Airplane Retreiver
I am a "newbee" again and am glad to know that I am not the only pilot that has lost a plane in a tree top.
I just got my Fire Bird Commander last week and have had a fun time learning to fly again after about 25 yrs away from the hobby. (Silly 68 yr old man with time to be a kid again).
I think the Commander is an easy to fly, tough little plane that is great for beginners.
The main problem with my commander has been landing it too high. (Tree tops).
When I flew it the second time, it was getting dark and I misjudged the distance to the tree line around the field and hit a tree about 20ft up
We were in a HUGE hayfield behind my friends house so we got an extension ladder and a tree trimmer with a saw attached to the end.
I managed to shake the plane loose with the tree trimmer and didn't have to cut the limb off.
Only a tiny nick in the front of the wing.
Early the next morning I had my last flight with some wind and when I saw I was going into the trees I gave it full left rudder but since that was the wind direction it continued straight into the trees, about 50ft off the ground.
No ladder or stick could reach it safely so I went to the Wall Mart sports dept, bought a $10.00 sling shot, a cheap, spin off the front/bail type fishing reel (about $10.00), 250ft of 3lb test fishing line, a package of 6 3/4oz egg shaped line weights that have a hole through the center and 4 hose clamps in the autmotive dept.
At home I cut a 10" piece off an old broom handle, clamped it on the front bottom of the sling shot, clamped the reel below the front of the stick, loaded the reel, tied on the lead weight.
Plane Retreiver!!
I aimed for the plane and had to train myself to get accurate. The fishing line came off several times and got tangled up so bad I had to cut it off and reload it.
While missing several times, I tangled up the sinker on branches and had to wrap the line around the end of the broomstick and pull hard enough to break the line.
I took about 50 shots with the Plane Retreiver and finally hooked it over the right branch of the tree, made sure it got tangled on branch and shook it till the Commander fell loose.
$30.00 solution for retreiving a $150.00 investment and I still have my retreiver for other "too high landings"!
It was almost flying when it hit the ground.
Only slight bumps on the front of the wing.
I then made sure that I broke the fishing line loose from the tree so birds would not try to use it as nesting material and get tangled up in it.
Bill in West Virginia