Something I've never seen before...

[Check Essential]

I was out riding yesterday and as I was crossing the Triborough Bridge into the city, I saw a helicopter towing a banner (actually, a billboard).

I used to tow banners many years ago and never heard of anyone doing so with a helicopter.

Wish I had my camera with me.

CE

 

[BoilerUP]

I saw a Jetranger towing a banner in TEB a couple years ago. Yeah, it looked kinda wierd, and he was going even slower than a Supercub draggin' a rag in a stiff wind...

 

[epic!]

ive seen it done here (jqf) whenever there is a nascar race in town. seems like a boring job though, flying in short slow circles

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

I've seen a blimp pickup a banner in HWO.

I always though a C208A (675hp) would be a great banner plane.
Turbine time builder! (REALY big billboards!!)


CE

 

[Ill Mitch]

I was out riding yesterday and as I was crossing the Triborough Bridge into the city, I saw a helicopter towing a banner (actually, a billboard).

I used to tow banners many years ago and never heard of anyone doing so with a helicopter.

Wish I had my camera with me.

CE

When I was dragging a few years ago, a Jet Ranger would show up and tow around this huge billboard. Looked kind of silly...here was this helo with the nose pointed way down towing this HUGE billboard and going what looked like about 5 kts.

 

[seethru]

Doesn't that get a little expensive? I know absolutely zero about helicopters when it comes to operating costs, etc... but I always thought they were kind of more expensive to operate than, say, a light SEL airplane.

 

[ackattacker]

Just a guess, but I'd say they can probably pick up and tow a much larger banner than a light plane. If you're going around a stadium or something you want to go slow. So why not?

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

Doesn't that get a little expensive? I know absolutely zero about helicopters when it comes to operating costs, etc... but I always thought they were kind of more expensive to operate than, say, a light SEL airplane.

Bigger banner (billboard) and slower movement so you can target a
more specific audience (like a stadium) and a unique vehicle (the chopper)
may be worth the preimum price.

CE

 

[seethru]

I just have this disturbing image I keep replaying in my mind of a helicopter carrying this big bilboard over some stadium and the cables break.

God I have a sick sense of humor...

 

[ackattacker]

I just have this disturbing image I keep replaying in my mind of a helicopter carrying this big bilboard over some stadium and the cables break.

God I have a sick sense of humor...

OH GAWD THE HUMANITY OH NO IT'S A GIANT FLEXIBLE PLASTIC SIGN IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US ITS FALLING LIKE A BIG LEAF IT'LL HIT US IN A FEW MINUTES I KNOW IT

Oh wait no big deal.

 

[Check Essential]

OH GAWD THE HUMANITY OH NO IT'S A GIANT FLEXIBLE PLASTIC SIGN IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US ITS FALLING LIKE A BIG LEAF IT'LL HIT US IN A FEW MINUTES I KNOW IT

Oh wait no big deal.

Ummm...the huge lead pipe on the leading edge of the billboard is a little bit of a "big deal if it falls on your head.

CE

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

OH GAWD THE HUMANITY OH NO IT'S A GIANT FLEXIBLE PLASTIC SIGN IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US ITS FALLING LIKE A BIG LEAF IT'LL HIT US IN A FEW MINUTES I KNOW IT

Oh wait no big deal.

laugh...

I've seen more than one banner fall. The lead poles are freakin heavy.
Probably wouldn't kill you, but might hurt you...if you run REALLY
slow.

The banner industry has so many interesting stories...

CE

 

[seethru]

Oh, so it's not exactly what I had thought. I imagined a bilboard just like one of those big ones you see along the highway.

OK, we don't get too many banner towing operations here in Oregon.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

OK, we don't get too many banner towing operations here in Oregon.

yet another reason to like Oregon.

CE

 

[LR25]

I had a 7 ft letter sign rope break right as I was decending back down on the beach out of about 700ft or so, that thing can really move, and all thought was that lead pole was going to hit someone, thank God it didnt.

It landed right in the surf and all the bystanders had it up and stretched out in 30 seconds.

 

[seethru]

yet another reason to like Oregon.

CE

 

[missionarypilot]

Yeah that lead pole can DEFINITELY hurt something. That's my biggest nightmare (other than losing an engine over a busy downtown while towing). The problem with helicopters towing banners is that when you go too slow the bottom part of the banner folds under and you can't read it. Yes you can tow bigger banners, but most banners tow ideally around 50 mph (for best readability), so might as well use a cheaper fixed wing.