Hi all,
Yeah have to agree sounds risky, but that pretty much sums up all external sling loads.
Watched the H300 setup, normal Veritcal ref style initial pickup (ground crew sorting lines, banner so clean hang) then a normal slingload transition from the hover.
Lines were approx 150-200' and ballast kept the lot hanging under the a/c. Transition to fwd flt saw the banner start to stream. Looked fairly straight forward to me and having done a decent amount of underslung loads recognize the 6 P's play an important part in reducing the gear into tail rotor scenario.
Seen banners towed in up to 20kts under the H300 can only assume the banner didn't affect controllability as the pilot carried on chugging away. Have only seen banner tows by civvie a/c as in NZ the forces aren't allowed to have any fun (hence the removal of toys + allowaces).
Any input from the WWW?
Cheers & Fly Safe
Hone
PS: The 6 P's ????
Proper,Pre-flight, Planning, Prevents, P!sspoor, Performance. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
[ 14 January 2002: Message edited by: Hone22 ]</p>