Virgin A340 at Schiphol

[Swedish Steve]

For charter flights BA owned 2 towbar adaptors so you could use a B747 towbar to push back a Concord. They were closely guarded to stop them getting lost. We had a Concord in ARN on a charter, and after the push back was completed, I detached the adaptor and the flight engineer lowered a rope from the R1 door and fished it back on board!

[jettison valve]

suppie,

Please read carefully what I wrote - I spoke about the MLG (MAIN landing gear). It has lugs especially for recovery movements!
I consider my question therefore still as open.

Regards,
J.V.

[perkin]

Out of interest, which typeof A340 do Cathay fly into AMS (I'm sure I've seen a Cathay 340 there...)? And is the towbar really that different for each type?

[kingair9]

In the usual archives only CX 343 can be found @ AMS.

[Piltdown Man]

Or there again, maybe a towbarless tug could have been used, of which there are plagues in AMS? Or maybe someone wanted a night out in town?

PM

[perkin]

Piltdown, someone mentioned already that KLM had a towbarless tug available, but wouldnt use it for the pushback due to insurance issues...

[Northern Hero]

A 767-300 towbar turned upside down with a 320 pin fits a 500/600 from memory. Don't ask !

[suppie]

tug

We have plenty towbarless tugs at AMS but none of them r qualified for the 340-600 according the books
interessting ref the 767-300 towbar up side down

[oliver2002]

Seen plenty of 'broncho' push back starts in DTW with thrust reversers on DC9s. Strange risky practice.

[Aspen20]

A South African airways 346 diverted to Phuket recently due to medical emergency.. they were also stuck with no towbar. Dunno how they got out