COBRA Trailer & AL-KO VT deliver quality for aircraft on the road
Wings in the wind, head in the clouds. Glider pilots enjoy this dream on a regular basis. But before they can pursue their dream of freedom, the aircraft first has to be transported to the launch site – very down to earth, on the road. Thanks to AL-KO VT and COBRA Trailer, this is child's play and, above all, safe.
Key facts about the partnership between COBRA Trailer & AL-KO VT
- COBRA Trailer produces glider trailers for the global market
- AL-KO VT manufactures bespoke components for COBRA Trailer, such as enlarged axle mounts, axles and jockey wheels.
- With the MAMMUT manoeuvring system from AL-KO VT, gliders can be easily manoeuvred inside the trailer – a welcome support considering a total weight of up to 1,800 kg.
COBRA Trailer: innovative market leader in aircraft transport trailers
Quality workmanship since 1980
The A. Spindelberger Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH (COBRA Trailer), based in Edermünde-Grifte near Kassel, Germany, has been manufacturing transport trailers for gliders since 1980. The range also includes trailers for the growing ultralight aircraft market. The industry expert builds around 200 trailers each year. More than 11,000 COBRA Trailers are in use worldwide – securely transporting aircraft from A to B. The main markets are Europe and the USA.
Unlike the classic steel chassis, COBRA Trailer uses a self-supporting design made from aluminium side walls and sandwich flooring. The necessary interior fittings are proprietary developments. The upper part of the trailer is produced as a lightweight variant in aluminium or plastic. The latter sometimes feature double-wall construction for high insulation. A COBRA Trailer is essentially a perfectly tailored transport box for a glider, to which the axle mounts, towbar, jockey wheels, and so on are directly attached.
Precisely fitted trailers for gliders
Easily towable on a standard licence thanks to lightweight construction
The challenge in trailer design comes from the individuality of each aircraft. Depending on the aircraft type, the fuselage, wings and wing tips all with differing spans, all play a role in determining the trailer layout – including the winglets, the upward-curved wingtips at the end of the wings that reduce drag. The necessary equipment also weighs up to 150 kilograms.
Solar systems for charging aircraft batteries are also increasingly being installed inside the trailer. The size and positioning of the individual components and equipment have a significant effect on the trailer’s centre of gravity and thus on the axle position.
Manoeuvring systems or a cable winch also need to be considered. The trailers can reach lengths of up to twelve metres. Handling these rigs requires a >high degree of finesse and experience.
Felix Hoffmann on COBRA Trailer’s trailers
“Every trailer has a different axle position depending on the aircraft type, as well as special customer requirements. Our job is to design a trailer that allows each customer to transport their aircraft and equipment safely,” explains Felix Hoffmann, authorised signatory at COBRA Trailer.
Thanks to the lightweight construction without a steel chassis, the permissible gross weight for the most common trailer variants ranges from 1,000 to 1,800 kilograms, made up of the equipment (approx. 150 kg), the aircraft (200 kg to 750 kg depending on the type), and the trailer (450 kg to 900 kg, depending on the type). This means the rig can be towed to the airfield with a standard driving licence.
AL-KO VT on board
Flexible for non-standard requirements
The market leader in glider trailers requires bespoke parts to match its individual approach. That's why AL-KO VT components are always on board: perfectly fitted axle mounts, axles and jockey wheels – and have been throughout almost the entire company history of COBRA Trailer since 1980.
“AL-KO manufactures custom-enlarged axle mounts for us. These are needed to provide the same level of stability in our trailers even without a traditional steel chassis. The jockey wheels are also custom-made for us according to requirements. AL-KO is highly flexible when it comes to delivering more than just the standard,” says Hoffmann.
“We have a long and particularly positive relationship with COBRA Trailer. Transporting such valuable assets as a glider often requires a very individual approach,” says Joachim Götzl, Regional Sales Manager for Central Germany at AL-KO Vehicle Technology. “COBRA Trailer has mastered individuality and precision for 40 years. I am especially pleased that we have been part of this success story for so long,” Götzl continues.
AL-KO VT MAMMUT
Easy manoeuvring for trailers
The fully automatic MAMMUT manoeuvring system from AL-KO VT is also used in COBRA Trailers. This makes it effortless to move and steer trailers independently. Even tight gaps, obstacles up to four centimetres high or gradients of up to 28 percent are no problem. This is especially useful since the trailers often also serve as storage for the aircraft and must be manoeuvred fully into garages or parking spaces. With a possible total weight of up to 1,800 kilograms, every assistance is welcome.
