OK did something really stupid. Tried to fly my parkflyer in 20-25mph winds (gusts of 30+). Was doing OK, but forgot that I had the short running NiCD instead of the longer running NiMH pack in. Flew downwind, turned and discovered very little power. The wind took the plane like a kite and it wound up about 50-60 feet up in an pine tree. Felt REALLY stupid at that point. I've gotten my parkflyer caught before, but only at 1/3 the height of this latest travesty. That time I attached some thin rope to a rock and was able to loop the branch that it was on. I tried this method for a little bit, but it was getting dark out and my arm was getting tired. Anybody got any other interesting methods of getting planes out of trees? I'm pretty sure that the plane will be a right off at this point (since I initally taught myself how to fly with this plane), so recovering the foamie in a reusable condition is not all that important to me. What is, is getting the radio and other sundary electronics down intact so that I can scavenge for my next parkflyer (I'm considering something that doesn't act like a kite when low on power). What do you all recommend?

Been there...but Im a fireman so we just got the ladder truck!:p

I would see if your local tool equipment rental shop rents climbing spurs!. If you have a buddy that rock climbs or the is on the local vol. Search and Rescue team see if they have any tree climbers, or call a Tree service (big bucks!) If you can do it safely they have thing's for bow hunters call'd Flu-flu's (they are for bird hunting) feally fluffy blunt tips the size of baseballs, you could try to take a shot with that, or last but not least, the Ham Radio guy's use wristrocket's (slingshots) and shoot fishing weight's from a fishing reel over the branch then tie a rope to it pull it back and try to pull the branch or plane down...

Hope something helps ...I hate it when someone looses a good bird!:(

Well?.......:confused:

Originally posted by MrGoodwreck
Well?.......:confused:

I wound up climbing at least 40 feet up into the tree and using a really long dead branch (I had a frield hand to me from the ground when I first got into the tree) that was at least 15 feet long to "push" the plane out. Pissed me off a little since I thought that the plane was going to be a write-off and I'd already made planes to scavenge the micro gear into a Pico Jet Combat. The plane actually made it out of the tree with minimal damage and was repaired within 4 hours.

When I landed 80ft in the top of a tree. :rolleyes: I tied fishing line to an arrow and tried to shoot over the fuse to shake it loose. After about 10 shots or so and 2 lost arrows I managed to shoot an arrow right through the fuse. I gave the string a shake and then had to figure out what to do with a 6lb plane hurddling down the string at me.:eek:
DEG

Originally posted by iflyrc24
I managed to shoot an arrow right through the fuse. I gave the string a shake and then had to figure out what to do with a 6lb plane hurddling down the string at me.:eek:
DEG

That is a easy one!....DUCK! :D

F2racer, glad you got your bird back!

I've used a fishing pole and a "practice" plug to retrieve planes from some pretty strange places. Just cast the plug fairly close to the plane and walk so the line snags the plane. A small bobber also works or a sinker but the sinker might damage the plane.

Good luck,
Joe

Ok, I'm thinkin' chainsaw! :D You know, just have it fall so the plane will be on the "up" side! ;)

Gary

The very first day I tried flying I took my newly finished Kadet Senior to a field by an Industrial Park near where I lived that was bordered by power lines on two sides, forest on one and a Boeing plastics plant on the other. No instructor. No clue.

Started her up. Taxied down the dirt roadway a bit and she was off! 3 minutes of totally uncontrolled pandimonium later the flight ended at the top of spindley old oak tree. The tree was too skinny to climb so I tried shaking it. No luck.

I left the plane, went home and got an ax, a rope and my brother-in-law. We threw the rope as high up as we could, did the Paul Bunyan thing and once we had sufficiently weakenned the trunk we gently pulled the tree down using the rope until I could pick the Kadet out of the tree. Once the Kadet was out we finished the job on the tree and dragged it as far into the bush as we could.

After a repairing the leading edge of the wing and patching the monokote in a few dozen places it was off again - but this time to the local RC club's flying field where I could enlist the help of an instructor.

I believe this photo (http://www.rcflying.net/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=4793) chonicled my triumphant return to the Boeing field, so many years ago!