MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 57,966
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Crop dusting is amazing. I've watched quite a few ride-along videos on youtube.Directly behind my house about 500 feet is an abandoned crop duster hanger and the remains of the grass landing strip. Mr. Ben operated out of there until the mid 80’s. Mostly he flew a Pawnee but one year he had a Steerman. That one would wake me up quick in the mornings. In and out all day long spraying for nearby farmers. A joy to watch, as graceful as a ballet dancer. He finally had to retire due to failing eyesight.
Another interesting occupation: Banner towing.
A friend of mine's father used to do that back in the 70s and 80. He flew a Stinson. Not sure what model at all. They'd set up two sticks out in the grass next to the runway and lay the tow-rope across it. The banner was laid out in reverse past the sticks.
The Stinson had a large treble hook on a cable that was mounted to a release hook under the tail. He'd put the hook in the pilot's window. Then he'd take off down the runway, get airborne, toss the treble hook out off the window, then slip left over the grass. He'd make a dive at the sticks then pull up. That would make the treble hook swing down and hopefully grab the tow rope. If it missed, he'd go around. If it hooked, it would peel the banner up off the grass like a ribbon and he'd climb to just before stall, then push the yolk forward and dive a bit to gain speed again. Then off he'd go. I always thought that job took some nerve!
After flying the banner around ND stadium for the paid amount of time, he'd return and release the cable from under the tail and it would drop in the grass. He'd land, get another cable, and repeat, as many times as people paid.
Pretty cool.