The problem nobody brags about

Moving an aircraft a “few feet” is never just a few feet.

It turns into a slow-motion shuffle, two people pushing in awkward angles, hoping the tow bar does not slip, and praying the wingtip clears that one post you forgot was there.

Hangars are tight. Ramps get busy. Labor is expensive. So the question becomes simple: how do you move aircraft safely and efficiently without turning every reposition into a production?

The solution: one person, battery power, real control

The AircraftCaddy 8K Magic Arm is a battery-powered AircraftCaddy designed to help one person load and maneuver aircraft up to 8,000 lbs in and out of tight spaces, hangars, or for staging on the ramp.

This is not about showing off gear. It is about getting aircraft positioned faster, with fewer hands, and with less “hangar gymnastics.”

Why the Magic Arm 8K makes money

How many headaches and labor hours does this remove from your week?

Here is where the ROI usually shows up:

1) Fewer people tied up per move

When one operator can handle routine positioning, your second person stays on higher-value work (fueling, cleaning, line service, maintenance support, customer turnarounds).

2) Faster hangar flow and ramp staging

If you manage multiple aircraft, small delays stack up. Tight control and predictable movement helps you keep the hangar flowing and the ramp less congested.

3) Less stress in close quarters

Tight spaces punish sloppy movement. The Magic Arm 8K is built around controlled maneuvering, not “hope and shove.”

What operators like about the way it drives

The Magic Arm 8K is built with practical features that matter in real hangars:

  • Heavy duty steel frame

  • 3/4 HP, 36VDC drive system with 2:1 gear reduction and chain drive to the tires

  • Variable speed twist grip with 0 to 2 mph forward and reverse

  • Neutral throttle braking plus adjustable acceleration and braking

  • Battery discharge indicator and onboard charger

For key safety and control behavior, when the handlebars return to neutral, the unit comes to a quick, smooth stop and holds position with an electric brake style response. That matters when you are inches from a wall, a tool cart, or another aircraft.

Battery life that fits a full workday rhythm

  • About 8 hours of runtime when fully charged

  • About 8 hours to recharge after full discharge

  • The charger includes an automatic timer shutoff when batteries reach full charge

Translation: it is built around a practical shift-style workflow. Run it, plug it in, repeat.

Options that unlock more capability (and better fit)

No two operations are identical. That is why the Magic Arm 8K includes a strong list of add-ons depending on your aircraft mix, surface conditions, and how aggressive your repositioning needs are:

  • Nine tooth gear option for heavier planes, inclines, bumps. It increases torque by 2.5x and reduces overall speed

  • Winch options (manual or electric) for the setup you prefer

  • Foam-filled tires for shops that hate flats

  • Virtual Training to get operators confident quickly

  • Lithium Battery Option (contact us) for shops that want longer runtime and modern battery benefits

Fit check: two important notes before you buy

This is the part that saves everyone time.

The manual calls out two real-world constraints:

  1. Wheel pants can interfere. The Magic Arm 8K can power load your aircraft with an electric actuator, but it may not work if the aircraft nose wheel has wheel pants due to interference.

  2. Turning radius depends on the aircraft nose gear limits. The tug cannot magically exceed the aircraft’s steering geometry.

If your operation includes mixed aircraft types, this is exactly why a quick configuration call matters.

Pricing (for budget planning)

The standard unit pricing is $7,251.

Options vary based on how you configure the unit for your aircraft and surface conditions.

A simple payback mindset (no spreadsheets required)

Use this quick back-of-the-napkin method:

  1. Count how many aircraft moves you do per week (hangar in/out, staging, repositioning, maintenance shuffles).

  2. Estimate average time per move today.

  3. Multiply by how many people are typically involved.

  4. Multiply by your loaded labor rate.

Even shaving minutes off repeated moves can add up fast when the work is weekly and predictable.

Bottom line

If you are tired of tying up two people for routine aircraft positioning, the AircraftCaddy 8K Magic Arm is built to turn aircraft moves into a controlled, one-operator task, even in tight hangars and busy ramp environments.

Get the right configuration for your aircraft

Call 800-686-2651 or reach out with your aircraft make/model and nose wheel setup so we can match the best configuration and options.