newart

I was flying this morning minding my own business when some guy came from the right w./ a Cub taking off perpendicular to the runway. I’ve glanced over my shoulder for few seconds . . . and next thing you know . . . I’ve lost sight of my plane! I wiggled the wings but the plane I was looking at wasn’t mine (!). I didn’t even see where and when it went down! I looked in the bushes for about 4-5 hours but all I got was a golf ball (the entire site was an airplane graveyard) !!!
IN CASE ANYBODY WAS AT THE SEPULVEDA BASIN THIS MORNING (SUNDAY 01/04/04) DID YOU SEE ANYTHING? IF SOMEBODY FINDS THE PLANE OR KNOWS OF ITS WHEREABOUTS PLEASE E-MAIL ME (I’ve also posted a sign at The Apollo XI Field). It was a Hirobo Sky Trend Max .40.
Any lead will be greatly appreciated.

ifixairplanes

My Feedback: (9)

i've had that problem before, but i always was able to refind my plane. After a few scares like that I now con stantly keep my eyes on my aircraft and NEVER turn away from it. sorry to hear about that. Excuse to move up to bigger and better planes

sean

Dewey2

My Feedback: (24)

with it being a trainer type . ultra stable it mite be in the next state . check local radio stations they mite say something about it . a guy did about the samething with his pt 40 it went 3 miles away hit somebodys pool . anyway good luck

jsn

My Feedback: (8)

If you were at half throttle or so I'll keep my eye's open here in vegas prophanger is right it may very well be several miles away. just for future reference.... I put a small name plate in all of my planes, name address and phone# and reward if found. haven't needed to use it thankfully.


John

newart

That's a good idea, AMA # will help too . . . Where do you put yours on the plane?

ifixairplanes

My Feedback: (9)

i dont put my name in cause it might break something i cant afford.....
sean

newart

OS .46FX at full power ! Hmmm, it might be in the dam now . . .

zetor

My Feedback: (2)

LOL

jsn

My Feedback: (8)

newart, I put mine somewhere in the wing saddle/receiver area inside the plane, i use clear packing tape to secure it.

ifixairplanes, yeah i have to admit that thought crossed my mind...... that's why I have insurance, I just hope if I ever need it the sob's pay the claim.


BTW newart I hope ya find your plane!!!!

John

upnflyin

Contact the AMA and they have adhesive labels for that purpose. I understood that it was a ama requirement that they be in all our aircraft. Good luck on finding it anyway. Losing one that way really s***s.
Al

invertedpass

It's a hard lesson to learn but your not the first to loose sight of your plane .I agree keep your eyes on your plane ,fly your flight not the other guys.Good luck finding it.[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

Daren Savage

My Feedback: (6)

I think it's only required if you want to file a claim. No address, no claim.

I'm sorry for your loss. This is yet another reason why it's a good idea to fly with a spotter (especially at a public park/flying field); they watch the traffic, you watch your airplane.

Daren

newart

After 4-5 hours of searching yesterday I went back today (this time equipped w./ some army binoculars), and still nothing. My only hope now is on the post I put at the field.

newart

Yeah, I agree w./ you. That’s my first (and hopefully last) that this is happening. See the next post on the results . . .

Montague

The AMA safety code requires the name or ama # in or on the plane. Planes that have "AMA" or "USA" followed by the number on the wing are fine. I always found that funny, since if it flew away and landed in some sub-division, your average joe home-owner with a new skylight is not going to know that the number on the wing somehow traces back to the owner. But that's just me.

Depending on the plane, one trick when you loose it, is to start looping. Obviously, if you're flying something that will fold the wings easily, this is a bad idea, but for most .40 and smaller sport planes, you can go to 3/4 throttle or so, and a reasonable amount of elevator, and hold it there and the plane will loop until you figure out which one is yours. Assuming it's not already over the horizon or in to the ground. (This is an RC Combat trick, when we often have a high number of very simular looking planes in close proximity. New pilots somtimes wind up flying the wrong plane, but the looping trick will save them most of the time)

Skeletor

I was trimming my plane once after a minor rebuild and looked down for the elevator trim on the TX, when I looked up, no plane. I had had it almost trimmed and figured "what have I got to lose" I pulled up on the elevator and saw a glint in the sky. I flew it back and finished the flight. And on the unlucky side of the coin, I've seen many postings on various fields that read "Reward, (tear stains) lost plane". I had some fun with my bro-in-law one evening, we were racing R/C cars that looked almost identical. His ran into the ditch and when I realized he thought my car was his, I started mimicing his inputs and finially got him to chasing my car around the yard, hehehe, when he finally realized what was going on, I had to run around the yard but it sure was fun!!!!!!!!!!!