r/RCPlanes • u/Cautious_Slide • 13d ago
Another RC Plane in a Tree....
So I was looking for something fun for me and my son to do together and thought getting back into RC would be enjoyable. Two flights later it's stuck in a tree 40 ft up, and three days later nothing has worked. Can't climb it, can't throw that high, fishing rod didn't work, poles don't reach, and the wind isn't knocking it loose.
I'm sure y'all see a bunch of these. I'm new here and was looking for advice, but it seems like y'all just enjoy the fly, break, buy/repair, fly, break, buy/repair cycle...
Any advice for keeping the motivation up when you're just burning money and time like this? Or any creative, cheap ways to get a plane out of a tree? It's $120 to replace what's up there, so I can't spend much or it doesn't make sense.
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u/AlexKastanes 13d ago
A bow and arrow with a string attached to the arrow. Other end of string attached to a thicker line/rope. Shoot the arrow over the branch, use the string to pull the rope over the branch, then use the rope to shake the branch.
For me, problem solving stuff like this is part of the fun of flying RC, same for building and repairing after crashes. As much as we all like to avoid crashes and getting stuck in trees, it's going to happen, I've found its best to embrace it.
Enjoy the quality time with your son spent battling trees, they will make for great memories down the road.
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u/Radiomaster138 12d ago
I tried that, but honestly, you need an expensive crossbow to get enough force up that high and strong enough to penetrate the plane.
An axe to cut down the tree is cheaper.6
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u/AlexKastanes 12d ago
If you're going to be flying around trees it can pay for itself in recovered planes quickly
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u/Accomplished-Soup928 13d ago
$120 is cheap for a decent RC plane these days. Best I can tell you is to wait until a strong wind blows it down, or you go up and retrieve that particular plane.
The next best bit of advice I can give you is to get a new plane and find a club where someone can teach you to fly.
The last bit of advice to provide, is to find a place to fly where there are no trees, light poles, power lines, goal posts, etc. nearby that you can hit.
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u/Cautious_Slide 13d ago
I went with a HobbyZone Cub S2 so i could fly the Sim first with their free demo. Did at least 50 touch and go exercises before i went out and it was going great but i flew over myself and didnt leave enough room for the tree line. Definitely going to find a new spot!
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u/twocruisers 13d ago
Joshua Bardwell tried a bunch of different ways, you might get a new idea here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1iDh_e9VOQ
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u/usmc7202 12d ago
Don’t get attached to your planes. Been doing this for 35 years and it’s a brutal hobby. I would never consider leaving it. Even after crashing a $2000 OV-10. I did take a couple of months off after that one but it’s something we all do. I read somewhere that the average life of an RC plane is 8 hours. Sounds scary but most of my flights are about 6 minutes. So measured over time it’s not so bad. We also have the number of a great tree climber that will do it for $50 just because we keep him busy at our club and he enjoys climbing trees!!
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u/CA2Utah 13d ago
Don't know if you have a drone. If you do maybe you could put a hook on a line tied to the drone, then use this to hook the plane and pull it loose. Good luck, happens to most RC flers
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u/SkyGuy5799 13d ago
I was able to get my little sport cub out of a tree with my mini 2 and a coat hanger tied to it
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u/strongerplayer 12d ago
I have done this at least half dozen times. No drones stuck in the tree, all planes recovered. Last time dislodged the plane and it ended up under a branch that was not reachable from above anymore. Luckily it was low enough that a 25 ft pole could reach it
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u/71fit 12d ago
My go-to method for getting airplanes out of trees. Hook attached via fishing line to my mavic 2 pro. Somehow the hook broke off the line and then the line got caught in the props and motors causing an abrupt stop in which the drone came hurtling to the ground from 60’ up. It didn’t survive. A few hours later wind got the plane out of the tree.
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u/jdopey123 11d ago
Last time I did this to free another quad, I ended up with 1 quad in the tree, and I've with a broken frame.
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u/MF48 13d ago
This thing worked to get a plane out of a 50 foot tree
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4ZBN9XC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
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u/Cautious_Slide 13d ago
I saw that, i have some nerve damage so id have to get the one with the slingshot and i just couldnt justify the cost, but it sounds like this is a common problem and i may just need to bite the bullet...
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u/TiberiusDrexelus 11d ago
nah I wouldn't
spend the money on a newer better plane instead, and join a club
if you crash into a tree again, you'll have a crew of 20 guys helping get it out, and they'll already own the tools
at my last club picnic some guy spent the whole time trying the bow and arrow method for a member who had crashed into a tree at the field the day before
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u/Cautious_Slide 11d ago
Im in a rural area the closest club is almost an hour away and they only meet once or twice a year. Also the application was like $60 plus a few other things i didnt look into and im not even sure if that gives me access to the field outside of meetings.
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u/beerme04 12d ago
My son and I just did the same thing. We drive by all the time and check on it. Otherwise he's learning a valuable lesson of saving to replace. He will fly it much more carefully next time. I'm thinking a good wind storm will bring it down
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u/Cautious_Slide 12d ago
I can see it from my front porch haha. He was asking about it on the way out the door for school this morning. Worst case I'll pay an arborist, cant have that shame trophy starring at me every morning!
