Banner towing

[WebMaster]

The biggest challenge to towing a banner is the rear prop.
With the line and treble hook arrangement, it is customary for the pilot to have the end of the line in the cockpit. This is for two reasons. The first is so the treble hook doesn't snag the ground on take off. The second is so that he can drop the banner, and not have to land with it.

Thus, the attachment point for the banner is inside the aiplane, and the line, towing the banner, in the case of a 337 would flow alongside the airplane. Now, if you look out the little window, and look directly to the rear of the aircraft, you will see this thing. It's called a propeller, and it will surely cause problems with the banner tow rope.

[wfreestone]

The attachment point for the tow line is at the tail of the aircraft in a releaseable tail hook/clamp (which has a control to release the tow rope in the cabin) and the treble hook and excess line is held in the cabin through the window during take off and then thrown out the window away and down after takeoff to deploy it.

I have not seen or heard of a Skymaster being used for banner towing, but if the tow rope release hook/clamp could be attached at the base of one of the booms/tail and the treble hook/line not get into the rear engine during takeoff and when it is thrown out/deployed from the cabin -- I guess it could be done.
Normally, a single engine aircraft is used -- due to operating costs.

[N5ZX]

Personally I think the idea of flying low and slow and cramming the throttle to the firewall when you go into a verticle climb...while dragging a grappling hook... All amounts to a god-awful thing to do to an airplane.....let alone its pilot. But, I told my boss I'd ask. This seems far better left to those who are already in the business....no need to reinvent this wheel.
Thank you for your input.
Catch ya on the downwind....
Cole

[Guy Paris]

Well if anything, I would have to say banner towing was fun, think the time was 1958

in a Super Cub with a 150 engine. And it was good training when (think it might have been

in the 1980's) when we had LOW ALTITUDE wind shear training in the B727 simulator. We

were trained to firewall the throttles and bring the nose of the B727 simulator up to stick

shaker to try and hopefully escape the effects of wind shear. (scary even in the sim)

and thankful of never having to do it out on the line.... guy, the old 72 driver.

[WebMaster]

Good point, GUY.
I've been in 2 planes that encountered low altitude wind shear. Once as a passenger, on, a 72, I think. It was scary. When we finally landed, everyone applauded the pilots. I think it was 79 or 80.
Once in mine, and it was REALLY scary.