being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor. Photo: Daniel Kennedy Photography.

June 4, 2013, the restored Dutch Lockheed F-104 Starfighter D-8114 gets a much-needed wash in the wash hangar at Volkel Air Base. After all, he has to look his best for the Air Force Days in just under two weeks on June 14 and 15, 2013 at Volkel Air Base. Unfortunately, you don't have to look at it very closely, as there are still plenty of details that need to be worked on. For the time being, we (Historic Aircraft Volkel) have been happy that we have been able to put the big pieces together. In the photo the D-8114 is portrayed together with a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor. Photo: Theo Van Den Boomen.

A McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet of the Swiss Air Force being towed by a Douglas Tugmaster DC5 aircraft tractor on May 16, 2020 at Payerne Military Air Base in Switzerland. Photo: Urs Wittwer.

In the photo an American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor being towed by an NMC-Wollard 200MB4V2 aircraft tractor on February 2, 2024 at Nellis Air Force Base in the American state of Nevada. This F-22 Raptor assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base in the American state of Alaska is about to be refueled by a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Charleston Air Force Base in the American state of South Carolina. Refueling is intended to give the US Air Force fleet more flexibility in combat, increasing the capabilities of each aircraft. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is the most advanced fighter aircraft of the US Air Force. The fighter jet is produced in parts by the companies Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Boeing and Pratt & Whitney. Photo: Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Tan.

A Swiss Air Force McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet being towed by a Douglas Tugmaster DC 5 aircraft tractor on November 20, 2022 during Exercise Yorknight at RAF Leeming located near Leeming, North Yorkshire, England. Exercise Yorknite, held from November 15 to December 9, 2022, is the annual night flying training of the Swiss Air Force with the F/A-18C Hornets intended to develop and qualify the night flying skills of the pilots. Photo: Colin Norwood.

A replica of the German Messersmitt Me262 one of 5 reconstructions carried out by the European Airbus being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor on July 17, 2023 at RAF Coningsby in the Lincolnshire district, England. The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed Schwalbe, was the first operational fighter aircraft powered by jet engines. The aircraft was used to a limited extent by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Two Messersmitt Me 262s are now flying at air shows again. They have been recreated from a Me 262B-1a captured by the Americans, but with modern jet engines. Photos: Dave Gledhill.

The Philippine Armed Forces Western Command (WESCO) is preparing for the Balikatan exercise in Palawan. From April 22 to May 10, 2024, joint training with U.S. forces will enhance readiness. During Balikatan Exercise 2024, participants will conduct a series of complex missions in various domains, including maritime security, detection and targeting, air and missile defense, dynamic missile attacks, cyber defense and information operations. In the photo, the American participating Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion helicopter is towed by a BT-10 baggage tow tractor on April 19, 2024 at Antonio Bautista air base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan in the Philippines. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines.

NOW ON DISPLAY at the Pima Air and Space aerospace museum:

The Lockheed P-3B Orion (s/n 155299) airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for US Customs and Border Protection.

It started out in 1968 with the Royal Australian Air Force for almost 15 years. Then it became the first of eight to receive AEW&C modifications and spent 35 years with US Customs, minus a short loan to the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps.

Fun fact: the “P” in P-51 stood for “pursuit” but this transitioned into “F” for “fighter”. The “P” in P-3 stands for “patrol” as defined by the 1962 U.S. Tri-Service aircraft designation system.

In the picture the Lockheed P-3B Orion is being towed by a Grove MB2 Pushback tractor on April 17, 2024 at the Pima Air and Space aerospace museum located in the city of Tucson in the southern part of the American state of Arizona. Photo: Pima Air and Space.

The David Brown VIGTC310 RAF aircraft tractor was a common sight on British airfields throughout the Second World War and until the mid-1950s, where it was used extensively for towing bombs and aircraft, such as the Avro Lancaster NX611 bomber, which is pictured together with the David Brown at the RAF Spilsby Memorial Museum near the market town of Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England. Photo: Robert Griffiths.

A German Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon S the 30+90 of the Air Force Squadron 71 (Luftwaffengeschwader 71) “Richthofen” being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U300 on March 23, 2017 at NATO Wittmund Air Base in Germany. On the occasion of its restoration as an independent Air Force squadron on July 1, 2016, the 30+90 received this special color scheme named after the heroic German pilot from the First World War “Manfred von Richthofen” or the “Red Baron”. Photo: Manfred Gerdes.

A South African Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III helicopter being towed by a Toyota TD25 Baggage Tractor on February 23, 2023 at the South Africa Air Force Museum at Ysterplaat Air Force Base on the southwestern coast of South Africa. The Aérospatiale SE 3160 / SA 316 / SA 319 Alouette III is a light helicopter with seven seats and one turbo engine, produced by the French manufacturer Sud-Aviation, later Aérospatiale, today EADS and Eurocopter. Photo: Norman Larsen.

A McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft from the flight demonstration team of the 1st Canadian Air Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force being pushed into the shelter by a Sellick Aicraft Tow Tug on March 26, 2024 at Cold Lake Air Base in the province of Alberta, Canada. In that shelter, the fighter aircraft will be provided with a new color scheme in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force on April 1, 2024. Photo: Canadian Forces CF18 Demo Team.

A Bayraktar Kizilelma (English: Red Apple) is an unmanned fighter aircraft that is towed by an (unknown to me) aircraft tractor during the Teknofest festival that was held from August 30 to September 3, 2023 at Ankara Airport, Esenboğa in Turkey. The Bayraktar Kızılelma is a single-engine, jet-powered, radar-imperceptible and aircraft carrier-suitable unmanned combat aircraft currently under development by the Turkish defense company Baykar. Teknofest is Turkey's first and only aerospace and technology festival organized by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation) and the Ministry of Industry and Technology and supported by institutions that play a crucial role in technological development of Turkey.

Photo: Mʌʜɘɗɩ ʜʌssʌŋ Rʌɓɓɩ.

The Commercial Aircraft Company of China, or COMAC, has rolled out its new C919 medium-range aircraft. The twin-engine aircraft is China's answer to industrial giants such as the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320. In the picture it is being towed by a Push Back GT15D aircraft tractor suitable for aircraft up to 125 tons. Photo: Wan Quan.

A Soviet-built MiG-23MS (NATO nickname: “Flogger”) being towed by a Harlan aircraft tractor at the National Museum of US Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, United States. The US Air Force's 4477th Test Squadron, the “Red Eagles”, flew this aircraft during Project Constant Peg, a top secret program to train American fighter pilots to fly against Soviet aircraft. In February 2017, this aircraft was released and transferred to the National Museum of US Air Force.

Photo: Ken LaRock.

The 'Flying Legends' air show is organised and produced by 'The Fighter Collection', based at Duxford in Cambridgeshire. This event took place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July 2017 and combined the flying displays of historic warbirds, along with engaging nostalgic activities, to create an authentic 1940s atmosphere at IWM Duxford's wartime airfield.
In the picture a Noorduyn MK.IIB Harvard FE 695 G-BTXI being towed by a New Holland L60 tractor.

Photo: Plane Talking UK Podcast.

The British Ministry of Defense announced on October 1, 2019 that on October 13, 2019, British Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightnings (that's not a spelling mistake, Great Britain has actually adopted the designation "Lightning" instead of the "Lightning II" used by all other nations) landed for the first time on the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, which was currently sailing off the American east coast for the deployment of the “Westlant 19” Carrier Strike Group. In the photo a British F-35B Lightning is being towed by a Schopf F59N RN Deck Tractor. Photo: Crown Copyright.

A German Panavia Tornado IDS the 45+59 of Taktische Luftwaffengeschwader 51 “Immelmann” (TLG-51) being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U300 aircraft tractor on June 14, 2023 at Jagel Air Base, Schleswig, Germany.

Photo: Mariusz Wozniak | netAirspace.

