by Bruce
28. June 2010 08:49
Did you ever wonder how those aerial banners you see flying around actually get up in the sky? No, they don't drag them along as they take off; no, they don't throw them out the window once they get airborne. No, it's way more Evel Knievel and harrowing than that.
The banner is made of a super strong, vinyl-like material but so lightweight that 50’ x 100’ banner a could actually be folded and placed into a large cardboard box. Then they throw the whole box out the window. No, just kidding. Before takeoff, the banner is spread out lengthwise on an adjoining runway with the harness attached to a couple of upright poles (similar to a football goalpost).
The plane takes off without the banner attached, then it gains altitude and speed, circles around and dives down towards the goalpost with a grappling hook trailing behind the plane. (Think crop-dusters trying to hoe a field with a hook. Or a fighter pilot landing on an aircraft carrier, but way slower and without the $30,000,000 plane.) So pilot is diving, hook is hanging and speed is increasing; the pilot pulls the plane up just as he approaches the posts, which have a horizontal catch-wire attached to the harness, which is attached to the banner. He hits the wire with the hook and accelerates straight up, pulling the banner aloft without dragging or tearing. He completes his route for the advertiser, approaches the airfield from whence he came, drops the hook and banner over the field and they float to the ground safely to be used another day.
The pilot lands, thanks God and proceeds directly to the bar, or to therapy, or to the Adrenaline Rush Anonymous meeting.
Check out some of our recent
Aerial Advertising campaigns!
