Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / June 2004

Reading about the 'plane in a tree' reminded me of something that happened a
couple years ago -

I got the Firebird XL stuck in a tree (one of several... dozens) at a
schoolyard.  This particular tree looked old enough to be my grandpa (and
I'm not that young anymore, either).  The plane was _very_ high in the tree,
but I'd been through this enough before to take it in stride...

It was a Sunday, so I put the 32' ladder in the truck, extended ALL the way
out, lashed my fiberglass tree trimmer handle to the aluminum roller
extension handle, with my ought-to-be-patented plane-catching paper towel
roll on the end and headed back for the tree - essentially, everything I had
that could be taped together.  It was pretty shaky, that high up, but I got
the plane down without incident, and without any appreciable damage.  Flew a
little more with a self-satisfied smirk, packed everything up, and went
home.

A _week_ later, I was back at the same schoolyard, and out of probably close
to 100 years, the tree had chosen that particular WEEK to break off at the
base;  I found it fallen and broken across the parking lot!

I think that from now on I will tap once or twice on any trees that I plan
to climb!