“That time we towed a plane with a Tesla.”
So says Qantas of the May 15 feat where a Tesla Model X P100D has set a world record tow of a Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
Said to be the “heaviest tow by an electric production passenger vehicle”, the SUV pulled the nearly 130 tonne aircraft almost 300 metres at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport on May 15.
The marketing stunt is not just about setting a record but also promoting Qantas’s drive towards sustainability.
“With more than 10,000 pieces of Qantas ground services equipment like catering trucks, aircraft loaders and other vehicles all running on diesel, even just a small shift to electric power will have an enormous impact in the move to a sustainable future,’’ the airline says.
“That’s why we’re continuing to collaborate with our friends at Tesla, driving innovation for our customers and increasing sustainability in the transport industry.”
The Dreamliner carried no cargo, and just a limited amount of fuel but was still much more than the Model X’s 2.5 tonnes rated tow capacity.
Qantas says it uses electric aircraft tugs to move planes at Sydney and Canberra airports.
Tesla and Qantas have matched up before.
In 2016 at Victoria’s Avalon Airport a Tesla Model S P90D and Boeing 737 raced off, the Tesla winning on the ground at 250km/h, just overtaken as the plane took off.
Qantas customers and Tesla drivers can qualify for rewards.
Tesla owners who are also Frequent Flyer members will have their mileage offset both in their vehicles and in the air during June with the Qantas Future Planet program designed to offset carbon emissions.
Charging from Tesla High Power Wall Connectors at Qantas Valet facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide allows Model S and Model X owners to charge while travelling too.
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