An Antonov AN-124-100 (NATO reporting name: Condor) of the Ukrainian Antonov Airlines visited Gilze-Rijen Air Base on April 5, 2024 to transport a Boeing CH-47 Chinook to Iraq as part of the military commitment of the Netherlands to the NATO mission there. The Chinook is from the 298 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force stationed at Gilze-Rijen Air Base. Two more Chinooks will be heading that way later this month. The Antonov was already at Eindhoven Air Base earlier this week on April 3, 2024. In the photo the Chinook is being pushed into the Antonov International Cargo Transporter by an ATA E800 electric tractor. Photo comes from the Facebook page: 298 Sqn RNLAF.

An Indian Air Force Dassault Mirage 2000 being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor on February 27, 2023 at RAF Waddington, 7 km south of Lincoln in England. It is one of the 70 aircraft that participated in Exercise Cobra Warrior, which was held from March 2 to 24, 2023 at RAF Waddington. The exercise takes place twice a year and is the largest air exercise of the Royal Air Force. It is designed to train participants in high-intensity tactical air combat operations and is led by ground crews from RAF Waddington. Participants from the air force detachments from United Kingdom, Belgium and the United States and for the first time from Finland, India and Saudi Arabia. Photo: Phil Mc.

A British Blackburn/Hawker Siddely Buccaneer S2B, XX894, is towed by a Massey Ferguson MF-50 aircraft tractor on April 1, 2024 at its home base at Cotswold Airport, a private airport near the village of Kemble in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. The Blackburn Buccaneer S2B was a low-level subsonic attack aircraft first introduced in 1973 that could be equipped with both conventional and nuclear weapons and served in the Royal Navy (RN) and later the Royal Air Force (RAF) and in 1994 with was retired and replaced by the Panavia Tornado. Cotswold airport is also home to “The Buccaneer Aviation Group” (TBAG), a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the two ex-Royal Air Force Buccaneer aircraft XX894 and XW544.

Photo: Plane Richie.

A Grumman EA-6B Prowler being towed by an A/S32A-45 Mid Range Tow Tractor on September 23, 2019 from his permanent position by the San Diego Air & Space Museum in California to the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar also San Diego in California. This for the Miramar Air Show that will be held there from September 27 to 29, 2019.

Photo comes from the Facebook page: Warbirds Photography California.

A German McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom II the 38+10 of the Tactical Air Force Wing 71 “Richthoven” (Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71) being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U300 on May 21, 2013 at the NATO airport Wittmundhaven in Nedersaksen, Germany. The German Air Force phased out the last F-4F Phantoms in 2013, with the last flying on June 29, 2013, the Wing was already equipped with the replacement, the Eurofighter Typhoon EF2000. Photo: Christoph Stiegler.

A Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II being towed by a Toyota TD25 aircraft tractor at Williamtown Air Base, New South Wales, Australia on March 29, 2024. Photo: G.E.G. Aviation Photography.

A PZL-130 Orlik TC-1/2 Turboprop aircraft of the Orlik aerobatic team of the Polish Air Force being towed by a Frasia F40T AM*36110 aircraft tractor during the team's 20th anniversary celebration on April 20, 2018 at the Airport Radom-Sadków, Poland.

Photo: Sebastiano Polga.

A Dutch General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon Block 20 MLU the J-061 that was built under license by Fokker with a tail emblem of the 323 Squadron and operational since March 16, 1989 is now used as an instruction aircraft for the AMTC. The AMTC (Aircraft Maintenance Training Centre) is a training dock at Leeuwarden Air Base for MBO (Secondary Vocational Education) students who study aeronautical engineering at the ROCs (Regional Training Centers). In the photo, the J-061 is being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor at Leeuwarden Air Base on February 27, 2024. Photo: Harry Doesburg.

Een Nederlandse General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon Block 20 MLU de J-061 die onder licentie gebouwd is door Fokker met een staartembleem van het 323 Squadron en operationeel sinds 16 maart 1989 wordt nu in het heden gebruikt als instructiekist voor de AMTC. Het AMTC (Aircraft Maintenance Training Centre) is een opleidings dock op Vliegbasis Leeuwarden voor MBO (Middelbaar Beroeps Onderwijs) leerlingen die luchtvaarttechniek studeren aan de ROC's (Regionaal Opleidingscentrums). Op de foto wordt de J-061 versleept door een Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K vliegtuigtrekker op Vliegbasis Leeuwarden op 27 februari 2024. Foto: Harry Doesburg.

The towbarless towing of a McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet of the Swiss Air Force by a Lektro AP8850SDA-M electric aircraft tractor on August 11, 2015 at the Emmen Military Air Base located in the northwest of Lucerne in Switzerland.

Photo: Marschel Photography.

A French Air Force Dassault Mirage 2000D being towed by a Tracma TD1500C aircraft tractor on January 10, 2020 at the Mirage 2000D maintenance workshops at Nancy-Ochey Air Base in France. Photo: Fred Maraux.

A South Korean KAI KUH-1 Surion helicopter of Airline Korean Aerospace Industries being towed by a baggage tractor during the Dubai Airshow held from November 13 to 17, 2023 at Dubai Airport in Dubai World Central (DWC), United Arab Emirates.

Photo: Mirco Bonato.

A restored North-American P-51D Mustang being towed by a Harlan Classic Model HT aircraft tractor on November 11, 2023 at the Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre at Ohakea Air Base in New Zealand. Photo: Brendon Deere.

The U.S. Air Force Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk drone being towed by a Ford F350 Bobtail Aircraft Tow Tractor on May 24, 2014 at Misawa Air Base in Japan. This is for the summer deployment of the drone from Andersen Air Force Base on the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean. The island is a separate territory of the United States and is not independent.

Photo: The Air Show.

A General Dynamic F-16A Block 10D Fighting Falcon with registration 80-0509 of the United States Air Force being towed by a Dodge Bobtail aircraft tug at the Pima Air and Space aerospace museum located in the city of Tucson in the southern part of the American state of Aizona. This year the aircraft is 50 years old, it made its first flight in 1974 and now belongs to the museum's demonstration team. Pima Air and Space is one of the largest aerospace museum in the world. It covers an area of 80 hectares and has six hangars and a number of 425 aircraft. Photo: Pima Air and Space.

A General Dynamics F-16A MLU Block 15 Fighting Falcon of the 53rd Fighter Squadron of the Romanian Air Force being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor in May 2024 at the 86th Air Base "Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniță". This Air Base is located in the municipality of Borcea in the province of Călăraşi near the city of Feteşti in Romania. Photo: Plane Spotters Bacău.

A Havilland Canada CC-132 Dash7 of the Royal Canadian Air Force being towed by a Clarktor CT50 at the De Havilland Canada Limited (DHC) aircraft factory at Downsview Airport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Only 105 of the Dash7 were built by that aircraft manufacturer, two of which were purchased by the Royal Canadian Air Force and used mainly in Europe for personnel transport between 1979 and 1988. Photo: Mike Keahler.

A German Junkers Ju-52/3M from the Luftwaffe with registration F-AZJU being towed by a Fiat 670B agricultural tractor on June 9, 2019 at the Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis Aviation Museum located at the Aérodrome de Cerny in Ferté-Alais near Paris. The Junkers Ju-52/3M was used in the Second World War as a bomber and for dropping paratroopers and now belongs to the collection of that museum, which has more than 50 aircraft from the period of the Second World War from 1939 to 1945.

Photo: Didier Deforche.

A German Eurofighter Typhoon (Eurofighter EFA 2000) of the Tactical Air Force Squadron 74 being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U300 on October 17, 2023 at Neuburg Air Force Base in Bavaria, Germany. Neuburg is located on the Danube River and there lies one of the four Eurofighter bases of the German Air Force. Photo: Wolfgang Diwisch.

A Mikjan-Goerevitsj MiG-21 (NATO reporting name: Fishbed / Mongol) formerly the 919 of the East German Air Force and then after the fall of the Iron Curtain the 2240 of the Luftwaffe. This MiG-21 was then used as static display for the open day at the Dutch (Thirth Groups of Guided Weapons) 3GGW at Blomberg in Germany and after the dissolution of 3GGW in Blomberg it was taken to the Netherlands where it served as a gatekeeper at the former 804 squadron of the (Groups of Guided Weapons) GGW at De Peel Air Base. In the photo the Mig-21 is being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K on March 31, 2006 at De Peel Air Base. Photo: Rene Wilthof.