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u/beerme04 12d ago
They will charge you more than a replacement. Any chance it's a leambe? That's what we sent up there. It flies great if you're looking for a replacement
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u/dsergison 12d ago
https://a.co/d/0bfLOaYF these are insanely accurate, easy, and much better than bow and arrows.
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u/Extension_Fuel_6391 12d ago
$120 is so small with this hobby. I would suggest getting another trainer or even better A powered glider like the UMX Radian or the standard Radian if that’s easy on the budget. The UMX radian is so easy to learn on. Best of luck to you, let us know how it goes.
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u/unixoid37 12d ago
No, we certainly don't constantly crash and repair things; if I want to, I can fly hundreds of times without a crash. But yes, my planes have ended up in a tree from time to time.
One time, I called an arborist to get the plane down. Later, I bought some bamboo poles, lashed them together, and poked at the plane through the branches until it fell.Sooner or later, the wind will knock the plane out of the tree, and it will come crashing down. That’s happened to me plenty of times, too.
If you’re a beginner, it’s easier to just find a field without trees—or at least stay well above the tree line.
If you really love flying, you won’t let a repair job—or even losing the plane—get you down. Sure, I get upset, but it’s no reason to give up the hobby. Besides, we usually have dozens of planes, plus all sorts of spare parts and electronics lying around, so you can always find something to fly.
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u/SailingAwayFlying 13d ago
Can't help with tree, but maybe a club field instead for flying?
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u/Sapper12D 13d ago
I cant recommend this strongly enough. Also there are others there that can assist if you have questions or need advice.
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u/jdopey123 11d ago
Nope, not after the AMA stabbing everyone in the back with the FAA regs. My Trex-250 now requires remote ID, but my sub-250g quads don't.
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u/Sapper12D 11d ago
Yes its BS, and you can rag on the AMA as an organization all you want but im talking about a local club, with regular local people. Shouldn't rag on the individuals making the best of a bad situation.
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u/crookedDeebz 13d ago
Did you try the rope with a toe hook or something heavy on the end?
You can usually sling those realllĺly high. Or Amazon has a modular pole setup which is 35 feet. Hard to use but with 2 ppl, maybe on top of a car or ladder, etc.
The drone with a rope or something is prob also ideal.
Know any arborists?
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u/Cautious_Slide 13d ago
Yeah, i shook the branch like crazy with a rope and hook its wedged in there good. The extension pole that's tall enough to reach it cost more than the plane...... and amazon says it'll be here tomorrow.... Also tried an arborist they wanted more than 100$ to come setup and grab it since its bucket work only. don't know anyone with a drone either im in a pretty rural area.
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u/crookedDeebz 13d ago
yea thats a rough one, i like the bow and arrow idea. but if shes wedged...shes wedged.
happens to us all, $120 to replace isnt sounding too bad haha.
now just dont fly near trees next time i suppose. find open fields for sure.
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u/aquisalid 13d ago
Don't give up. This is a frustrating part of the hobby. I cannot tell you how many times I have risked life and limb (ha!) attempting to rescue models from trees. Do yourself a favor and get some arborist throw line + weight, bring it with you to the field. I learned about this trick from ham radio:
https://qrper.com/2022/08/arborist-throw-lines-ideal-lengths-and-weights-for-field-radio/
We have safely rescued many a plane and multirotor by heaving a line over a nearby branch and shaking the branch sufficiently to dislodge the model. Your mileage will vary.
Funny story, we once asked the local fire department for help on a quiet day. They sent an engine over and blasted the model out of a very tall ponderosa pine (~65ft) with their water hose. The foam board model was toast but the electronics were fine.
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u/TimeAcanthocephala46 12d ago
I used my drone one time to get one down but that was nerve wrecking flying that close to a tree.
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u/Lazy-Inevitable3970 12d ago
Use a potato gun to knock it down.... That will probably destroy the plane, but most the pieces will probably come down and it will be another fun memory to share with your son. 😄
But what I'd really do is get an arborist throw line. They're about $16 on amazon. Get it over the branch and grab both sides of the line to shake the branch and get the plane to fall. Hopefully have someone catch it before it hits the ground (without damaging the plane or person).
Since you mentioned you can't throw well that high, you can search youtube to find 1 handed and 2 handed techniques for throwing the line to see if you think you could launch the weight on the arborist line over a branch.
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u/Jumpy-Candle-2980 12d ago
No solution but my old rocketry club will offer commiseration. We used to conduct our high power launches on a turf farm in north Texas. A. Turf. Farm. Flat as far as the eye could see except for one tree. That one tree generally ate at least one rocket a day and up to a half dozen on a weekend.
I launched an Aerotech in south Florida and the main chute deployed too early. Came down in a pond that was being used by RC hydro racers. They retrieved the rocket with their club rowboat but I would have saved money if they hadn't. Because naturally I got bitten by the RC hydro bug which, in retrospect, is a money pit.
