Roughly a week ago I experienced my first crash of an airplane; the problem is, I haven't even started the engine yet. While my brothers were playing basketball the ball got away and ripped the entire vertical tail and some of the top fuse off. I guess its better than diving into the ground with no wings, but I'm still a little ticked off about it.

Ahh, the old disaster in the shop routine. Makes me think of home. HAHA. Think of it this way, the ball was just showing you what needed a little work before flying. Hope you can repair and get her flying soon!

Think of it as "extended training". The plane knew you had not yet "snatched pebble from hand" and was setting you up with a little more training for when you make your first "real crash". hehe... I don't know how they know.... they just know... [:@]

Yes but lets put the plane into your shoes (?) and assume that it was a person. Would you drown yourself willingly to show your mother how to do CPR?

I almost lost my plane in a similar way last week. Me and my dad where getting to the field next to my home and my dad slip on our driveway. BAM on his butt. Save the plane by holding it high above his head. He also saved the digital cam he had around the neck.... Haaa Canada's cold weather...

Well now you don't need to worry about crashing at the field....its no longer new. just go fly~

Thats what i was thinking

Some might consider that 'hangar rash'. My kids did that to one of my planes once...I called it 'hangar crash'.

im thinking your brothers owe you some glue and covering to make repairs with.....not to mention a bit of a guilt trip....one way would be fine.

i know if that was my brother he would jst laugh at me

I had just finished building a U Can Do 46. Had a K&B .65 sportster in it and wanted to take it outside and fire up the engine as I had purchased it second hand. Upon opening the basement door and carrying just the fuse up the steps, I didn't notice the door jamb.
Ripped the main gear right off.

Dave...

One time while visiting my parents, I brought allong my SSE. Really new. I brought it out to the garage to charge it and set it between a wall and my dads parked truck. While I was in the shower my younger brother decides to move the truck and swing the tires over the whole tail section while backing it out of the garage. He felt horrible. I think the way he acted and felt was enough payback.

Yeah, my brothers felt horrible (or at least they acted like it), and in their haste to help me tried to fit it back together. My youngest brother was all for duct-taping it back on.