Flite Brothers
Member
So this weekend I (Steve) took my dad out to fly his Storch. He is still learning so I buddy box him as usual and we prepare the plane to fly. Before take off, I run the usual control surface check and everything appears to be functioning properly, so I give him control and he proceeds to throttle up and take off. It climbed steady about 10 feet off the ground and then began a hard right turn. He gave it more throttle and tried to level it out but the controls were not responding well. It climbed higher, all the while spinning/banking erratically and drifting over our heads towards the tree line. I should have taken over sooner and just cut the throttle but before I knew it the plane was above the trees and still acting erratic. I finally took over but the plane was in a spin and not responding to input. In a matter of second the Storch made one last loop and plowed into the top of a white birch tree where it came to rest around 50 feet in the air. :black_eyed:
We laughed....for a moment, until the question; "How the heck are we gonna get that down?" started to tease us. The plane hung there helpless while we contemplated what to do. I pushed through the brush and thicket to find the base of the tree. Perhaps I could climb it and shake the plane out? Unfortunately, I discover that there were no branches for as far as I can see up the trunk. About this time, Rich called to see how things were going. After explaining our situation he says "Send dad here with the Van." 20 minutes later they return with a 30ft extension ladder, 16 ft tree pruner and a plan. We drag the ladder through the brush and carefully raise it up against the tree. Up I go with the pruner and begin slowly taking off the branches that are blocking my sight to the plane. It becomes clear that the plane is resting on one small branch that must be cut for it to fall. Standing on the top rung of the ladder and a nearby limb, holding the very end of the pruner and reaching as high as I can, I am about 8" too short.
Look close and you can see me holding the pruner pole and the Storch at the very top of the tree. Keep in mind I am standing 25' off the ground here.
After all this, I refused to give up. I grabbed a limb above with my other hand, wrapped my legs around the tree and pulled myself up an extra foot, meanwhile guiding the 16' pruner pole up with the other hand, just barely hooking it over the branch. I give the string a good pull and *snap, crunch, crack* the branch and plane come floating down, landing gently in the canopy of a smaller tree just 10' off the ground. :applause: I climb halfway down the ladder, free the plane from the branches and drop it safely to Rich and our dad below. Mission accomplished!
I haven't seen a thread like this started before so forgive me if I missed it but retrieval is part of the hobby and makes for some great stories. I'd be interested to hear some of your more interesting/crazy stories so post away!
We laughed....for a moment, until the question; "How the heck are we gonna get that down?" started to tease us. The plane hung there helpless while we contemplated what to do. I pushed through the brush and thicket to find the base of the tree. Perhaps I could climb it and shake the plane out? Unfortunately, I discover that there were no branches for as far as I can see up the trunk. About this time, Rich called to see how things were going. After explaining our situation he says "Send dad here with the Van." 20 minutes later they return with a 30ft extension ladder, 16 ft tree pruner and a plan. We drag the ladder through the brush and carefully raise it up against the tree. Up I go with the pruner and begin slowly taking off the branches that are blocking my sight to the plane. It becomes clear that the plane is resting on one small branch that must be cut for it to fall. Standing on the top rung of the ladder and a nearby limb, holding the very end of the pruner and reaching as high as I can, I am about 8" too short.
Look close and you can see me holding the pruner pole and the Storch at the very top of the tree. Keep in mind I am standing 25' off the ground here.
After all this, I refused to give up. I grabbed a limb above with my other hand, wrapped my legs around the tree and pulled myself up an extra foot, meanwhile guiding the 16' pruner pole up with the other hand, just barely hooking it over the branch. I give the string a good pull and *snap, crunch, crack* the branch and plane come floating down, landing gently in the canopy of a smaller tree just 10' off the ground. :applause: I climb halfway down the ladder, free the plane from the branches and drop it safely to Rich and our dad below. Mission accomplished!
I haven't seen a thread like this started before so forgive me if I missed it but retrieval is part of the hobby and makes for some great stories. I'd be interested to hear some of your more interesting/crazy stories so post away!