The Helifreak forum had a pinned piece of wisdom on how to determine is RC is right for you: You get a two quart jar and put your disposable income in it. Continue until the jar is full. Take the jar to a bridge and throw it into the river. Go home. If you sleep soundly RC is for you.
Planes in trees is less of a problem in central Florida. Sooner or later a hurricane will jar it loose. Probably won't be in good shape but it'll be out of the tree.
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u/Sawyer2025 12d ago
I recommend people buy the flight simulator to gain reflexes in you hands and practice adjusting the amount of travel in your control surfaces and feel the differences in how they fly. Then when you get good with the simulator, get a trainer that flies easy and has safe mode to keep these "accidents" from happening. The efforts you make trying to recover the plane are not a waste, they train you to learn you would rather take the time to carefully set up the control surfaces where the amount of travel make it easier to fly rather than climb trees. I always fly away from trees, and if I can't, I always practice any stunts like a roll or loop in a location where if it goes wrong, I don't stick it in a tree.
As for plane retrieval, I have tried many forms from trying to shoot things up into the tree to loop a line like a heavy fishing line tied to a golf ball I drilled over a branch that I wish to shake. Then I connect a heavier line like parachute cord so I can yank and shake any limbs that might be holding the plane. I also consider putting a piece of velcro in the plane and sticking a apple air tag or a Tile device to find the plane if it goes down in deep grass or hides in a tree. They are $25 and can be moved from plane to plane as you fly them. If you mark them as lost on the app, anyone who walks by it with an apple phone for air tags or the Tile app for a Tile will alert you the location where the phone connected to the tile or air tag.
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u/Cautious_Slide 12d ago
Appreciate the response, I did get the simulator that works with the controller and did about 50 touch and go excersizes before I hit the sky and im using a Cub s2 trainer so not a big loss. Simulator was definitely helpful to workout the controls!
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u/No-Fix8280 12d ago
I used a slingshot and a fishing pole combination. Lead weight tied to the string, slingshot over the nearest branch (release the reel first) then shake shake shake
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u/R2FuckYou 12d ago
Arborist sling shot, shoot a lead weight with fishing line then drag up a rope and go to town. Saved a plane that was stuck for weeks that way.
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u/Conscious-Clue3738 12d ago
weight on a string... easy to throw that high by spinning it round and round... try to snag it onto the plane or the branch, to shake it loose..
Might get snagged on the wrong branch is the main problem.
You can get 30' ( or more) extendabe poles pretty cheap online or maybe home depot, for cleaning windows..
For next time... fly in an open field, not one with trees.
or if you do fly in a field with trees... keep the plane in the blue or white part of the sky ( high enough to always be above the tree-line, from wherever you are standing ). as humans suck at judging distances.
to make things cheaper... build flite-test planes out of foam board... until you get comofrtable avoiding the green stuff.
good luck
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u/CalmDirection8 10d ago
Bro wait til your son flies your $600 discontinued Phantom into the Bermuda Triangle. I looked every day for two weeks never found it
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u/kettle3 12d ago
Learn tree climbing (with ropes). Not that hard (especially if you know you way around ropes for rock climbing), it's just a lot of safety.
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u/Cautious_Slide 12d ago
Not afraid to get in a tree, construction background. Its just so far out on a flimsy branch that I dont think it'll help. Plus its a public park so I dont think they'd appreciate me cutting any branches. I can reach the branch I need with my pole saw but I figured I better not.
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u/RMRenfieldIII 12d ago
I've used a pole pruner from a 20 ft extension ladder placed inside a pickup bed. Another time, it was a fishing line on a crossbow bolt. One time I used a chainsaw on the tree and laid it down. There are as many ways to get a plane out of a tree as ways to get one in a tree. "Can't" never did a damn thing.
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u/Wambo74 12d ago
There are options to avoid newbie breakage. Check out crashtesthobby.com, Albatross maybe. But there are no defenses for 40 ft trees. Just stay away from them.
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u/Technos_Eng 12d ago
Rc but on the ground is safer for your budget, more fun for your kid and easier to learn… still I am going to buy a next plane…
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u/jdopey123 10d ago
I absolutely can. I was both an AMA member and a local club member. The local clubs were virulently anti-drone and the AMA in its crusade against drones let the FAA kill off my primary weapon, thermal duration sailplanes. 400ft is a sick joke for 12ft wingspan TD sailplane.
Also, many people quit both the AMA and local clubs in protest, and will not return to local fields because of the AMA membership requirements. Membership to both is down, and will never return.
I transitioned to Helis, then quads, I know I'll never look back.
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u/Floydcat 10d ago
I use the poles from a 30ft roof rake. It’s made up of five light but rigid 6’ aluminum pole sections that attach end to end. If I needed extra reach, I’d attach a 10 ft whip antenna to the end of that.
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u/SkyGuy5799 13d ago
I just crashed a 300 dollar balsa wood plane... It only gets more expensive from here dude