Abstract: In a towing vehicle (1) for manoeuvring aircraft (11) without a towbar, the chassis (5) of which vehicle has a fork-like receiving area (7) between the wheels (6) of a coaxial wheel suspension, in which receiving area there is arranged a retractable and extensible gripping and drawing-in device (9) which is fastened to a lifting blade (8) and by means of which the nosewheel (10) of an aircraft (11) can be gripped and drawn onto the lifting blade (8) which is pivotable relative to the chassis (5) both about a transverse axis and, for matching to oblique positions of a nosewheel (10) which has been received, about a longitudinal axis by means of two fluid piston-cylinder units (12) arranged symmetrically relative to one another between the chassis (5) and the lifting blade (8), the lifting blade (8) is coupled so as to be pivotable in all directions by means of a ball joint (25) which is fastened to the chassis (5) of the towing vehicle (1) and acts centrally on the back of the lifting blade (8).

Abstract: A towing vehicle for maneuvering airplanes without draw tongue, has a chassis (5), which exhibits a fork-shaped receiver space between the wheels of one wheel axle, in which a gripping and retracting device (28, 68) is attached that can be retracted and extended and works together with a lifting device, by means of which the nose wheel (24) of the airplane can be grasped and pulled onto a scoop (14) that can be raised and lowered relative to the chassis. In it, only a single scoop (14) is present to support the nose wheel (24) in the area of the nose wheel load line of application to prevent clamping and deformation forces on the nose wheel (24) during the retraction procedure or during raising. The scoop can be tipped around a horizontal axle attached to the chassis and its tipped position relative to the chassis can be adjusted by control.

Abstract: In an aircraft maneuvering tractor (1) for the maneuvering of aircraft (2) without the aid of a tractor drawbar, wherein the chassis of the tractor has a bifurcated receiving space which is provided between the wheels (3) of a wheel axle (4) and in which a retractable and extractable pulling-in device is arranged, by which the nose wheel (9) of an aircraft (2) can be gripped and pulled onto a shovel (10) which is movable relative to the chassis and which has a substantially horizontal bearing surface (11) onto which the nose wheel (9) is to be laid and a substantially vertical stop surface (12) against which the nose wheel (9) will abut, together with at least one hold down member (13) which is disposed over the shovel (10) and which is adapted to be laid from above against the nose wheel (9) and to be impinged by a holding down force. The hold down member (13) is formed substantially in the shape of an angle or an arc so that the inner side (15) of such angle or arc is turned towards the nose wheel (9).