Coupling, especially for a towing bar to connect a tractor to an aircraft

The coupling for a tow bar (12) connecting a towed vehicle to an aircraft involves a coupling thruster (20) limitedly axially displaceable in a housing (18). A spring component (22) is actively connected to the thruster. For bidirectional springing of the axial thruster, the spring component is formed by a gas spring. The gas spring, by axial displacement of the axial thruster out of its rest position, is compressible independently of the direction of displacement via operating devices (24).