Banner Towing

Andrew Griffin · #1 10-09-2006, 07:45 AM

G'Day.

Just wondering if anyone has (or knows if its possible) to conduct banner towing operations with an RV (esp an RV8).

I was having a chat with a buddy of mine and we got onto this topic (long story) and neither of us had an answer.

Kahuna · #2 10-09-2006, 07:51 AM

Its very likely that your op lims SPECIFICALLY prohibit this.
Read em carefully. Modern ones definately have this restriction.

Ironflight · #3 10-09-2006, 08:38 AM

Kahuna's right.....under FAA rules, the Ops Limits prohibit it....but it looks like Andy is from Australia - do they have rules over there?

We've got a banner towing operation at our field, and just watching what they put their planes through, I sure wouldn't want to subject my baby to it....

cytoxin · #4 10-09-2006, 08:51 AM

its fun to watch the banner tow guys, looks like there gonna rip the wings right off on pick up.

4kilo · #5 10-09-2006, 02:38 PM

Even if you can manage to tow banners legally, an RV would not be a very good banner tow plane. Banners are expensive, and the faster you tow them, the quicker they wear out.

Pat

pierre smith · #6 10-09-2006, 03:56 PM

I have friends who use Super Cubs and J-3s. You pull a lot of power and fly slow with high cylinder temps and lousy cooling, plus you have to install a release mechanism to drop the banner..........very hard on engines.
Regards,

joe gremlin · #7 10-09-2006, 08:30 PM

Pulling banners is all about picking up a lot of weight and going slow with it. While RVs are reported to have excellent slow flight manners, they're not exactly the plane that comes to mind I think about going slow.

The supercub I towed in had an O-360 in it, 80" cllimb prop (with oversize tires to match) and about two extra feet on the end of each wing. It also had a second oil cooler on the belly to help keep temps under control. I could pick up a house in that plane and pull it for six hours without stopping but it was a much different aircraft from an RV8.