Finding the airplane once it crashes
 

Hi everyone,

I was flying an aiplane in the park. The airplane went uncontrolled into some very tall grass (what I would describe as elephant grass), anyway hunted for about 3 hours to no avail and numerous cuts on the legs. I just couldn't find the plane and yes it's killing because I saw where it went in... I guess what I'm asking is that I understand that there is some sort of beeper system that you can buy and attach to the plane just for these circumstances. I don't fly the plane normally near the grass area but the plane nature went there once it died. The planes that I fly in the park are the the parkzone RTF foamies and I pretty sure that you don't want to through the cg out or add too much weight to the plane, so I figure that the "beeper" should be light weight.

I just thought that if there is something out there that would beep so I could at least here the thing if it went it again. It gets alittle expensive at a 150.00 dollars a plane. I thought about some like those key chain finders that will beep once you hit the button or something that would beep constantly.

I appreciate your thoughts.

RE: Finding the airplane once it crashes
 

They make them. This one is $15, and weighs 10 grams:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXSZ87&P=7

RE: Finding the airplane once it crashes
 

this is what i was going to suggest to

RE: Finding the airplane once it crashes
 

Are you sure you seen where it went down? It has been my experience, over the years, that most crashes are about twice as far away as you think they are! Try moving out further. I would guess it was further away that you think it is.

Bruce

RE: Finding the airplane once it crashes
 

We have a guy that is an intermentent member of our club that would find it for you. I was still on the buddy box and lost my plane in the creek bed behind our field. It is in a canyon and the area is so heavy with brush that you can't see in for more that a few feet in most places. I had a good idea where it went in. I even had the power company up in one of their bucket trucks take a look. After a few weeks, I gave up. Myself and three or four other guys had gone it as far as we could and no trace. Florscent Pink 60" span and all.

THen this interment guy shows up one day and he is talking to old friends and somehow the topic of my plane came up. This guy had a rep for finding lost and drowned planes. He pipes up, "I'll fiind it for you". Yea right. He wanted to know about where it went down and I pointedit out best I could. The next day he is back at the field an going around with his Hi, how are you's again. Then he leaves. I'm packing up a couple hours later to head home and he comes back. "come take a look at what I have in my truck" Damm if he hadn't found most of the plane. I got back the engine and three servos, receiver, battery, and fuel tank. The wings and two servos were gone as well a the landing gear. The only part of the tail left was the rudder still hanging on the push rod. The guy and his buddy were wet waist high from wading the creek bed. The equipment was still good other than the gears were stripped in the rudder servo. Some times it takes a while.

I would get some walke talkies and a pole with a flag. Have a buddy on the pole and you guide him straight out from where you think the plane went in. If you take a compass reading before he starts out, and he stays on the heading, along with the flag you can see, He should be able to walk up close to it. It is susprising how they can hide though. I put my 4*60 in about a month back in a oat field and the oats were only about half way between my knee and my hip. I almost stepped on it before I saw it. I was susprised how far out it was, I guessed wrong by about 75 yards.

I looked at the beepers and the direction finder locators. I couldn't hear a beeper if it was stuck in my ear, so that was out. Also, you have to get very close to hear them with any back ground noise. THe direction finder type are very expensive. I just gave up on the idea after a while and tried to stay in close.

Our big problem is the pond that lays parallel to the runway. It is quite deep and the bottom is covered with long grass. If a helicoptor go's in, it gone. The guy I talked about found one I guess, but there are at least three others, including a huge gass one that are commetted to the deep, along with a couple planes that sunk before anyone could get to them.

Go back and look again for you plane. Try what I suggestet. It's dificult to keep going in a straight line when you loose sight of your starting point and

RE: Finding the airplane once it crashes
 

the rule is they never go down right where you think they did, and they are always further out than it looks like.

RE: Finding the airplane once it crashes
 

I tend to disagree with the statement "they are always further out than you think" as I find that just the opposite is usually true. Where we fly it is a jungle, you need leather gloves and a machete to venture into it. In almost every case, the plane is always found closer to the field than was originally thought.

RE: Finding the airplane once it crashes
 

thanks for everyone's input. I did go and look again yesterday, farther out, nothing. I will try again today. The good thing is I have a reference (a fence) that I can start from. I know that the plane went down between two trees but I can't find the darn thing. I will keep trying it has to be there. I going bring a weed eater this time and start from the fence and work back. thanks again for the help. Oh yeah, I looked at the locator at tower, problem is there is no connection for the thing. I really don't know how I would connect it with those planes.

RE: Finding the airplane once it crashes
 

Kinda late now but next time take your transmitter with you into the bush and wiggle the sticks to see if you can hear the servos moving. Worked for me once.