A CT-133 Silver Star of the Red Knight, the demo team of the Royal Canadian Air Force, being towed by a TUG MA30 baggage tractor on November 6, 2021 at the Jet Aircraft Museum located at London International Airport, Ontario in Canada. This tractor, the TUG MA30, was built by the American ground support equipment manufacturer TUG Technologies in Kennesaw, Georgia. The design is closely modeled on the classic Clarktor CT6 but has a contemporary engine and transmission and is widely used at American airports. Photo: Jim L. Fisk.

A Chengdu JF-17 Thunder of the 26 Squadron 'Black Spiders' of the Pakistan Air Force being towed by a Douglas Equipment DB50 aircraft tractor for the static display during the Farnborough International Airshow held from July 19 to 25, 2010. This Airshow Held every 2 years at the former Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire in England.

Photo: Mark Taylor.

A General Dynamics (Fokker) F-16AM Fighting Falcon block 20 MLU of the display team of the Royal Netherlands Air Force being towed by a Mecedes-Benz Unimog U1400 during the ILA Berlin Air Show at Schönefeld Air Base, Berlin, Germany which was held from May 16 to 21, 2006. The ILA Berlin Air Show in German 'die Internationale Luft- und Raumfahrtausstellung' is a major trade fair for the aerospace and defense industry with a public air show that attracted more than 250,000 visitors in 2006. The F-16AM J-055 gave a spirited demonstration of its flying skills. Photo: Bernie Brink.

The 31st Tactical Wing Boelcke in Nörvenich Air Base in Germany revealed their special painted EF2000 Eurofighter Typhoon 31+31, celebrating 125 years of Oswald Boelcke. Oswald Boelcke was one of the most famous German fighter pilots in the First World War and who developed the first principles of air combat tactics. This is bundled in the "Dicta Boelcke", which is a list of eight fundamental rules regarding air combat. In the photo the Typhoon is towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U300 on July 18, 2016. Photo: Resi Krückel.

A General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon Block 15, built under license by the Fokker aircraft factory, with registration J-015, being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K during the Air Force Open Days at Volkel Air Base held on June 18 and 19, 2009. With its beautiful color design, it is part of the F-16 Demo Team of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The administrator of the AirTeamCanon page had a nice quote about this F-16: “The Mighty Lion of the Netherlands, reveals her claws”, about the performance of the J-015 at the 2013 air show of Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford, England thatwas held on July 20 and 21, 2013. Photo: Theo Rombout.

On March 1, 2024, there was a delivery of two new Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters, the Q-41 and Q-42 from America, for the Royal Netherlands Air Force at Woensdrecht Air Base. These Apaches were built at the Boeing factory in Arizona near Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, United States. The transport of the two Apaches was provided by a C-17A Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft of the US Air Force. In the photo, the Q-42 is being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor. Photo: Jan Klijs.

An Agusta-Bell AB-212AM helicopter of the Italian Air Force being towed by a Tracma TD1500C aircraft tractor during the NATO Tigermeet 2019 at the French Air Base Mont-de-Marsan, held from 13 to 24 May 2019 with a spotters day on May 17. The participants of the Tigermeet 2019 were the NATO countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom and partner Austria. More than 1,500 military personnel consisting of air and ground crews and air traffic controllers, 60 fighter jets and 13 helicopters were involved in this exercise, which involved flying in large mixed aircraft formations to further sharpen skills and apply techniques and procedures. Photo comes from the Facebook page: CUBO Photo Milano.

A Royal Air Force Panavia Tornado GR4 being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor at RAF Marham in Norfolk, England, on February 28, 2019. The Royal Air Force retired its last Panavia Tornado GR4s on April 1, 2019 after an incredible career of almost four decades with their remarkable track record. Photo: Tim Clarke.

An AgustaWestland Apache AH-1 helicopter, which is a British license-built American Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopter, which has already been completely stripped and is being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor to a site for destruction at Wattisham Airport in Suffolk, England on February 14, 2024. This comes as the British Army's Apache AH-1 helicopter fleet is being replaced by the new Apache AH-64E helicopter, which the British Army describes as more lethal, agile and survivable than previous versions. Photo: Tom McGhee.

An American Grumman F8F Bearcat being towed by a Massey Ferguson 575 tractor during the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show held on September 23-24, 2017 at RAF Duxford, England, United Kingdom. The Grumman F8F Bearcat is an American single-engine carrier-based fighter aircraft introduced at the end of World War II. It served in the US Navy in the mid-20th century and was the last piston-engine aircraft from aircraft manufacturer Grumman Aicraft. Photo: Andrew Waller.

An American restored Lockheed P-38 Lightning “White” being towed by a Hebard Shop Mule aircraft tractor in October 2016 at the National Museum of World War II Aviation located in Colorado Springs. This aircraft is a twin-engine fighter during World War II and made its first flight in 70 years before the end of 2015. It will make its first public flight after the restoration at the 2024 Pikes Peak Regional Airshow also in Colorado Springs. Photo: John Guzzi Photography.

A U.S. Air Force Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber operational with the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, is towed into the parking lot by a USAF B-450 tow tractor at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii on February 12, 2012. This B-2 is one of four bombers currently deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, the southernmost island of the Mariana Islands, a group of islands west of the Mariana Trench in Micronesia, as part of the continued presence of bombers in the American Pacific. Photo: Shane A. Cuomo.

A Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey of the United States Air Force is an American made multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short take-off and landing (STOL). In the picture it has been towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor at RAF Mildenhall operated by the Americans in Suffolk, England and it is been checking before departing the base. Photo: Ron Ella.

The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is an American high-altitude unmanned aircraft developed for and flown by the United States Navy as a surveillance aircraft. Together with its associated ground control station, it is an unmanned aircraft system. In the photo it is being towed by an A/S32A-45 Mid Range Tow Tractor at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, on December 16, 2021. Photo: Colin Demarest.

A Polish Air Force General Dynamic F-16D 4086 stationed at Warsaw Chopin Airport, Poland is towed by a Ford F-350 Bobtail Aircraft Tow Tractor. Photo comes from the Facebook page: Military Aircraft.

A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner N789 EX being towed by an FM58AB Schopf F300 aircraft tractor during the Farnborough Air Show held from 14 to 20 July 2014. The aircraft was the main participation of the Boeing team at this Air Show on Farnborough Airport which is a general aviation business and executive airport in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire in England. The Boeing team is from the global aerospace company Boeing, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Glenn Stanley.

Hawker Hunter N-321 being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K among the flowers at Gilze-Rijen air base, October 24, 2013. This Hunter T.8C with fake registration N-321 flew for the Dutch Hawker Hunter Foundation for several years. But because it suffered from too many technical problems to keep it in the air, it was discarded. In its place, a Hunter two-seater mk.68 from Switzerland (ex-J-4205) arrived in the course of 2021, which will fly with the Dutch Hawker Hunter Foundation in an RNLAF scheme with fake registration N-322. Source: IPMS Netherlands. Photo: Antoine Bosboom.

A B-29 Superfortress bomber “Doc” being towed by a TLD TMX-50 aircraft tow tractor at Boeing Field/King County International Airport, Seattle, Washington state on May 23, 2022. The B-29 has been restored by volunteers at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, near the factory where this B-29 was built in 1944 and made its first flight since 1956 on July 17, 2016. Photo from the Facebook page: Modern Aviation.

A Boeing AH-6 Light Attack Helicopter towed by a Northwestern-Wollard NMC-100 aircraft tractor. AH-6 is a light attack and reconnaissance helicopter built on 30 years of special operations experience and AH-64 Apache helicopter development experience. Photo from Facebook page: Military Aircraft.

A Panavia Tornado ECR 46+29 of the German Air Force being towed by a Tracma TD1500C aircraft tractor during the 50th edition of the NATO Tiger Meet at 103 Cambrai-Épinoy Air Base, France, held from 9 to 20 May 2011. This Tornado operates with the Jagdbomberstaffel 321/Jagdbombergeschwader 32 (1./JaboG 32 ECR) (ECR=electronic combat/reconnaissance) with its home base at Leichfeld Air Base, Germany. Photo: René Vink.

A Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon based at Ellington Marine Airport, Houston, Texas, United States being towed by an NMC-Wollard Model 140 Tow Tractor. This heavy-duty helicopter meets the U.S. Navy's need for long-range minesweeping or airborne mine countermeasures missions and performs heavy-duty tasks for the Navy. Photo: Edar Armarkar Aviation Photography.

A Republic P-47D Thunderbolt “Bonnie” being towed by a Clarktor 6 Towing Tractor at its home base at the Dakota Territory Air Museum in Minot, North Dakota on September 11, 2023. The Thunderbolt was considered one of the best American fighters of World War II. The "Bonnie" is the personal aircraft of the 460th Fighter Squadron commander Bill Dunham who flew it for the first time after an 8-year restoration and it was almost 80 years ago that this aircraft flew again and is the only one Thunderbolt who is still flying. The first public dubut was during the EAA AirVenture 2023 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin from July 24 to 30, 2023. Photo: Aerial Visuals.

A Pilatus PC-21 of the Swiss Air Force being towed by a Still-R07-25 electric tractor at Meiringen Air Base on May 21, 2021. The Pilatus PC-21 is a turboprop-powered advanced trainer with a stepped tandem cockpit. It is manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. Meiringen Air Base, also known as Unterbach Military Airfield located near the hamlet of Unterbach and the town Meiringen in the canton of Bern. It is one of three main airbases of the Swiss Air Force. Photo: foto-bear.

A North American F-86F Sabre being towed back to the Planes of Fame Air Museum by a Clarktor 6 towing tractor at the Living History Flying Day on June 3, 2017. The Planes of Fame Air Museum is an aviation museum in Chino, California. The museum has many flying and static aircraft, along with several rare examples that are under restoration. Photo: Britt Dietz.

A McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk, which was stationed aboard the USS Lexington carrier, being towed by an A/S 32A Suport Equipment Aircraft Tow Tractor away from the flightline at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi, United States on September 23, 1998. Photo: Peter Steendam.

PAF = Projectburo Afstoting F-16 (F-16 Removal Project Bureau), founded by the Dutch armed forces on April 13, 2016. This includes the sale of 15 F-16s from the Royal Netherlands Air Force to Jordan Air Force. In the photo the J-638, one of the F-16s sold to Jordan, being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K at Volkel Air Base on November 7, 2017. Photo: Tim Jonkers.

A Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II the F-008 of the Training Detachment the 308th Fighter Squadron stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in the United States, being towed by an Eagle TT-8 aircraft tractor during the open days of the Royal Netherlands Air Force at Volkel Air Base that was held on June 14 and 15, 2019. The F-35 was part of the static show that was set up on the parallel runway and in the visitors area. Photo: Landing Linker.

A General Dynamics F-16C/D Fighting Falcon of the Turkish Air Force being towed by a Ford F-350 Bobtail Aircraft Tow Tractor at Military Air Force Base Konya in Turkey in January 2024. The part of the Base that can be seen in the photo is on the south-west side at the so called S-Ramp. The tow tractor is actually an Eagle EB2-5 Bob Tail high-speed freight tractor which is built on a Ford Super Duty F-350 Chassis. Photo comes from the Facebook page: Ninj9K.

A British McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II of No. 74 Tigers Squadron aerobatic display team, based at RAF Wattisham, Sulffolk, England, being towed by a Massey Ferguson MF-50 aircraft tractor (known as 'Trevor') during the Air Show at RAF Waddington, Lancashire, England witch was held on June 28, 1996. Photo: Bill O'Sullivan.

A Boeing AH-64DN Apache helicopter with registration Q-14 of the 301 Squadron at Gilze-Rijen Air Base, which is part of the Defense Helicopter Command of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, is towed back to the hangar by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor after a flight on April 15, 2015. The Defense Helicopter Command (DHC) operates in the Netherlands from 3 locations: In addition to Gilze-Rijen Air Base, also at Deelen Air Base and De Kooy Maritime Air Base. In America in the state of Taxas there is also a unit at Fort Hood where every helicopter pilot goes for training. Photo: Jimmy van Drunen.

A Boeing 737 of the airline Corendon Airlines being towed by a Douglas 44 FL138 (ex-KLM) aircraft tractor at Twenthe Airport on January 20, 2024. It was the last landing for that aircraft because it has been phased out and it is being towed to a platform where it is being dismantled by the Aircraft-End-of-Life company. Photo: Tim Volmer.

Harald Haan maintenance of rolling stock: Douglas 44 FL138 (ex-KLM) before and after quite a bit of welding, now in the colors of Twenthe Airport. Photos: Harald Haan.

An RAF Westland Sea King HAR.3 SAR helicopter, a British license-built version of the American one, being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor during air show at RAF Cosford in Shropshire, England on June 12, 2022. At the air show were 50 thousand visitors attended and was the first show since the corona pandemic. Photo: Paul Atkin.

An image of an aircraft tractor frequently used on US Navy aircraft carriers, the A/AS32A-32 Tractor Combo. Photo: Kai Wolters.

A Portuguese General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor during the Real Thaw 2022 exercise held at 'Base Aérea No. 11' in Beja, Portugal from June 26 to July 8. Photo: Antonio Godinho.

An American McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle of the 104th Fighter Wing of Massachusetts Air National Guard (ANG) being towed by an NMC-Wollard Flightline Tow Tractor MB4 on November 3, 2022. Photo: Danielle Gorla Lambert.

A Czech Dassault-Breguet-Dornier Alpha Jet E aircraft of airline The Flying Bulls being towed by a MULAG Comet 4E aircraft tractor at Zeltweg military airport, Austria on August 19, 2023. The aircraft belongs to the Czech air aerobatic team and is in the colors sprayed from the sponsor, namely Red Bull energy drink. Red Bull is an energy drink introduced in 1987 by Thai entrepreneur Chaleo Yoovidhya and Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz. Photo: Michael Weinberger.

An unmanned American spy plane, the Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Hawk, introduced in 2001, being towed by a Ford F350 XL Bobtail aircraft tractor at Naval Air Base San Diego North Island (Halsey Field), California, United States on January 19, 2024. The aircraft is produced by aircraft manufacturer Northrop Grumman at the Ryan Aeronautical Center in San Diego. Photo comes from the Facebook page: Aviation Lover.

An American Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II of the 211th Marine Fighter-Bomber Squadron being towed by a P-25 aircraft tractor aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Essex. This during exercise COMPTUEX in the Pacific Ocean on May 31, 2018. Photo: Amazing2.

A Dutch General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon the J-232 decorated with special NATO 50 markings on the tail section that is towed by an ATA E800 electric aircraft tractor at Woensdrecht Air Base on December 7, 2023. The J-232 is in storage and being used there as an instruction aircraft. In the past he flew with the 323 Squadron at Leeuwarden Air Base and then with the VTOC (professionally Training Center) Fokker in Aalsmeer. Photo: Oscar Vis.

A German Eurofighter Typhoon EF2000 being towed by a Lektro AP89 aircraft tracker during the ZigAirMeet 2023 airshow held at Mollis Air Base in Switzerland on August 18 and 19. The Lektro AP89 is manufactured by the British company: 'The Shain Group inc.' in Warrington. Photo: www.dutchflightline.com

A British Beech Shadow R1 (Super King Air 350ER) being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor at Waddington Air Base, England, United Kingdom on September 2, 2019. Photo: Lewis Macdonald.

A Dutch F-16 Fighting Falcon without canopy from the 322 squadron being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor at Leeuwarden Air Base on September 17, 2014. Photo: Gerke A. Hofstra.

A David Brown Threshing Model VIG100 Taskmaster towing a bomb train. A woman at the wheel of the tractor who is part of the WAAF (Women's Auxillary Air Force) working at the Motor Transport at the bomber station. Photo: Imperial War Museum Duxford.

A Lockheed C-130-30 Hercules with registration G-237 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force being towed by a Schopf LATT FM68AB aircraft tractor at Eindhoven-Welschap Air Base on September 8, 2021. Photo: Johannes Berger.

