Roger Dyke Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Hi All, Thursday morning I had the unfortunate experience of an unscheduled arrival in the top of a big oak tree. I found the engine on it's mount underneath the tree but it took me about a further 20 minutes to locate the remains of the plane itself. It is embedded within the small branches right at the top of the tree to the one side. I estimate that it is about 40 - 50 feet from the ground and at 74 years old I am a bit old to climb it. The club retrieval pole we have is 7 metres long which of course is way too short. Is it destined to stay there forever or is there some clever way that it may be retrievable? Your positive suggestions would be very much appreciated. Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt Kremen Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Depending on the model (airframe) value to you, you could get a local tree surgeon to retrieve it for a suitable fee. One of our club members did this and the tree man scaled the 'unclimbable', (to us old crusties), tree and had the model reunited with its owner in barely 5 minutes. All without breaking, damaging or cutting any branches! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Dyke Posted October 11, 2019 Author Share Posted October 11, 2019 I had thought of that one, only I figured that the cost of the guys time there and back to the field and his time there would not be cost affective. I built the plane from a plan and accept it may be totalled. I am more interested in retrieving the battery, servos and radio equipment as they are only a few months old (probably about £80 - £100 worth). I have also offered a £20 reward to anyone else who fancies having a go at retrieving it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Carpenter Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 My club usually pays tree surgeon £20 for shinning up a tree 🌲! Very helpful chaps. Buys em lunch 🥗😂😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Dyke Posted October 11, 2019 Author Share Posted October 11, 2019 Really, I'm heartened by that. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Hope that the wind is strong enough to bring it lower down - check frequently to see. Be better when the leaves have fallen off too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Beavis Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Apart from the pangs of loss, a marooned model is a worry because it is litter. If you can't get a spritely soul to climb the tree to pole-poking height, then all I can suggest is that you return frequently to the scene to see what has blown down, especially the battery. I expect there will be some wild weather coming soon - you may be lucky. I have had a model regurgitated by a tree after several weeks. PS KC types faster than I do! Edited By Joe Beavis on 11/10/2019 22:12:53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Dyke Posted October 11, 2019 Author Share Posted October 11, 2019 I am hoping that the wind will cause it to fall down further, but the way it is positioned it looks unlikely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 How about using an axe ? Extract from AM Annual 1949 : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuphedd Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 In the past when we flew next to a wood , we used a bow and arrow , with fishing line on a pop bottle so the line released itself off the end of the bottle tied to the arrow . Fire it as close to the plane as poss and use the line , to pull the plane out off the tree, Use a long line so both ends can be handled with a chap at each end ,If you are good enough the put the arrow through a wing , tie a stick to one end of the line and just pull . The bow and arrow (S) can be very rudimentary !! cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Posted by Tom Sharp 2 on 11/10/2019 22:58:17: Posted by Colin Carpenter on 11/10/2019 21:50:24: My club usually pays tree surgeon £20 for shinning up a tree 🌲! Very helpful chaps. Buys em lunch 🥗😂😂 A tree surgeon who will come out for £20 must have a private income. ? I'm assuming that's a gag, gone over my head though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Colbourne Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 To paraphrase Roy Scheider in 'Jaws', 'You're gonna need a big pole.' Having retreived a Precedent HiBoy from a similar height, the weapon of choice was a 'stick' made up of two tapered fibreglass windsurfer masts, one on top of the other, sleeved together with cardboard filling the gap between the two, with a 25 foot carbon fishing pole on top of that. A cork on the tip of the pole prevented holes being punched in the model and some dayglo orange tape around the last foot or so allowed the tip of the pole to be seen and directed. Try to use forks in branches lower down like snooker rests, as the whole assembly is a bit wobbly. You will probably need assistance to get the pole upright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Novelty value and doing someone a good turn, folk can be generous you know, lifes not always about money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Dyke Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 PatMc, Stuphedd, Tom, John, and Robin, Thank you all so much for your valued replies. I like the story about the 'axe'. The bow and arrow sounds feasible although it's been about 60 years since I made one of those, out of poplar tree branches as I remember. It's worth a thought though. I live in a very suburban area and have no contacts at all with a 'friendly' tree surgeon. My son had one about two years ago and cost him hundreds of pounds for quite a short time. Their time travelling to and from the site also adds to the costs of course. Then there is quite a walk (there and back) to the location with whatever equipment they want to take. All the ones that I find usually have elaborate web sites. I somehow can't see £20 cutting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Back in 1954 I was in the Regents Park MFC and we flew on Hampstead Heath. One winter afternoon a member got his Mercury Mentor rubber powered model right at the top of a tree. All of us were standing round gazing up and wondering how we were going to get it down as the tree was not one of the easily climbed ones. As we stood there and Indian gentleman in a suit came along, looked up to see what we were staring at. Then he took his shoes off, climbed straight up the tree, retrieved the model, climbed back down, handed the undamaged model to its owner put his shoes on and departed to a chorus of grateful "Thanks You" from the club. A memory that sticks in the mind very clearly to this day Edited By Peter Miller on 12/10/2019 08:55:45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Dyke Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 I love that story. I can just imaging all the perplexed faces. You wouldn't have this Indian gentleman's address would you...…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMON CRAGG Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 We have got a decent long ladder and extending aluminium poking stick with a loop on the end. So far it has worked a treat even on trees such as you describe. Good bonding experience for club members! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Dyke Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 A long ladder would certainly help. We don't have such a thing and I don't even have a roof-rack on my car. Our field is quite remote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Scott-Knox-Gore Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 I retrieved my Apprentice (well, most of it anyway) from the top of a 70ft sycamore which had jumped out in front of it as I was flying past, using a fishing rod with which I cast a lead weight over the top of the tree. It took a few goes, but eventually the branch was snagged securely enough to be heaved on and the plane fell out. Mended and has done many more flights since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Dyke Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 Charles: That's very encouraging. I currently do not know anyone who goes fishing but I like the idea. I may be going down to the field sometime this afternoon (if my accomplice is available) armed with all sorts of things. If I fail, your idea may be a part of my plan 'B'. Thanks for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Colbourne Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 In the absence of longer poles or other retrieval equipment, the best approach is to just keep a regular eye on the model, particularly when there is strong wind forecast. If a model blows out of a tree it tends to do so in stages, so it is likely to fall to a level at which your existing pole will reach it, long before it gets to the ground. Once you get it back, take the servos, receiver, switch and battery out, unplug them from each other and leave them in the airing cupboard for a week to dry out thoroughly. If the model has an engine which was running or had just stopped when it went in, it should have been fairly oily. Do check no bits of bark or earth (if it fell to the ground) have got in the carb before start ing it up. Edited By Robin Colbourne on 12/10/2019 15:34:03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Dyke Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 * * * * * * * * * Retrieved * * * * * * * * * Went down the field again this afternoon with my accomplice, armed with all sorts of telescopic poles stiff wire, gaffer tape, and a 7 metre retrieval pole. By feeding these items up vertically and taping them all together a section at a time we finally managed to reach the plane's height. Very unwieldly to control though. With a great deal of effort and energy we finally got the fuselage to fall but the wing stayed put. Another 20 minutes or so and the wing finally fell too. Pretty serious damage but I am optimistic that with lots and lots of TLC it might just fly again. Robin: Thanks for your good tips. I shall take them all on board. My thanks to you all for your very valuable contributions. Very much appreciated. Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Colbourne Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Well done Roger and accomplice! I'm glad you got it back. I'll second what you say about a long pole being unwieldy. A bit like trying to push the model with a piece of wet spaghetti. Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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