The Bucher FS 10 Flugzeugschlepper 78 is an aircraft tow vehicle built for the Swiss Air Force by the military vehicle division of Bucher-Guyer AG. Following a restructuring of this division it was sold to

Mowag MOWAG is a Swiss company which develops, designs and produces armoured vehicles for military applications in both land-only and amphibious configurations. These vehicles have gross vehicle weights ranging from 9 tonnes to 30 tonnes. The compa ...

which is now responsible for support. The Bucher FS 10 Flugzeugschlepper 78 is very compact as it is designed to operate in the Swiss Air Force's

aircraft cavern Aircraft cavern, a calque of the German word ''Flugzeugkaverne'', is an underground hangar amongst others used by the Swiss Air Force. Historical During World War II, the neutral Swiss military airfields were for the first time equipped with si ...

s (or

underground hangar An underground hangar is a type of hangar for military aircraft, usually dug into the side of a mountain for protection. It is bigger and more protected than a hardened aircraft shelter (HAS). An underground hangar complex may include tunnels con ...

s). It runs on diesel fuel to lower the risk of fire. For precise maneuvering around the caverns, pilot tunnels and shelters it is equipped with special downward-shining floor lighting headlights to help the driver to follow floor markings. It is also used to provide a power supply to aircraft without an

Auxiliary power unit An auxiliary power unit (APU) is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft and naval ships as well as some large land vehicles. Aircraft APUs generally produce 115& ...

. It is used as well as tractors for about 1-4 engine start units or for ad hoc transport of mechanics and tools (e.g. spare wheel and jack by a flat tire of a landed aircraft). JuAir at

Dübendorf Air Base Dübendorf Military Airport (german: Militärflugplatz Dübendorf) was a military airfield of the Swiss Air Force northeast of Dübendorf in Switzerland, located east of Zürich. History The search for a suitable site for an airfield started ...

is the only civil user of this aircraft tug type. The aircraft tractors are equipped with four quick couplings as standard. This allows them to be loaded with a crane, in a short time, on every flatbed truck of the Swiss military. The Bucher FS 10 Flugzeugschlepper 78 are street-legal, but with their 80 km range and permitted maximum speed of 25 km/h, however, are not independently suitable for ad-hoc transfers. An ad-hoc capability was achieved with the 4 crane couplings. Such ad-hoc transfers were part of the concept of the Swiss Air Force in the Cold War. It was anticipated to use various motorway sections of the

Motorways of Switzerland Switzerland has a two-class highway system: motorways with separated roads for oncoming traffic and a standard maximal speed limit of , and expressways often with oncoming traffic and a standard maximal speed limit of . Autobahnen in German, aut ...

as air force bases. This was also done several times in exercises. In these exercises the Bucher FS 10 Flugzeugschlepper 78 was involved. For example, the "U TAUTO" exercise on March 24, 1982, the Bucher FS 10 Flugzeugschlepper 78 were stationed at the

Rest area A rest area is a public facility located next to a large thoroughfare such as a motorway, expressway, or highway, at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting onto secondary roads. Other names include motorway servi ...

"Windrose" near Münsingen. JuAir at Dübendorf AFB is the only civil user of this aircraft tug type.

Specifications

* Drive axle rear differential lock * Drum brakes on all wheels * Tubeless tires * Wheelbase * Track * Turning radius * Ground clearance

References

{{Reflist *Operations Manual Bucher aircraft tractor Kp20FlApt13 *

Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full The Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full is the Swiss military museum, located in Full-Reuenthal, canton Aargau. Collection The museum displays military hardware and uniforms of Swiss and foreign armed forces, mainly from World War II and the Co ...

Military vehicles database: Bucher FS 10 - Official Swiss Armed Forces website

External links

Aviation ground support equipment Vehicles of Switzerland