A stripped Panavia Tornado GR4 (ZA449/020) of the Royal Air Force being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor at Raf Marham on February 28, 2019. Ready for demolition which is a sad moment. Photo: Tim Clarke.

A German McDonnell Douglas RF-4E Phantom II with registration 35+87 assigned to the reconnaissance squadron the Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 formerly known as Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 (AR51) stationed at Bremgarten Air Base in Germany, being towed by a Douglas Super Taskmaster aircraft tractor on August 22, 1983 at Soesterberg Air Base in the Netherlands. This during an NBC exercise at Soesterberg Air Base where the RF-4E Phantom II was intercepted in the airspace by F-15s and was forced to land after which the pilots had to disembark on the Interlas platform and then the RF-4E Phantom II was towed into the 32 camp. Photo: Peter Terlouw on Airfighters.com

An EA-6B Prowler being towed by an A/S-32-31A “Mule” aircraft tractor aboard the American aircraft carrier (CVN 75) Truman during exercise Summer Pulse on June 4, 2004. During exercise Summer Pulse, which was held was conducted from June 2 to July 27, 2004, U.S. Naval Forces participated in more than 13 individual military exercises in many of the world's seas and oceans and involving more than 23 allies and coalition partners. Photo: Ryan O'Connor.

A Swiss Air Force Northrop F-5E Tiger II J-3069 being towed by a Lektro aircraft tractor at Payerne Air Base, Canton de Vaud, Switzerland on April 18, 2018. Photo: William Musculus.

A Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II being towed by an ATA 5000 GS electric aircraft tractor during Frisian Flag 2022 at Leeuwarden Air Base on March 29, 2022. Photo: www.westerwoldeactueel.nl

A Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II towed bij a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K at Leeuwarden Air Base on September 21, 2023. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the 322 squadron, this F-35, with registration F-014, equipped with a specially painted anniversary tail designed by Martijn Diks. Photo: Johan Kok.

A British Aerospace Hawk T.1A aircraft with registration XX321 being towed by a Lektro AP8950SDB-AL-200/250 aircraft tractor during the Airpower air show held at Zeltweg Air Base, Austria on September 6-7, 2019. Photo: Slobodan Jurasovic Photography.

A Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk being towed by an NMC-Wollard model 140 low profile diesel tow tractor at San Diego Airforce Base, California, United States in October 2007. Photo: Kevin Scott, Jetwash Images.

A Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the F-030, being towed by a Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor during exercise Frisian Flag, which was held at Leeuwarden Air Base from 2 to 13 October 2023. Frisian Flag 2023 was an exercise with fighter aircraft from seven different member states of the NATO alliance, in which more and more aspects of air defense can be trained, with the next one planned for 2025. Photo: Pim de Neijs.

One of only two flying Boeing B-29s Superfortress in the world, 'The Glory of Doc' being towed by an FMC B400 aircraft tractor at Kansas City airport, United States on October 29, 2023. Photo: Michael Baker.

A German Panavia-Tornado-ECR the 46+24 being towed by a Schopf F110 aircraft tractor after repairs and to the take-off at Prestwick Airport, Glasgow, Scotland. Photo: Hillwood Aviation.

A Hawker Siddeley HS-748 Series 2A of the Canadian airline Air North based at Whitehorse Airport, being towed by a Volvo L220E to a hangar at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, Yucon, Canada, after a flight from Dawson City Airport on May 21, 2018. Photo: Cyycspotter.

A McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet the J-5017 of the Swiss Air Force that has problems and landed with the drop hook. In the photo it is being towed by a Lektro aircraft tractor to the cave shelter at Meiringen Air Base, Switzerland on January 4, 2024.

Photo: Markus Frey.

A Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K with winter configuration towing a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon of the 312 Squadron during the spotters day of December 8, 2023 at Volkel air base. Photo: Harry Doesburg.

A Breguet 1050 Alizé aircraft being towed by a Tracma TD1500C aircraft tractor during the Aerotorshow on July 3, 2022 held at Valence-Chabeuil airport. This airport is located approximately 7 kilometers east of Valence in the Drôme department of France. The Bréguet Br.1050 Alizé (French: "Tradewind") is a French carrier-based anti-submarine warfare aircraft developed in the 1950s. Photo: Dance I'oeil de Niko.

F-16AM J-616 is being towed to hangar 1, where it will be prepared for the pedestal. July 18, 2023. Volkel Air Base. Photo: Theo Rombout

The amphibious aircraft PBY-5A Catalina 'Karel Doorman' is towed by a Landini 9880 tractor during an event 'Wings, Wheels and Goggles' held at Teuge airport in the weekend of 8 and 9 June 2013. Photo: Hans van der Lande.

An American Lockheed Martin JSF Lightning II F35 being towed by a Schopf aircraft tractor at Lee County Airport-Butters Field, Bishopville, South Carolina on December 13, 2023. Photo: Top1.

A sailor tows an EA-18G Growler by a USN Modern tractor on the flight deck of the American Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 29, 2018, during a regularly scheduled deployment. Photo: Sailor Apprentice Eleanor D. Vara.

A Dassault MD311 Flamingant being towed by a TractEasy tractor at Albert-Picardie airport in Méaulte, France. Photo: Thomas Meresse.

B-25 Mitchell Medium Bomber being towed by a Clarktor-6 towing tractor or tug at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum. The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum is an aviation museum and aircraft restoration facility at Reading Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Photo: Wings of War.

At Sea aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosenvelt (CVN 71) on January 27, 2003. In the photo, an S-3B “Viking” aircraft from Sea Control Squadron 24 (VS-24) is being towed into position on the flight deck by an A/S-32-31A “Mule” aircraft tractor.

De Rooseveld conducts training exercises in the Caribbean Sea, during which it prepares for deployment to the Mediterranean Sea for Operation: “Iraqi Freedom”, the war in Iraq that started on March 16, 2003. Photo: First class mate and US Navy photographer James Foehl.

A Dassault Super Etendard of the French Navy Air Force being towed by a Sepma K60 aircraft tractor during the NATO Tigermeet held June 20-30, 2008 at the French naval base Landivisiau Base Navale. Photo: Stephan Ortmann.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force BAC 167 Strikemaster being towed by a Toyota 2TD25 aircraft tractor at Wellington Air Base, New Zealand on February 29, 2020. The BAC 167 Strikemaster is a British-made light attack and training aircraft. It has been operational with 16 units of the Royal New Zealand Air Force since 1972 and is primarily used as a training aircraft for the A4 Skyhawk. Upon the discovery of wing fatigue it limited the operationality of that aircraft and it was replaced in 1994 by the Aermacchi MB339CB. Photo: Strikemaster 72.

A AVRO Lancaster bomber being towed by a Kubota aircraft tractor at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, United Kingdom on December 17, 2023. Photo: Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre.

A Panavia Tarnado GR4 in its last special colors of RAF 31 Squadron being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor at RAF Marham air base, United Kingdom, on November 18, 2018. In early 2019, 31 Squadron at RAF Marham stood down before transforming into the service's first Protector unit of unmanned aircrafts at RAF Waddington. It does not say that the 31 Squadron will be disbanded but it is not expected to receive its first aircraft until 2024. Photo: Crown Copyright.

A TF-104G Starfighter D-5804 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force being towed on June 1975 by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U-411 aircraft tractor at Flugplatz Bremgarten which was built in 1952 as a French air base in the French zone of occupation in Germany, on the east bank of the river Rhine. Photo: Harry Prins.

A North American P-51D Mustang “Crusader” being towed by a W.F. Hebard Shop Mule aircraft tractor at Front Range Airport, Adams County, Colorado, United States on March 1, 2023. Photo: Dylan Dorvee.

A Thunderbolt P-47G/42-25068 “Snafu” being towed by a New Holland L60 aircraft tractor at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, United Kingdom on December 12, 2023. Photo: Peter Green.

A United Airline Boeing 757-200 towed by a TBL190 Kalmar Motor AB pushback tractor at Denver International Airport on December 13, 2023. Photo: MCA Photography.

In the photo of Aleksander Vladic: A Sukhoi Su-27 NATO code name Flanker the P-42 being towed by a Schopf F59 at Oreshkovo airfield 2 km southeast of Vorotynsk, Russia on October 20, 2023.

