"The trees are farther away than they look"
08-07-2011, 08:16 PM
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Location: Abbotsford,
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"The trees are farther away than they look"
Maybe not!!
I flew my Big Stick 40 through a tree this morning. I can't say it could have been done more gracefully though. Style points count for something right? I knew it was coming; I could see my shadow against the trees, but didn't turn away in time. I hit the tree, and saw wood flying everywhere. I assumed all that wood breaking and falling to the ground was my plane. Then I realize: the plane is still flying! The engine wasn't running anymore, but it's still flying! I managed to glide back to the field, and it still responded nicely.
I got lucky!
The plane went into the tree, caused a little choas in there, then came out the other side still under control. The aluminum spinner backplate was folded up and full of wood splinters (from the tree, not the plane). The wing is broken on both sides of the fuselage, and there is a little nick in the stabilizer. The only real damage is to the engine. The needle valve was broken off the YS 53.
I flew my Big Stick 40 through a tree this morning. I can't say it could have been done more gracefully though. Style points count for something right? I knew it was coming; I could see my shadow against the trees, but didn't turn away in time. I hit the tree, and saw wood flying everywhere. I assumed all that wood breaking and falling to the ground was my plane. Then I realize: the plane is still flying! The engine wasn't running anymore, but it's still flying! I managed to glide back to the field, and it still responded nicely.
I got lucky!
The plane went into the tree, caused a little choas in there, then came out the other side still under control. The aluminum spinner backplate was folded up and full of wood splinters (from the tree, not the plane). The wing is broken on both sides of the fuselage, and there is a little nick in the stabilizer. The only real damage is to the engine. The needle valve was broken off the YS 53.
