Aircraft towing vehicle

Towing vehicle for towing an aircraft comprising:

• a chassis having a fork shaped recess at a rear portion thereof, a receiving device arranged in the recess for supporting and securing a nose wheel of an aircraft, a lifting cradle supported for swinging movement about a horizontal axis while being constrained against sliding movement in a longitudinal direction, a lifting device for raising and lowering said lifting cradle, two telescopic traction arms arranged on both sides of the lifting cradle, said traction arms being mechanically coupled with the lifting cradle for a linked vertical motion, hydraulic cylinder means for extending and retracting said traction arms, located at free end portions of said traction arms for reaching behind the nose wheel, whereby shortening of the traction arms pulls the nose wheel onto the lowered lifting cradle and secures the nose wheel thereto, wherein
• the recess of the chassis comprises a bearing frame supporting said lifting cradle and said traction arms guide rod suspensions for supporting the bearing frame arranged on both sides thereof, so that the bearing frame can twist and tilt in a transverse direction;
• wherein the lifting cradle and the traction arms are supported swingably on the bearing frame about different horizontal bearing axles longitudinally offset with respect to each other;
• and wherein each traction arm is coupled with the lifting cradle via a joint plate for allowing pivoting motions about their respective bearing axles during vertical motions of the lifting cradle, whereby the gripping members travel over a larger upward path than the lifting cradle when said lifting cradle is elevated.