The P-42 is a record-setting aircraft, converted in 1986 from the first serial Su-27-T10-15 aircraft. The P-42 broke 27 records set by the F-15 Streak Eagle, including time-to-altitude for 3000 meters, 6000 meters, 9000 meters, 12000 meters and 15000 meters. A new altitude record was recorded of 19,335 meters and a take-off distance of less than 500 meters. Most of these records still stand, almost 30 years later. Source: GlobalSecurity.org.

A Russian Polikarpov I-15 being towed by a T-150K on May 29, 2021. The T-150K is a four-wheel drive tractor from the former Soviet and now Ukrainian tractor factory in Kharkov in the 30 kilonewton tractive force class. Photo: ВВА им Ю А Гагарина.

A new Airbus A-370 being towed by a Schopf F160 at Poznań-Ławica Airport which is a medium sized airport in Great Poland, Poland on December 8, 2023. Photo: AvGeek.pl.

A Mercedes-Benz MB Trac 700K with winter configuration that is used to clear snow from the shelter platforms and secondary runways at Leeuwarden air base on December 4, 2023. Photo: Karin Wassenberg-Jordan.

A Douglas SBD Dauntless/A-24 Banshee being towed by a Clarktor CTA6E during the Atlanta Airshow held the weekend of May 16-17, 2020 at Atlanta Regional Airport, Fayette County, Georgia, United States. Photo: Gary Daniels.

A North American P-51D Mustang being towed by an old Southwest Airlines aircraft tractor at the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. Photo: Gary Daniels.

A Boeing B-29 Superfortress being towed by an Entwistle MB-4 aircraft tractor at the Vintage Flying Museum in Ford Worth, Texas, United States. Photo: Gary Daniels.

A Stinson L-5 Sentinel being towed by an old Southwest Airlines tug at the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, Taxas, United States. Photo: Vintage Flying Museum.

A Czech Air Force AW-3A Sokol rescue helicopter being towed by a DXTD300 electric aircraft tractor at PLZ WSK Swidnik Airport, Czech Republic on November 29, 2023. Photo: Jiří Převrátil.

A Swiss Air Force McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet “Tigermeet” J-5011 being towed by a Douglas Tugmaster DC5 at Royal Air Force station Leeming located near Leeming, North Yorkshire, England. Photos: MF Aviation Photography.

A Japanese Bell (Fuji) AH-1S Cobra helicopter being towed by a Toyota L&F 2TG25 aircraft tractor at Akeno Air Field, which is a military airfield of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, which is a perfect place to enjoy helicopters in action. Photo: Marcel Kiewik.

A McDonnell Douglas RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II with serial number 67-6380 of the Japan – Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) assigned to the 501st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron ("Woodpackers") based at Hyakuri Air Base located in Ibaraki prefecture in Japan. The Phantom was built under license by Mitsubishi and in the photo it is towed by a Toyota L&F 2TG25 aircraft tractor. Photo: Marcel Kievik.

Eurofighter Typhoon EF2000 of the Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwade 74 being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U300 405/12AHK aircraft tractor during the units' 60th anniversary on May 5, 2021 at Neuburg Air Base/Fliegerhorst Neuburg-Donau, Bayern, Germany. Photo: DA Photography - Military Aviation and more.

A United Airlines Boeing 757-324 being towed by a Steward & Stevenson GT50 aircraft tractor at Denver International Airport on November 24, 2023. Photo: MCA Photography.

An American Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II with marking 5620 USAF20-5620 WI of the 115th Fighter Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard assigned to EAA Airventure Wittman Regional Airport Oshkosh in the US state of Wisconsin. Who knows the brand of this aircraft tractor? Photo: Michał Banach Photography.

David Brown VIG1 tractor in the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands Cosford 2023. Photo: Bas Slaats.

Sud-Quest Vautour IIN towed by a Renault 750 tractor at aérienne 217 air base, Brétigny located south of Paris. In 2012 the air base closed its gates and in 2013 this fighter jet was the last to be towed away from the air base. Photo: Eric Moreau.

A photo shoot of a Avro Lancaster NX611 Just Jane with a David Brown tractor transporting a bomb trailer at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. Photo: East Kirkby.

A Grumman S-2T Turbo Tracker from the Armada Argentina aboard the Brazilian aircraft carrier Nae São Paulo in September 2002. Two such Grummans were deployed during Temperex, a joint Brazilian-Argentine exercise. In the photo, a Grumman is being towed aboard the aircraft carrier by an MD-3 aircraft tractor. The MD-3 is a diesel-powered tractor intended for towing all aircraft on board aircraft carriers. The MD-3's diesel engine is rated at 100 horsepower with a drawbar capacity of 8,500 pounds at a speed of approximately 1 mph on dry, level ground. Photo: Rob Schleiffert.

A photo taken on November 11, 2023 during a film set at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Center showing an Avro Lancaster NX611 Just Jane bomber with a Fordson N airfield tractor transporting a bomb trailer in the foreground. Photo: Infinitemonkeyphotography.

Photo of a staged Weapon Supplying of ​​the Vulcan XM603 bomber at RAF Woodford Cheshire, England. The tractor that transports a bomb trailer is a Ferguson TED20 with TVO engine. Photo: Neil Drapers.

An Airbus A320 of the Austrian airline Niki is towed by a Schopf F210 aircraft tractor at Innsbruck Airport, Austria. Photo: Gianluca Conversi.

Aerial Firefighting Compagny McDermott Aviation Transall C-160. On September 13, 2023, the company took delivery of a C-160 aircraft in Australia, arriving at Queensland's Sunshine Coast Airport, where it will be fitted with a 3,000-gallon tank by Australian tank manufacturer Helitak Firefighting Equipment.

In the photo the aircraft is being towed by a TLD Pushback TMX150 at Townsville Airport, Queensland, Australia. Photo: Central Queensland Plane Spotting Blog.

Apache helicopter with a permanent base at Gilze-Rijen air base that is towed by an ATA E800 aircraft tractor. Photo: Jimmy van Drunen - Photography.

A French Dassault Mirage 2000 being towed by a Charlette TD225 aircraft tractor. Photo: Guy Callet.

The Eurocopter Cougar Mk.2 of the 300 Squadron with Gilze-Rijen as its home base, which is towed by an ATA E800 electric aircraft tractor. Photo: Coen van den Heuvel.

300 Squadron is equipped with Cougar transport helicopters and is stationed at Gilze-Rijen Air Base. In the photo a Cougar is being towed by an Eagle electric aircraft tractor. Photo: @hagelschlag.

A German PA-200 Tarnado ECR being towed by a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U300 405/12AHK aircraft tractor at Fliegerhorst Schleswig-Jagel in Schleswig-Holstein in Germany on November 23, 2023. Photo: Werner Davidsen.

Douglas Super Task Master MK2 aircraft tractor at Soesterberg air base in 1979. Photo: Fotoafdrukken Koninklijke Luchtmacht.

RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft being towed by a Schopf LATT FM68AB aircraft tractor at RAF Waddington, UK. Photo: RAF Waddington.

A Bulgarian MiG-29A is towed by a Russian-made Ural 4320 truck on April 9, 2021 at Airbase 3 Iztrebitelna, Bulgaria. Photo: Jetwash Aviation Photos.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum of the Polish Air Force being towed by a Polish Army FSC (Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych) Star truck. Photo: Mirek - Flying Objects Photographer.

Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut during initial development, it was an experimental supersonic jet fighter developed by Sukhoi Company. In the photo it is being towed by a Ural 4320 APA-5D tractor. Photo comes from the Facebook page: The Aviation Titan.

A General-Dynamics/Lockheed-Martin F-16AM with registration J-640 being towed by a Mercedes MB Trac 700K aircraft tractor at Volkel air base on November 3, 2006. In that year, on the occasion of the fifty-fifth anniversary of 312 squadron Volkel air base, the J-640 provided with an anniversary painting. Photo: Mike Schoenmaker.

