By Bob Alvis, special to Aerotech News
This past weekend, I was doing my flight line duties at the Capital Air Show in Sacramento.

All the while, I was keeping my eyes and ears open for cool little air show stories and “BINGO!” — one was delivered to me on four wheels!

Aircraft tugs are a main staple at airports all around the world and quietly go about their daily duties without much fanfare. But for one of these such tugs, that quiet has been replaced by the sound of an engine that would be more at home on an NHRA drag strip!

“SuperTug” is the brain child of Bill Newman. I caught up with him between tows with his assistant, Bud McDill (call sign “Fudge”) and learned some interesting facts about this amazing work horse, which gets as many looks and comments as the show aircraft!

The most unique aircraft tow tractor in the world, SuperTug was built from a Korhing baggage tow chassis. The Korhing tow vehicle was used for Boeing 727s from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s. Originally equipped with a diesel engine, SuperTug was retrofitted with a blown 350-cubic inch Chevrolet engine! SuperTug comes as a complete package to air shows, with all of these features: Roots 6-71 Blower; two-speed Powerglide Short Kit Transmission; Clarke Industrial Truck Rear End; Gear Ratio 22:1; Towing Capacity 200,000 pounds; Standard Navy Universal Tow Bar, Custom Paint Job and Lettering/Pin Striping and Chrome Wheels — sweet ride!

SuperTug has covered air shows as far away as Canada and Oshkosh, Wisc., and in the past, covered Reno Air Races for seven years towing Lyle Shelton’s Rare Bear!

Bill has 30 years of experience on the tarmac with a 100 percent safety record. His team demonstrates a safe, crowd-pleasing display of efficient towing and maneuvering in parking of the vintage and modern aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary!

One of the cool stories Bill shared with me was when triple ace Bud Anderson was at an air show and was offered a ride by “conventional” modes of transportation. He preferred a ride on the SuperTug!

At the show, I followed the SuperTug team around in between my other air show assignments and managed to get some photos of the many different aircraft Bill and Bud placed, pulled out, moved and tugged from one end of the field to the other. Every once in a while, a new challenge would show up! At this show it was a Russian MiG-15. Many thought this was a unique tow, beyond the capabilities of SuperTug. But after some consultation with the MiG crew chief it was discovered that, with a slight modification to the pins, the MiG was ready to go.

The SuperTug had another plane to add to its impressive list of towed aircraft!

Always a huge fan favorite, I highly recommend Bill and Bud and their SuperTug to any air show that is looking for another piece of eye candy on the flight line, and that sweet sound of some major horsepower! Guys and gals that relish such sounds will experience goose bumps galore! As a matter of fact, if “Tim the Tool Man Taylor” would have ever owned an airplane, I’m sure this would have been the only tug for him!

Until next time, this is Bob signing off — looking forward to the next issue of Aerotech, when a new story of the obscure and entertaining in the aviation world finds its way to your door! Bob Out!