The ubiquitous, indispensible and hard charging Tow Tractor

[HeyJoe]

THey always remind me of a '57 Chevy. Nothing fancy, just what's needed to do the deed.

 

[HeyJoe]

In the day, all the support gear was yellow hence term "Yellow Gear". It's mostly white these days, but sometimes that's just a blank canvas for creative sailors. Doubt you'd see GSE like that in Air Force!

 

[HeyJoe]

Another special paint job locally done

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

When did they start painting GSE white? Everything was yellow back in the 80s.

030202-N-2972R-017 At sea aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Feb. 2, 2003 – Lance Cpl. Corry Savage is the brake rider for an AV-8B “Harrier” while Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Ralph Floyd moves the aircraft with an aircraft towing tractor on the ship’s starboard-side elevator. Kearsarge is the flagship for Amphibious Task Force East (ATF-E), which departed on January 17th carrying the North Carolina-based 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s 7,000 Marines on an undisclosed mission. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Angel Roman-Otero. (RELEASED)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Former president Bush driving.

090526-N-7656T-066 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 26, 2009) Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush watches from "Barbara" a specially painted tow-tractor as an F/A-18F Super Hornet is catapulted off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS GEORGE H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Bush, the aircraft carrier's namesake, was aboard to watch flight deck operations, fulfilling a wish he made in 2006 at the ship's christening. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Tackitt/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

030216-N-5114J-005 At sea aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) -- Capt Kendall Card (center), Commanding Officer, along with Aviation Support Equipment Technician Airman Chris Elmore (far left) from Salt Lake City, Uah, Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Noe Munoz (kneeling left) from Van Nuys, Calif., Aviation Support Equipment Technicians 2nd Class Jason Eslinger (center left) from Keizer, Ore., Gary Jaeckin (center right) from Norwalk, Ohion, George Matthies (right) from Oakland, Calif., and Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Mario Maciasplaza (kneeling right) from Los Angeles, Calif., are shown here displaying their tribute to NASCAR; a tow tractor painted as a replica of driver Ricky Rudd's race car. Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are conducting operations in support of Operation Southern Watch. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Daniel C. Johnson. (RELEASED)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

071029-N-4776G-199 PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 29, 2007) - Aviation boatswain's mates gather around an AS-31B tow tractor during a training session on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kathleen Gorby (RELEASED)

 

[Schnugg]

At night I always enjoyed the Batmobile flame that came out of them when they started up.

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

021219-N-2325K-002 At sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) Dec. 19, 2002. -- Jon Wood, professional driver of the Wood Brothers, Roush Racing F-150 racing truck, drives through the ship’s hangar bay in a "souped-up" support equipment tractor rebuilt by the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Division Four (IM4) Sailors. The Norfolk, Va.-based carrier is returning home from a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Janice Kreischer. (RELEASED)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

At night I always enjoyed the Batmobile flame that came out of them when they started up.

True that, I almost forgot that on the roof they were the huffer too. It's been way too long since I've worked the deck.

 

[NavAir42]

A couple of our linemen were talking the other day about painting the Buddha in John Deere green and yellow. I thought it would look pretty sweet. Don't think the chain would be for it unfortunately

 

[HeyJoe]

100807-N-3659B-136 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 7, 2010) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Chad Craft uses a tow tractor to spread detergent on the flight deck during a scrubbing exercise (SCRUBEX) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). SCRUBEX is a critical part of flight deck maintenance and helps prevent corrosion and mishaps. Ronald Reagan is underway participating in training operations in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

Another non-USAF practice in lieu of a laborsaving device like a Tow Tractor

100724-N-6362C-194 U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (July 24, 2010) Flight deck crew members manually move an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Checkerboards of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312 into position aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Manually pushing the Hornet a short distance is common on aircraft carriers when a tow tractor is not practical. VMFA-312 is deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Tyler Caswell/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100424-N-2821G-004 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 24, 2010) A tractor driver pulls a helicopter off the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to make room for MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77. Three of the squadron's helicopters arrived aboard the ship, joining the HSM-77 crewmembers already aboard. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg/Released)

091105-N-0807W-017 SEA OF JAPAN (Nov. 5, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 1st Class Giancarlo Treano and Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Zachary D. Bruton move a flight deck tractor before flight operations aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). Harpers Ferry is part of the Denver Amphibious Ready Group participating in the annual bilateral Korean Integrated Training Program exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl/Released)

090623-N-6604E-006 ARABIAN SEA (June 23, 2009) Tractor operators aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) prepare to move aircraft for flight operations. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as well as maritime security operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Bradley Evans/Released)

090419-N-3707A-130 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 19, 2009) Sailors pull an aircraft tow tractor during a Strong Man competition aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Timothy Aguirre/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

CNO would approve!

090306-N-6604E-021 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (March 6, 2009) Rear Adm. Kurt W.Tidd, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, takes a look at a newly-painted Navy Working Uniform styled A/S32A-31B tractor aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is underway for a scheduled deployment supporting the on-going rotation of forward-deployed forces to support maritime security operations and operate in international waters across the globe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Bradley Evans/Released)