Yard Games Blog

If you have ever been to a beach or sporting event, you might have seen a banner or billboard pulled behind a plane, advertising something. These signs tell of products or services, announce a special event, tell where to find further information (like a webpage), display political ads, and are used many other ways.

Most banner or billboard ads are pulled behind a small single engine prop plane. This type of plane has enough power to pull the extra weight and drag of the banner. However, some firms offer banner ads that are pulled behind a helicopter. This has several advantages and some disadvantages over the standard airplane.

First, helicopters are much more versatile but also much more difficult to fly than airplanes. Therefore, the pilots must be specially trained and for a longer time. This means the cost is no doubt greater when hiring helicopters instead of airplanes. The maneuverability also requires much more power to run a helicopter. This means higher fuel costs and, again, more expense.

Helicopters can fly more slowly and even hover to provide a longer viewing time. Normally when banner ads pulled behind an airplane allow the audience an average of 17 seconds to read the message. Of course, there is a minimum speed needed to keep the banner out straight so it can be read. A billboard hung below a helicopter can be a stationary ad for a short period of time. At least the read time will be greatly lengthened.

The banner and billboard ad is normally attached to a rigid pole so that it stays upright and readable. Weights are attached to the bottom of it so that it does not spiral or turn over.

The other method developed by skydivers is called Sling Load banner pulling. Here the helicopter basically pulls the upper corner of the banner and a weight is attached to the bottom of the leading edge so that it stays vertical. In spite of this weight, however, the ad often distorts as the wind hits it for the lower edge can’t keep up with the top. The weight could be as much as 500 pounds so a safety factor is also involved. Standard banners only require 10-15 pounds of weight to keep them vertical.

The advantage of the helicopter in pulling the banners is in the power of the plane. Because helicopters pull upward, and because their engines are much larger, they are able to pull much larger banners. Instead of the standard 3000 square feet sign, some have pulled banners as large as 50,000 square feet! Single engine planes would not be able to do this.

Both an airplane and a helicopter have the audio factor. They make enough noise to get people to look. The uniqueness of the banner demands to be read. In no time at all, perhaps thousands of people have read an ad that would normally be ignored in a newspaper or on TV. With either method, the success of this form of advertisement is reached.

When you are confident your message appeals effectively, it is time to contact an aerial advertising company and begin the process of getting it into the air. In no time, your well planned message will be presented to thousands of people and the impact for you will begin to be seen.