Miracle ?

[Fishdeth]

This event happened 4 weekends ago but I thought y'all might enjoy hearing about it.............

Here's the maiden flight of my new QQ Pitts Python
Sorry about the shakey photog...

YouTube - Python Maiden

Well....
Yea, the maiden was pure joy.
Best flying plane I ever flew ! She just LOVES to fly slow.
Not a bad landing for the first one.... I'll work on that.
However, on the second flight, I started to wring her out a bit and after a pretty hard snap roll (wide open and on high rates) something was wrong.
Couldn't tell what but the controls were weird so I tried to land and could not control enough so I flew out to try again and the problem seemed to get worse and worse.
Tried a second time to land and could not and flew out again.
Then the plane started to veer over towards 46 and I watched it plow into the trees.....
OR so I thought......
By some MIRACLE, the plane snagged a tension line that crosses 46 to support the power poles on the north side, and was found by the search team to be hanging quite securely from the top right wing.
The wire was nestled right between the top wing center section and the aileron.
Made a few calls and after a lengthy wait, A good ole boy from FPL came to the rescue.
I met him at the site and asked "So... can you help me ?"
He said, quite 'matter of factly'... "HECK YEA, why you think I'm here ?
He went up to assess the situation and looped the rope around the LG and the prop, tied the rope to his bucket and raised her off the lines and lowered her down to a nervous waiting papa....
Didn't charge a thing, just said "Better luck next time, Have a good day"

She needs a new bottom right wing, 2 new interplane struts and maybe the top right wing. the aileron got wasted when he unhooked it from the line. I might can repair it OR use the aileron from the bottom wing, it is intact.

Could have been a LOT worse..... She's flying again.
Repaired the upper aileron, bought a new bottom right wing and 2 struts and 2 new servos.
Cost me $400 to learn a lesson.
"High speed = Low rates..... Low speed = High rates"
I am just SO happy to have my Python back !

Jim

[alfycat]

Wow nice Story! And lucky you that a guy with a special truck came to help and without cost.
I'm Glad it's flying again.

[flyin4fun]

A Biplane saved by "flying wires" hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[askforplanes]

Nice plane, sorry about the maiden.

JP

[Cobra1]

At least it is repairable and will fly again

[Fishdeth]

Oh, she's already flown 5 flights since being repaired and I am currently installing a TME SmartSmoker system !

Jim