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Yes, scientists at erstwhile Top Gear have conducted some experiments on this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P27oVdvb3Z8

I would also like to share these unique Mobile Lounge vehicles I experienced at Washington D.C.'s Dulles International Airport.

They are used to transport passengers between the plane and the terminal.

Pic courtesy - Google

Interesting if DGCA allows it in India at all. Can Indian pilots here comment?

A lovely MD80 backing up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zkxh903s_w

Thanks for sharing. I do remember these. I believe they are used for first / business class passengers only?

Concorde used something very similar at various airports round the world. Can’t expose these VIPs to bit of warm/human air, let alone let them walk for miles from the lounge to the gate! :)

Jeroen

Very interesting thread, I didn't know there were so many different types of vehicles.

Some people like to collect scale models of these vehicles along with the aircraft itself (not me I only have one set lol:)

Thanks for the topic!
Recently spotted this on its way to a distant land..



The differential! The Tyre!!



Spotted this a lot parked just beside the road on the flatbed, dunno why it was there though.
The airport would be like 5 kms away from where this picture was taken.

So this Saab along with a few Volvo V90s are used by my organization (Airports Authority of India) for conducting friction test for runways. Mumbai has 2 airports namely Juhu Aerodrome and CSIA and this particular Saab does not have registration plates so had to be carried on a flatbed from Juhu to CSIA or to our Western Region Headquarters which is quite close to the airport.

Hi Aditya,
Thanks for posting this Thread. Loved reading it.

I have always been amazed and excited by the vehicles ( Ground Support Vehicles ) at the airport.

It's like another world on the other side of the terminal, where these vehicles are seen.

Each having a unique shape associated with its functions.

While not special equipment, our own M&M tractors are quite prominent at airports in the US. They serve the role of baggage haulers and with a low initial cost and rugged build, quite suitable for the climate extremes.
Anecdotal and off topic: I started my career in the MMFES (Farm Equipment Sector) in late 90s and was on the tractor assembly line. Every now and then, there would be an export order and line planning. Power steering, suspension under the seat and a bare-bones-cover for the driver were the main differentiators. There would be a mad rush to use them to drive from the line to the officers' cafeteria!!! Come 2000 and I fly to JFK and I see an M&M tractor hauling stuff. Quite sure, I had some role to play in that tractor's journey.

While it makes sense, there are exceptions. I was lucky to be onboard one at CDG in 2001. I had a tight connection and the ground staff were redirecting PAX to multiple of these buses. In essence it was an apron side transit between aircraft. IIRC, the bus lined up for boarding via the rear right hand side door.

A couple of observations:

1) modern jets brake mainly using wheel brakes and ground spoilers. Engine reversers contribute as little as reducing landing distance by 20 meters on the A320. Besides reversers take up a lot of fuel (extra 100 kgs per landing on full reversers). A320 is prohibited from reversing using reversers (can it do so, is a different question).

2) taxibots are highly efficient both in reducing fuel consumption in taxi and reducing carbon emissions. The engines remain switched off until the airplane reaches near the runway, then engines are started and taxibot is disconnected. Infact, the more the taxi time (busy airports) the more sense it makes to connect a taxibot.

3) Bangalore and Hyderabad airports have started using the Tata Hexa as a follow me car. I guess they see the advantages of this highly underrated SUV. On a lighter front, may be they saw the Hexa towing a plane video as well :D

Thanks for the input @AirbusCapt

This confirms my observation - I have never seen full reversers deployed on all flights that I've taken in the last 2 years (all of them Indigo).

Adding a little correction. Every airline, every pilot will take max reverser then almost immediately apply idle reversers when landing. It is mandatory and is required as per flight safety. Max reversers will always be used in wet, slippery conditions or whenever the captain feels he/she needs it

What advantage does Hexa offer as a follow-me car? A common passenger feels that any car is suitable for this duty; the pilot just has to follow this car visually.

A follow-me also needs to do high speed runway inspections, sometimes travel off tarmac into the kaccha. Hence a powerful SUV kind of vehicle is needed. They carry bird scaring equipment, other equipment like cones, tapes. They have a big follow-me lighted board (weighs a lot) for guidance and follow-me duties. The car carries a driver plus 2/3 personnel. The other people on board get off, pick up FOD from the runways/taxiways and get back into the car , doing all this within the shortest possible time (to ensure they don't hold up departures or arrivals). In Bangalore or Hyderabad, a follow me vehicle is supposed to cover the entire 4 km runway in less than 2 mins. You may calculate the average speeds needed.
An airbus 320 which I fly, uses up 15 liters of ATF a minute holding for the inspection vehicle to finish it's job, so you may imagine the urgency.
Hence a simple car will not suffice.

Engine reversers on modern jet were never envisaged as reducing brake distance really. When used in conjunction to auto-break systems, which gives us a set braking deceleration rate, they reduce break wear considerable. But to your point little effect on actual brake distance.

Why is this not necessary / used on Airbus?


The actual physics behind thrust reverse, especially the non bucket type of reversers is often misunderstood. At least, according to this gentleman.

Quoting from Henri Spencer:

I have come across very few pilots that agree with the above. What is your view/thought.

A little known anorak fact: There are a few airplanes (commercial jets) that can use reverse thrust during flight. (DC8, Concorde)

Jeroen