Sky writing

How do I generate smoke "sky writing" from a SEL airplane and is it legal?

Cliff

[Robert M. Miller]

You would be amazed at the sheer lack of information available on this
topic, Cliff. :-]

As far as I know, there are no regulations against skywriting (I checked the
FAR/SFAR with no mention of the subject), obviously following the guidelines
about safe operation distances from populated areas. Here in South Bend,
Indiana, we have a cat locally who owns a 300 with a smoke device. I've
never seen any skywriting done with it, however, but I don't think it has
anything to do with rules against it.

Also, it seems important to note that skywriting seems to be a "dying" art.
You just don't see much of it at all these days. I'm really hoping by
bumping this thread a bit someone with a little bit more knowledge on the
matter will speak up for you.

--
Robert M. Miller )

--
> wrote in message
...
> How do I generate smoke "sky writing" from a SEL airplane and is it legal?
>
> Cliff
>
>

[Edward Todd]

In article <d_0Jc.85385$Oq2.63545@attbi_s52>,
"Robert M. Miller" > wrote:

> Also, it seems important to note that skywriting seems to be a "dying" art.
>


Most likely due to its high visibility to those who would question it.

One group would protest it as destroying the sky's natural beauty, and
another grouyp would say your company needs to pay for an environmental
impact study to acertain the effects of the burned oil on the ozone
layer, fowl life, etc.

Oh, and another who would protest the noise factor since you would have
to remain over a small area for a time.

And one more, who upon seeing you, would think you were a terrorist and
the smoke was some kind of nerve gas.


Edward

[Edward Todd]

> In article <d_0Jc.85385$Oq2.63545@attbi_s52>,
> "Robert M. Miller" > wrote:
>
> > Also, it seems important to note that skywriting seems to be a "dying" art.
> >
>


check this page:

http://www.sky-writing.com/

[G. Burkhart]

"Edward Todd" > wrote in message
...
> In article <d_0Jc.85385$Oq2.63545@attbi_s52>,
> "Robert M. Miller" > wrote:
>
> > Also, it seems important to note that skywriting seems to be a "dying"
art.
> >
>
>
> Most likely due to its high visibility to those who would question it.

And make sure your spelling is good. Everybody can see your mstaikes... ;-)

[Ditch]

>And make sure your spelling is good. Everybody can see your mstaikes... ;-)
>

It's actually quite amusing when you see a spelling error.
As to the equipment, there are several smoke systems avialable...you can check
out Aircraft Spruce and Specialty (http://www.aircraft-spruce.com/) for
starters.
It generally runs off of a lightweight oil that is injected into your exhaust.
As for any other requirement, you will probably need a 337 for the airplane
once the system is installed.
Once that is done, just click it on and let it billow away.


-John
*You are nothing until you have flown a Douglas, Lockheed, Grumman or North
American*

[NW_PILOT]

you may want to look in to aerobatic aircraft supply I think most aerobatic
aircraft trail some sort of smoke for judges to see.


> wrote in message
...
> How do I generate smoke "sky writing" from a SEL airplane and is it legal?
>
> Cliff
>
>

[Viperdoc]

In competitions aerobatic planes do not use smoke- it is generally used for
airshows only. Even though I don't do airshows, I have it installed on my
Extra.

Another handy use is to help other pilots find you in the pattern. It
obviously makes the plane much more visible and easy to find.

A smoke system includes a tank, pump, and orifice in the exhaust manifold.
This system allows the smoke oil to get vaporized. Smoke oil is generally
low viscosity, and makes a slimy mess on the belly of the plane as well as
the hangar floor. It is also expensive, and puts out around a gallon a
minute in my plane.

The EAA magazine will list several smoke systems for aerobatic aircraft,
while the oil itself can be purchased from a local oil distributor.

[Jim Fisher]

"Viperdoc" > wrote in message
> A smoke system includes a tank, pump, and orifice in the exhaust manifold.
> This system allows the smoke oil to get vaporized.

So is the oil is injected directly into the manifold through this orifice or
is there some more complicated, separate mechanism for heating up the oil?

