I was flying my Excelleron 90 one day and just prior to making a left turn (in the pattern), I heard a WHACK but saw nothing notable. No one was flying around me so I ignored it.

I did notice a seagul flying about 50 or so feet away and didn't pay any attention to it.. I was flying my Excelleron...

I landed and walked up to the plane and noticed that the tail wheel assembly (a Sullivan by the way) was missing and there was a while feather stuck in the balsa next to the wheel pad location.

I hit that stupid seagul.. or it hit me.. and knocked the tail wheel off. Oddly enough, when it happened, the WHACK noise I heard was obviously delayed due to distance, and I didn't even see that seagul near the plane, but it was obvious that I hit the thing.

Aaaanyway.. a little Sullivan tail wheel story there.

CGr.