I was flying my quadcopter and getting some great aerial shots, when a sudden burst of wind got it stuck in a tree. This is a fairly tall tree and its stuck, pretty well between two high branches. The issue is that the tree has thin branches that I don't feel comfortable climbing. So climbing is pretty much out of the question. Its ~45ft from the ground.

Any ideas, besides climbing, on how to retrieve the quad?

call fire brigade ?

well, I'm thinking of buying this slingshot -

http://www.amazon.in/Sturdy-Slingshot-Catapult-Launcher-Rubber/dp/B00QAG8O7O/

Lol.
Why not make one?
:p

I shaked the tree around and then caught it while it was falling down.

@quadbro,
A few years ago i had a model stuck in a tree about 40-50ft up.
Since it was a sensitive area near the border, it was not considered prudent to call in the fire brigade, as that would have resulted in unpredictable headlines in the papers the next day.

By the time i went home and returned with ideas,
BSF jawans had found a 3" plastic pipe.
One climbed 20-25ft, others fed the pipe, and pushed the model out.
We seem to have lost the pics, except one RC Aunt took after recovery.

The present Inspector General of the BSF in that area would recognise me if he saw this post, even though he knew me only much after the incident.

I take this opportunity to THANK the BSF:
1. For their service to the country
2. For everything they've done for me

@pushpreet - the tree trunk is too thick I would have to climb the tree before I can reach a thinner branch. btw, sold your quad yet?

@KKIyer - awesome story! I have great respect for the Indian armed forces - you just gave me another reason...

@pushpreet - no idea how to make a slingshot. I guess I could carve out the wood (which type of wood??) but not sure where to get the rubber for the sling. no doubt, it would be an interesting project.

Got to read this thread and was happy to note that I am not the only one to find a tree while flying my models... here is one of my posts made in this forum earlier.... post no 337 ....  http://www.rcindia.org/electric-planes/kaiser-mk-2-from-sharma-models/msg194776/#msg194776

the post goes like this.....

Today morning was flying my Kaiser with Gauravag..... we both were together with our models in the air.... For me it was a new place to be flying at.  After a while I planned to land and was looking out for gaurav's VT Allrounder... and as my model turned for the approach it found a perch on a BIG peapal tree.  Well.... though it was a write off as the model hit quite hard and a big noise at the top of the tree.  Well... ran to the place and saw the model sitting very high on the top of the tree.... Luckily there were some boys there and they helped me... one of then climbed up and shook that branch.  Soon the model fell down.
To everyones surprise it was in good health and did not seem to have even a scratch.  At home I checked the wing... there is a slight damage and I will repair it today... Will be fit for flying tomorrow morning.

By the way friends my history of doing similar things date back to 1982. It is:-
1982 - 1985..... flew into trees twice... both times flying the kaiser with Sharma diesel 3.2 cc engines.  During this period was once flying the Easy Stick covered with decorative wrapping paper and aluminum foil... and flew the model into high tension wires... suddenly there was a bright flash and the burnt pieces of my model were littered all over...
Earlier was flying Gaurav's trainer and came into a landing but decided to go round.... only to hit the lone pole in the entire ground.
AND NOW THIS.......

My apologies to have highjacked this thread of yours Dear Sanjay..... but I am sure you will forgive me for that as most time i did this kind of a thing it was a Kaiser in the air.

Moral of the story..... if you are flying in a new ground look around for obstructions carefully.... always have a spotter for the first couple of flights and never never ever fly two models together for the first flight.
Best wishes.


By the way.... the young boy who climbed the tree to shake the branch and get my model down was an NCC Cadet and his friends told me that amongst only the NCC Cadet had the guts to do something like this.... for all you NCC guys and Ex NCC guys and ladies.... I guess it was a great compliment from his young friends...

Happy Flying.