--
Jim Fisher

[MLenoch]

>So is the oil is injected directly into the manifold through this orifice or
>is there some more complicated, separate mechanism for heating up the oil?

It is injected directly. You have to experiemnt a bit to find the sweet
spot....not too hot and not too cold.... where the oil will completely vaporize
and not burn. Plus the right size orifice is needed and this varies with each
airplane installation.
VL
(Mopar electric fuel pumps were great smoke oil pumps......cheap and usually
reliable)

[Bushy]

While on a smaller scale, the local model shop rc guru said I should mount
the ten dollar extra cylinder cooling water jacket they sell for rc cars to
the fins of the head of my motor and their twenty dollar smoke kit which
was a bit of high temp tubing and a servo operated valve that squashed the
tubing to cut off flow. Pressure is supplied to the tank via a tapped
fitting to the motor crankcase that required removing the back plate
drilling and tapping a hole and inserting the fitting. This was to suit an
OS46, so it wasn't a large rc motor.

Heating the oil prior to injecting it gave more smoke. I do not know if this
would help on most airshow type high powered display aircraft, but would
expect some sort of preheat would give much more smoke on a smaller, lower
horsepower aircraft. This could be as simple as leaving the drum of oil out
in the sun (or on the combustion stove in Alaska) before filling your smoke
oil tank.

Hope this helps,
Peter


"Jim Fisher" > wrote in message
...
> "Viperdoc" > wrote in message
> > A smoke system includes a tank, pump, and orifice in the exhaust
manifold.
> > This system allows the smoke oil to get vaporized.
>
> So is the oil is injected directly into the manifold through this orifice
or
> is there some more complicated, separate mechanism for heating up the oil?
>
> --
> Jim Fisher
>
>

[Morgans]

"Bushy" > wrote in message
...
> While on a smaller scale, the local model shop rc guru said I should mount
> the ten dollar extra cylinder cooling water jacket they sell for rc cars
to
> the fins of the head of my motor and their twenty dollar smoke kit which
> was a bit of high temp tubing and a servo operated valve that squashed the
> tubing to cut off flow. Pressure is supplied to the tank via a tapped
> fitting to the motor crankcase that required removing the back plate
> drilling and tapping a hole and inserting the fitting. This was to suit an
> OS46, so it wasn't a large rc motor.
>
> Heating the oil prior to injecting it gave more smoke. I do not know if
this
> would help on most airshow type high powered display aircraft, but would
> expect some sort of preheat would give much more smoke on a smaller, lower
> horsepower aircraft. This could be as simple as leaving the drum of oil
out
> in the sun (or on the combustion stove in Alaska) before filling your
smoke
> oil tank.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Peter

Many differences, between model smoke, and full size smoke, and even big
model smoke, and that mainly is the heat available.

Small model engines run on nitro methane, and the alcohol does not burn as
hot, giving low quality smoke. The larger gas engines for models have
plenty of heat. So do the big planes, even too much heat, while running
wide open. (hot)
--
Jim in NC


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[gatt]

"Edward Todd" > wrote in message news:info-

> Most likely due to its high visibility to those who would question it.
>
> One group would protest it as destroying the sky's natural beauty,

> And one more, who upon seeing you, would think you were a terrorist and
> the smoke was some kind of nerve gas.

LOL! The chem-trail people.

-c

[Viperdoc]

The oil is pumped through a small orifice into the exhaust manifold near the
outlet. The exact location can make a big difference in the quality of
smoke.

[Capt.Doug]

>"Robert M. Miller" wrote in message > Also, it seems important to note that
>skywriting seems to be a "dying" art.
> You just don't see much of it at all these days. I'm really hoping by
> bumping this thread a bit someone with a little bit more knowledge on the
> matter will speak up for you.

It's not very viable as a commercial venture. A solo writer has to have
clear skies with little or no wind. It's hard to book a marriage proposal on
a specific day at a specific time while guaranteeing Mother Nature will
cooperate. Multiple airplane writing teams can work with more wind because
they can write the message quicker, before the wind distorts it. Multiple
plane writing teams are also quite a bit more expensive and they still
require Mother Nature to guarantee a clear day. Banner towing produces a
steadier stream of income.

D.