View Full Version : Banner Towing In Citabrias
scotto50
12th Dec 2010, 03:52
Hi All,
Anybody done banner towing in Citabrias ? Could you please drop me a PM. I have a few things I'd like to ask out about their performance.
Cheers,
Scotto
Airspeedintervention
12th Dec 2010, 04:01
Yes, as most of my flight hours were in military helicopters I needed a way to get some fixed wing time as quickly as possible. Honestly it was absolutely HORRIBLE. The pick-up routine was quite fun due to the high level of challenge invovled with doing it well. From that moment on all you can think of is getting rid of the damn thing as you cruise around at min controllable airspeed with this huge flapping drag chute attached to your aircraft.
scotto50
17th Dec 2010, 06:49
Yes your right. To Quote a famous aviator.
http://quotationsbook.com/assets/images/lay/quote-open.jpg Flying is hours and hours of boredom sprinkled with a few seconds of sheer terror. http://quotationsbook.com/assets/images/lay/quote-close.jpg Boyington, Gregory ''Pappy'' (http://quotationsbook.com/author/906/)
After the war was over I think he would have said the same about Banner Towing.
S.
Nice Touch
17th Dec 2010, 18:50
Done loads in a 150 Cub-never a problem. You can steer it by putting your arms out the windows..!
runway16
19th Dec 2010, 07:27
S-50,
Read your PMs'.
R16
scotto50
21st Dec 2010, 03:34
On my way..
Friend of mine got killed in a Citabria while picking up a billboard banner, by all accounts he came in too slow, when he picked the banner his forward momentum diminished and the aircraft was slowly sinking.... unfortunately he released the banner and the aircraft flipped over into the ground..... The 25 year old pilot and a 14 year old joy-rider were killed.
We had towed those same banners for years with a C172 and MS894 with no problems, but the Citatbria wasn't as forgiving.
Mutt
scotto50
21st Dec 2010, 07:20
Terribly sad.
These days a much higher approach and pick up speed is advocated. The ensuing speed depletion allowing for the aircraft to gain some height and the banner/billboard to be off the ground.
Hands very close to the release lever.
Cheers
S50
mokilu
21st Dec 2010, 17:53
I did it years ago with Bellanca Citabria and Piper SuperCub.
Lots of incidents, as usual in the GA.
It is not a bad aircraft for towing.
But, I would do it again as it was really funny and not so boring as airliners.
Anyway, PM me if you have any specific question.
regards
Looks like a Citabria or 2 in this vid - might be of interest to you...:)
YouTube - The Banner Tow Movie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUJGjKMHbFY)
scotto50
22nd Dec 2010, 06:51
Thanks for that link. I think one is a Scout and the other a Cub.
S50