Smoke Oil

[PF Flyer]

I have access to some Canopus 13 and Vitrea 13. Has anyone used either? What were the results? Thanks...

[WLIU]

Canopus 13, formerly Corvus, oil is the smoke oil commonly used at airshows. It has a high parafin content. Depending on the installation of your smoke system and how you fly it can leave a mess on your belly. If there are any openings at the tail of your airplane, all smoke will come back into the tail of the airplane and flow forward to the cockpit. Annoying but generally not toxic.

THe oil is actually used as a release agent on concrete forms I believe.

Having worked with smoke systems of various types, for the average guy the cost/benefit ratio does not make sense. Most guys use them a couple of times and then they are dead weight to be hauled around.

If you are flying airshows all year, then smoke as part of your act pays off as punctuation to your maneuvers. Getting paid takes the sting out of cleaning up the mess after the flight.

Best of luck,

Wes
N78PS