The History of Aerial Advertising: From Vin Fiz to OBX Beaches

How Flying Billboards Became a Summer Tradition

If you've ever spent a summer day on the beaches of the Outer Banks, you've seen them: small planes pulling long banners through the sky, advertising everything from restaurant specials to marriage proposals. But have you ever wondered where this unique form of advertising began?

The First Aerial Advertisement (1911)

Just eight years after the Wright Brothers made history at Kitty Hawk, aerial advertising was born.

In 1911, aviator Calbraith Perry Rodgers set out to become the first person to fly coast-to-coast across America. To fund his ambitious journey, he struck a deal with the Armour company to promote their grape-flavored soft drink, Vin Fiz.

Rodgers flew a Wright Brothers Model EX with "Vin Fiz" painted on the underside of the wings, so spectators could read the advertisement as he soared overhead. The Vin Fiz Flyer became the first sponsored aircraft in history – and aerial advertising was born.

The Evolution of Banner Towing

While wing advertisements were effective, entrepreneurs soon developed a more flexible approach: the tow banner.

The technology was simple but ingenious:

This innovation meant a single plane could advertise multiple businesses in a single day, making aerial advertising practical and profitable.

The Golden Age (1940s-1990s)

Banner towing truly took off in the 1940s with the mass production of the Piper Cub, an affordable and reliable aircraft perfect for the job. By the 1980s and '90s, aerial banners were as familiar to beachgoers as highway billboards.

The summer season – from Memorial Day through Labor Day – became prime time for banner towing. On busy beach days, you might see a dozen different banners flying overhead, each one competing for the attention of sunbathers and swimmers below.

Aerial Advertising on the Outer Banks

It's fitting that the Outer Banks, birthplace of powered flight, remains one of America's premier aerial advertising markets. The combination of:

...makes the OBX an ideal location for banner towing operations.

How It Works Today

At OBX Airplanes, our aerial advertising operation runs like a well-oiled machine:

The Banner Pick: This is the most critical (and impressive) maneuver. The pilot approaches a banner laid out on the ground, hooks it with a grapple attached to a towline, and smoothly lifts it into the sky – all while maintaining perfect control of the aircraft.

The Flight: On summer weekdays, our banner planes typically launch between 10-11 AM and fly north along the coast until 6-7 PM. That's thousands of potential customers seeing your message every single day.

The Message: Modern banners can display letters, logos, and even custom graphics. Whether you're advertising a business, promoting an event, or surprising someone with a personal message, the sky's the limit (literally).

Why Aerial Advertising Still Works

In an age of digital advertising and social media, you might wonder if aerial banners are still effective. The answer is a resounding yes:

Your Message in the Sky

From that first Vin Fiz flight in 1911 to the colorful banners you see over the OBX today, aerial advertising has come a long way. But the core appeal remains the same: there's something magical about seeing a message written across the sky.

At OBX Airplanes, we're proud to continue this aviation tradition. Whether you're a local business looking to reach summer tourists, or you want to make a personal announcement that nobody will forget, we can make it happen.

Want to put your message in the sky? Contact us about aerial advertising or call 252.473.2442.

OBX Airplanes – Continuing the aviation tradition at the birthplace of flight since 2011.