A photo shoot of a British Avro Vulcan XM655 bomber with a RAF655 Douglas aircraft tractor in front taken at Wellesbourne Mountford Airport by Plane Richie Aviation Illustration on November 4, 2023.

A Dutch Northrop NF-5A, the K-3033 of the 316 squadron assigned to Gilze-Rijen Air Base, built under license by aircraft manufacturer Canadair in Montréal in the Canadian province of Quebec. In the photo it is being towed by a Douglas Super Taskmaster aircraft tractor at Leeuwarden Air Base on July 11, 1985. The fighter plane entered service in 1970 with the Royal Netherlands Air Force and was sold to the Greek Air Force in 1991. Photo: Peter Steendam.

A Nissan FV02 pushback tractor tows a trailer with a Pratt & Whitney F135 turbine engine of an F-35 at Williamtown Air Base of the Royal Australian Air Force on November 4, 2021. Photo: G.E.G. Aviation Photography.

A Sepecat Jaguar GR3 painted in a very special retirement color scheme being towed by a JCB Fastrac tractor at RAF Coningsby on 21 June 2007. Photo: Damien Burke.

77 Frence Navy - Embraer EMB-121 Xingu towed by a TLD Jet-16 tractor at Avord Air Base. Photo: Serge Van Heertum.

A Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft being towed by a Schopf F396 tractor at CFB Greenwood Air Base, Canada. Photo comes from the Facebook page: The Aurora News.

The Czech Republic has received its first two Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, with the assets having been delivered on July 26, 2023 aboard a US Air Force Boeing C-17 strategic transport. In the photo a Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopter being towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor at Namest Airport, Czech Republic. Photo: Petr Soukal.

A Belgian Westland Sea King MK48 helicopter from the 40 squadron towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor during the annual open day of the Belgian Air Force that took place on July 5, 2023 at Koksijde Air Base. Photo: Gijs Mouchaers.

A Danish General Dynamics F-16 towed by a Schopf F59 aircraft tractor during the spotters day that took place on May 11, 2023 at Florennes air base, Belgium. This beautiful F-16 painted in beautiful special colors in honor of 800 years of the Danish flag.

Photo: Gijs Mouchaers.

Schopf F59 aircraft tractor at Koksijde Air Base Belgium. Photo: Gijs Mouchaers.

United TA80D aircraft tractor at Pensacola Air Base, FL, United States. Photo from the Facebook page: U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

English Electric Lightning F3 of the Royal Air Force is towed by a Massey Ferguson MF-50 Aircraft Tug at Fairford Air Base, UK. Photo: Glenn Reay.

In the photo at Dijon-Bourgogne Airport a Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravella airliner and a David Brown Taskmaster 950 that was used as a baggage tow vehicle. The Caravellas were built by Sud Aviation between 1954 and 1972 and were the first jet-powered commercial aircraft developed in France. Photo: Jim Cochrane.

A Norwegian Beechcraft 200 Super King Air of the airline Norlandair is towed by a Linde P250 electric tractor at Reykjavik airport, Iceland. Photo comes from the Facebook page: Airspeed Media.

A French Dassault Mirage 2000 from Home Base Nancy is towed by a Mercedes MB Trac 700K at Leeuwarden Air Base during Frisian Flag 2018. Photo comes from the collection of Jg Haze.

The Snowbirds, officially known as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron are the military aerobatics flight demonstration team of the Royal Canadian Air Force stationated at Moose Jaw Air Base. In the photo one of the CL-41 Tutor aircraft being towed by a Clark tld d6 tractor. Photo from Facebookpage: Snowbirds des Forces canadiennes.

NATO Tiger Meet 2021 at Beja Air Base, Portugal. In the photo a Portuguese F16 from the 301 squadron being towed by a Schopf F59 tractor. Photo: Joao Amado.

A photo taken during Real Thaw 2022 (RT2022) held on June 30, 2022 at Airbase No. 11, in Beja, Portugal. A Spotters Day aimed at all photography and military aviation enthusiasts. In the photo a Portuguese Air Force F-16 being towed by a Schopf F59 tractor. Photo: Miguel Frade.

As a tractor driver in 89/90 at Leeuwarden Air Base, I often had to run QRA together with a fellow tractor driver. Swapping the F-16s, one of which was in the shelter of the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) and the other in the shelter of the WSA (Weapon Storage Area). WSA means the place where the armament is attached or disconnected to the F-16. QRA means that there are two F-16s ready 24/7 with full armament. The Air Operation Control Station in Nieuw-Millingen alerts the QRA if an aircraft enters the airspace of the Benelux that has not submitted a flight plan in advance and does not want to come into radio contact with Air Traffic Control. The F-16s take off within minutes to intercept the (enemy) intruder. Nowadays, the QRA task is a partnership between the Netherlands and Belgium for monitoring the airspace of the Benelux. They take turns supplying the QRA fighter flight capacity from the Leeuwarden, Volkel, Kleine-Brogel or Florennes bases. Before towing the F-16, I always checked whether all safety pins with red flags (printed: remove before flight) were in the F-16 because the armament was ready. The QRA/WSA is also permanently monitored by the Air Force Security. I once heard a story that an Air Force Guard there had shot a cow out of boredom in the pasture near the QRA. Photo: Patrick Kroos.

An F-104 Starfighter, D-6655, is towed by a Douglas tractor on its way over the “Duitse Baan” past the control tower to hangar 3 at Leeuwarden Air Base in the late 1970s / early 1980s. Photo: Piet Bouma.

On June 4, 1968, the Air Force Information Service organized a visit to Leeuwarden Air Base where the silencer was demonstrated at the Run-up. The Run-up is the place at the airbase to test engines and diagnose engine problems. Attached is the F-104 Starfighter D-5816 of the 323 squadron being towed by a David Brown Taskmaster 950. The D-5816 was operational with the Royal Netherlands Air Force from November 27, 1967 to August 25, 1980 and then it was sold to the Turkish Air Force. Photo comes from the archive of John van Hest.

Thanks to the fire-fighting foam incident during the ceremony, which was held in honor of the arrival of the first operational F-35 in the Netherlands at Leeuwarden Air Base on October 31, 2019, the coverage of this event was world news in one go. In the photo the F-35 that has been sprayed clean by water and is ready to be towed  by an ATA 5000 GS tractor to the hangar. Photo: Gathering of Tweakers.

F-84F Thunderstreak the P-205 of the 314 squadron towed by a David Brown Taskmaster 950 at Eindhoven air base. The P-205 was operational with the Royal Netherlands Air Force from March 23, 1956 to October 28, 1970. Then written off; decoy at Deelen Air Base, LETS. From April 14, 1978 gatekeeper at the LIMOS in Nijmegen. Photo: Marco van Riel.

F-84F Thunderstreak de P-205 van het 314 squadron versleept door een David Brown Taskmaster 950 op vliegbasis Eindhoven. De P-205 was operationeel bij de KLu van 23-03-1956 t/m 28-10-1970. Daarna afgeschreven; decoy Deelen, LETS. Vanaf 14-04-1978 poortwachter bij de LIMOS. Foto: Marco van Riel.

The North American F-86K Sabre Q-340 of the 700 Squadron at Twenthe airbase, is being moved with a David Brown tractor, piloted by Corporal Sprokkereef. Photo from the collection: Dinant Sprokkereef.

Flying squadrons that have a feline such as a tiger in their emblem meet in a different location every year for the NATO Tiger Meet. Just like in the photo, the J-222 of the 313 squadron being towed by a Mercedes MB Trac 700. An instruction jet at Volkel in a tiger outfit for years, which was sprayed in these colors especially for the Tigermeet. This large-scale international exercise at the time of this photo took place in 2010 from 4 to 15 October at Volkel Air Base. With a very varied program, the practicing units keep their skills up to date and valuable experiences are exchanged. Photo: Servee Schellinx.

