Never saw this before!

[N2056]

Around here we get lots of signs towed around by planes, but I've never seen a copter providing the muscle before. Is this common?

[Dynasaur]

Hi - This is fairly common here in summer - I would see this a couple of times a month - they mostly do this along the coast - must use a lot of fuel, as the chopper does not seem to be going fast enough to get much forward lift.

[Mick]

It seems extravagant, in that helicopters cost several times as much to operate as fixed wing aircraft. Someone's wasting an awful lot of money by using a helo to do a job that could be handled by a Piper Cub!

But then, maybe they already own the helo and are trying to find ways to make a buck with it, and have customers willing to pay enough to make banner towing profitable. That should work until someone comes along with a Piper Cub and offers their customers a better deal.

[Dain Arns]

Hi - This is fairly common here in summer - I would see this a couple of times a month - they mostly do this along the coast - must use a lot of fuel, as the chopper does not seem to be going fast enough to get much forward lift.

Helicopters burn lots of fuel. Period.
That's why their range is calculated in Minutes remaining, not Miles.

Helicopters sling loads, so really wouldn't be much different than doing that.

I agree that the cost of operation would be high, but apparently some folks have money to burn these days.

[Naki]

Yes seen it here but most of the time its a fixed wing operation

[N2056]

After looking up the local company it turns out that it's one of the options available. I guess nobody has opted to use it locally before.

[Odie]

Might the size and shape of the banner play into it, too? Looks to be an awfully big banner.

[Dain Arns]

Yes, and a benefit with a helicopter would be that the banner that bigger size and square shape can be towed at a much lower speed over an area, (i.e. without stalling), possibly increasing the length of time and visibility of the ad towards potential customers.

Which irks me because it would be the last thing I would want to see in the sky is large advertisements like that, especially for what appears to be yet another social network app.
I mean seriously, if I am already at the beach with other people, why would I need an app to find people at the beach?

[cheezyflier]

Yes, and a benefit with a helicopter would be that the banner that bigger size and square shape can be towed at a much lower speed over an area, (i.e. without stalling), possibly increasing the length of time and visibility of the ad towards potential customers.

Which irks me because it would be the last thing I would want to see in the sky is large advertisements like that, especially for what appears to be yet another social network app.
I mean seriously, if I am already at the beach with other people, why would I need an app to find people at the beach?

1) ads are the reason i won't have cable television in my house
2) wishing people to leave me alone is why i won't own a cell phone
3) if i wanted social networking (which i don't) i'd do it in person.

frankly, i've long been sick of all the visual pollution we are subjected to. if ever there was a cause worthy of a terrorist act, it would be to an end to all the advertising forced upon us. right after killing off all the lobbyists, lawyers, and insurance brokers

[Dain Arns]

1) ads are the reason i won't have cable television in my house
2) wishing people to leave me alone is why i won't own a cell phone
3) if i wanted social networking (which i don't) i'd do it in person.

frankly, i've long been sick of all the visual pollution we are subjected to. if ever there was a cause worthy of a terrorist act, it would be to an end to all the advertising forced upon us. right after killing off all the lobbyists, lawyers, and insurance brokers

Boy, I totally agree with that.
I do have a Facebook page, however, it is strictly to keep in contact with my family and close friends (not acquaintances, I don't believe in collecting 'friends' strictly for numbers sake).
And I sure don't want to 'friend' companies (that includes FS payware makers).

I won't pay for cable either.
Stats show that anywhere from 30 to 40% of of any broadcast hour now is advertising. Not including late night informercials.
Why the hell would I want to pay for viewing advertising?
As much as I would like to watch some of the new shows on HBO, I just wait because they eventually show up on Netflix anyway.

Yeah, they want to put ads in orbit, and laser ads on the Moon. Enough is enough.
When are they going to figure out with so much advertisement saturation these days, no one is paying attention anymore, anyway?
I sure don't. Hell, I even block the ads on YouTube.