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Tost E85 tow banner release mechanism

$150

Can a 150 tow a banner with only 100 hp?

not if your goal is actually to leave the ground or at least remain above it

Funny, Mr. Gray.....very funny.


I've never given much thought to banner towing but the thought of trying it with a standard 150 sounds strangely reminiscent of an unnatural act.


Jim

That's what I thought. Can you do it with 150 or 160 hp?

A stock 100 hp 150 or 115 hp 152 would be very much taxed to tow a banner. The drag is extremely strong. You also need a commercial ticket, since you'd be flying for hire. Not certain about any additional inspection requirements for the airplane, since it's used in commerce (such as 100 hr inspections, etc), as well as possible certification from the FAA (such as an operating certificate).

Interesting number of questions to be resolved. Hmmmmm....

When I bought Woodstock there was a banner tow kit installed. I had it removed at the first annual.

Yes.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-07-03/features/9407030141_1_aircraft-goal-posts-fly

With everything open but the tool box, the 150 was a common towplane in Southern California back in the early 1970s. If you saw a 150 taxiing up to the fuel island with no cowling, you could be pretty sure there was a hook under the tail.

You could be-bop a 100-mile loop which included the beaches from Malibu to San Clemente, 50kias all the way, go inland back to the LA Basin for fuel and to replenish the ice chest, snag the new message and do it again, four circuits (six if you started early) a day, all summer long.

Some agencies would want a tow all the way down the coast from above Santa Barbara to a turn just shy of the Mexican border. At least one company (Hi, Bob!) would send the banner ground crew up to the start point (staying at a motel), then the pilot would take off from home and deadhead up to the start point. Once the snag was made, the ground crew would toss the sticks into the back of the truck and drive down to San Diego, then wait an hour or so for the plane to come drop the banner. They would then race back up the highway, while the pilot flew home for fuel and lunch, then started the loop again. About the time he would get back to start point, the banner would be set up again, sometimes three times a day during the middle of summer.

Here's a picture of the tow release hooked up to a banner even you can tow.

[Linked Image]