Vliegende squadrons die een katachtige zoals een tijger in hun embleem voeren, komen ieder jaar op een andere plek bijeen voor de NATO Tiger Meet. Net zoals op de foto de J-222 van het 313 squadron die versleept word door een Mercedes MB Trac 700. Al jarenlang een instructiekist op Volkel in tijger outfit, die speciaal voor de Tigermeet in deze kleuren is gespoten. Deze grootschalige internationale oefening ten tijde van deze foto vond in 2010 plaats van 4 t/m 15 oktober op Vliegbasis Volkel. Met een zeer afwisselend programma houden de oefenende eenheden hun vaardigheden op peil en worden waardevolle ervaringen uitgewisseld. Foto: Servee Schellinx.

The Northrop NF-5A with registration number K-3011 of the 315 Squadron behind a Douglas tractor before the run-up at Twenthe Air Base in 1970. Photo: Beeldbank NIMH.

De Northrop NF-5A met registratienummer K-3011 van het 315 Squadron achter een Douglas trekker voor de run-up (proefdraaihangaar) op Vliegbasis Twenthe in 1970. Foto: Beeldbank NIMH.

This photo was taken from the control tower at Volkel Air Base, September 27, 2017, during a visit arranged by Spotting Group Volkel. F-16AM J-868, the 8 Series, originally 312 SQN delivered operationally. Photo: Van Loenhout Mees.

Airmen, assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, tow an F-15E Strike Eagle at sunrise April 15, 2020, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The F-15E is an extremely maneuverable tactical fighter designed to allow the Air Force to establish air superiority over the battlefield. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Branson).

From the Dutch group: Marine Luchtvaart Dienst. Meerburg quay situated at Prins Hendrik canal in Katwijk, The Netherlands, where the helicopter was taken off the boat. To be precise, this is the Fockstraat with the gas factory next to it.

Photo: Arjan Koning.

In the photo a patrol aircraft from the Coastal Command Fortress of No. 220 Squadron and a Clarktor-6 tractor. On November 9, 1943, a fortress of this squadron sank the U707 off the Azores. Photo: Official photographer of the Royal Air Force. [public domain].

German RF-4E Phantom II being towed by a Douglas tractor down the taxitrack at Soesterberg AB in the Netherlands. Daily Dose of Nostalgia. Photo: Marcel de Jong.

An RAF tractor MF Ferguson TEF with a "bounce" bomb on its trailer outside the entrance to the Avro Heritage Museum at the old Woodford airfield near Stockport in south Manchester, Cheshire. A bomb designed to bounce on a target above water in a calculated manner to avoid obstacles such as torpedo nets. Developed during World War II, it was intended to be dropped from a Lancaster bomber to blow up German dams. The "bounce" bomb was a variant of a depth charge. Regular bombing of the dams was not effective enough. Photo: Richard Tattersall.

Hawker Hunter at RAF Scampton towed by a Reliance Mercury Tug. Photo: Maxine Grundy.

A Dutch AT-16 'Harvard' of 'Royal Air Force Historic Flight'. The AT-16s were mainly used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force as a training aircraft for the advanced pilot training (VVO) and the pilot instructor training (VIO) at Gilze-Rijen Air Base until 1962. They were produced by the American company North American Aviation in 1943. Photo from Facebook page: Koninklijke Luchtmacht Historische Vlucht. 

Avro Lancaster NX611 "Just Jane", with Bomber Command Re-Enactors... Picture: Geoff Oliver.

On days like this - when the sky is blue and the grass is green ..... Lancaster : NX611 'Just Jane' at East Kirkby - March 2012. Source from Facebook page:  Warbirdapps.

Well, this is just turning into B-24 Week, isn't it?

Here's a photo from the Henry Ford Museum of Henry Ford II on the Ford BNO40 aircraft tractor as the last B-24 Liberator comes off the assembly line at Willow Run. It was posted in the Warbird Information Exchange Facebook Group by Tom Walsh and we thought it fit in well with our other posts so far this week.

According to Lance Kuhn from the WIX group, the aircraft was B-24M-30-FO, 44-51928 and the date was 28 June 1945. Lance tells us it was flown later to RFC Kingman for storage and scrapping.

If you haven't already joined the WIX group, check them out at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wixhq/

Source: Commemorative Air Force B29 B24 Squadron.

Hunter F6 of 325 squadron, which belongs to Soesterberg, increased the joy of the visitors at the open day at Eindhoven in September 1967. On the left another local F-84F and behind the nose the tail of a T-33A. In August 1968 the Hunter (with 1500 flying hours) was sold to Hawker and after renovation it finally ended up with the Jordanian Air Force in 1971. Saw the Hunter van Soesterberg leave. The nose registration had been painted away, the Hunter still had the Klu roundel. Source: Henk Schakelaar.

Starfighters consigned to the Royal Norwegian Air Force under the US Military Assistance Programme, are towed on August 7 1963 through one of the main streets in Bodo to the nearby airbase. The 104's were delivered to Norway aboard the aircraft carrier USS Croatan. Source: Gerrit Boxem.

As a result of Air Ministry specification B.9/32, the Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was designed as an RAF twin-engine medium bomber. It was part of the trio of large twin-engine bombers procured for the RAF, joining the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley and Vickers Wellington. As the newest of the three the Hampden it made her first flight on 21 June 1936 and was often referred to by her crews as the "Flying Suitcase" because of its cramped crew conditions. The Hampden was powered by Bristol Pegasus XVIII radials giving it a topspeed of 398 km/h.
Serving in the early stages of the Second World War, it bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin on 25 August 1940, which was aimed at Tempelhof Airport and the first 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne on 30 May 1942. When it became obsolete, after a period of mainly operating at night, it was retired from RAF Bomber Command service in late 1942. A number were transferred to RAF Coastal Command and were phased out in december 1943. Within RAF Bomber Command, by 1943, the rest of the trio were also being replaced by the larger four-engined heavy bombers such as the Handley Page Halifax and the Avro Lancaster.
Painting by Michael Turner.

The Lancaster is a World War II 4-engine heavy bomber built by Avro. The Lancaster was mainly used by the Royal Air Force.

My thanks to Red Bone from the Poderío Bélico group for the image. It's "Preparations" by digital artist Piotr Forkasiewicz.

Cletrac tractor in Victory Museum in Grootegast.

Clarktor 6 Aircraft tug 1943 in Victory Museum in Grootegast.

Foxtrot dispersal at RAF Scampton. Photo: Mick Hibbert.

The Dassault Rafale is a so-called multi-role combat aircraft from Marcel Dassault Industries, the makers of the Mirage series. Towed by a Schopf F59 from Goldhofer Airport Technology. Joint Warrior 2013. Photo: Chasse Embarquée.

A Northrop F-5 Tiger of the aerobatic demonstration team Patrouille Suisse of the Swiss Air Force stationed at the Emmen military Air Base in the Swiss canton of Lucerne is towed by a Bucher FS 10 aircraft tractor on November 14, 2019. The ride went at walking pace from the shelter at the Payerne military Air Base halfway between Lausanne and Bern to a place behind the Flab barracks in the exhibition tent of Comptoir Broyard in Payerne on the border between the Swiss cantons of Waadt and Freiburg where the fighter jet is one of the attractions. The exhibition takes place there every two years and for the tenth time from November 15 to 24, 2019, where more than 220 exhibitors were expected. Photos: Swiss Army/vtg.admin.ch.

Documentation about the Clarktor 6, which is one of the most famous tractors of the Second World War. This is because we usually only know these tractors from use on British military airfields, for towing aircraft and transporting armaments for the bombers during Second World War, but they were also used in industry and agriculture. The Clarktor 6s were manufactured in the United States by the Clark Tractor Plant in Michigan founded in 1919. The Clarktor 6 was known for its compact size with a wheelbase of 1.20 meters and 11 inches and was powered by a 62 hp water-cooled Chrysler six-cylinder flat-head petrol engine with a three-speed crash gearbox that allowed it to reach maximum speed of 25 km/h. Production started in 1942 and by the end of the Second World War, that manufacturer had, among other things, completed an order for more than 1,500 Clarktor 6s for the British Royal Air Force. These were built as a version designated "BH" which stands for 'British Heavy' and supplied to the British Ministry of Defense for the RAF under the Lend Lease Act. The Lend-Lease Act of 1941 stated that the United States government could lend or lease (rather than sell) supplies to any country deemed "vital to the defense of the United States". Photos: Joe Swelnis.