FFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing SystemFFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing SystemFFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing SystemFFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing SystemFFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing SystemFFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing SystemFFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing SystemFFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing SystemFFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing SystemFFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing System
FFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing System

FFX - Flying Fox Mobile Towing System

The Flying Fox is a portable towing and positioning system with built-in electric motor and remote control. It moves remote-controlled over a span of rope transversely to the flow axis and pulls a measuring device – e.g. an ADCP boat – for cross-section…  Read more

Transect speed User selectable from 0 to 0.5 m/sec (0.1 to 1.6 ft/sec)
Transmitter range Up to 175 m (574 ft)
Frequency band License-free, ISM band for short-range devices (Australia, Europe, USA)
Power Supply
  • Tow vehicle battery: 12V:2.8Ah SLA battery
  • Remote control battery: 3 x NiMh AA batteries
  • Main charger: 220 VAC or (110 VAC) 
  • Cigarette lighter battery charger
Enclosure Powder coated aluminum, ABS
Operating time
  • A fully charged battery will drive the Flying Fox for approx. 600 m (1968 ft) total traversing distance at any speed setting. (Please note: This is not the radio range.) 
  • For example: A 100 m span can be traversed 6 times, i.e. 20 minutes continuous at 0.5 m/s (1.6 ft/s) or 50 minutes continuous at 0.2 m/s (0.6 ft/s).
Rope
  • Any low stretch, high strength 8 mm (5/16”) diameter rope 
  • Optionally available, see below
Dimensions L x W x D: 370 x 340 x 190 mm
Weight
  • Tow vehicle weight: 5 kg (10.5 lbs)
  • Shipping weight with case: 10 kg (22.5 lbs)
Compliance CE, FCC, RoHS
Scope of delivery
  • Flying Fox carriage
  • Remote control
  • Power supply/charger (100-240 VAC/50/60 Hz)
  • IC regulated DC/DC converter (with car cigarette lighter plug) „
  • 2 fixing pins (with safety locking pins)
  • Optional: synthetic cable
  • Not included: measuring instruments, ADCP boats, batteries

The Flying Fox is a portable towing and positioning system with built-in electric motor and remote control. It moves remote-controlled over a span of rope transversely to the flow axis and pulls a measuring device – e.g. an ADCP boat – for cross-section measurement through the river, and positions the device exactly at the measuring point.

No need for a fixed cable crane: The system is mobile thanks to the low weight of the vehicle and the control system and the use of a synthetic rope rather than a wire: Simply span the rope over the desired river section, hang on the vehicle and control the ride over the water by remote control. No construction or earthwork is required.

The particularly large climbing angle of up to 45 degrees facilitates the set-up even at points where, for example, there is a height difference between the right and the left riverbank. A safety lock prevents the tow vehicle from separating from the rope.

The Flying Fox is controlled via a robust weatherproof remote control with backlit LC display. The LCD shows transect speed, position as distance from the starting point on the rope, wireless signal strength, voltage and current draw while operating, battery voltage, and low battery alarm (visual and acoustic).

  • Towing & positioning
  • Mobile operation
  • Remote control from river bank
  • Lightweight, portable device
  • Rugged construction
  • Wireless operation
  • Variable speed control
  • Rechargable & exchangable batteries
  • Loss protection
  • Rugged weatherproof instrument case
  • Hydrology
  • Hydrometry
  • Consulting Engineering
  • Infrastructure-independent Measurements
  • Mobile Measurements