stunthanger.com
General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Mark Gerber on July 24, 2025, 05:21:05 PM
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I signed up to fly my T-Bird II in the NATS Classic event, removed the aluminum fuselage-mounted landing gear to make the plane easier to transport, packed the car, left Colorado and headed to Muncie. First, we made a detour to Northern Ohio to visit grandkids. While there I found out, the Thursday before the NATS, that there was no landing gear in the bag where I thought I had packed it. I quickly texted my son-in-law, Andy, back in Colorado. He found it lying on my basement floor where I had unbolted it from the T-Bird. He was two minutes late getting to UPS before they closed that Thursday and both UPS and Fedex were closed on Friday the 4th. I told him to take it to Fedex Saturday morning and ask if they could ship overnight to Muncie for Sunday delivery. Classic was to be flown Monday morning so I was getting anxious. Saturday morning I left Ohio with the gear-less T-Bird and headed for Muncie. En route Andy called and said Fedex wanted $180 to ship it for Monday arrival. I told him that wouldn't work and to hold on to the landing gear. Joe Gilbert and I had a phone discussion speculating how many points I could get for a hand-launch and belly landing. Desperate, by then I was near Ft. Wayne. Out of the blue I thought to call Dennis Adamisin. Fortunately, he was home and said to come on over. Dennis started rummaging through old parts in his stash, and within an hour crafted me a new aluminum landing gear -- axles, wheels and all. We bolted it on (I had remembered the bolts) and, after thanking Dennis profusely, I was back on the road to Muncie. I had the very first flight in Classic Monday morning and the landing gear worked just fine. Nobody noticed that it lacked engine turning and Veco wheels. Dennis was a wonderful lifesaver! I had a final moment of panic when they announced the pachyderm award at the NATS award ceremony, but (whew!) Chris Cox was the winner this year. Original and Dennis-made gear on T-Bird.
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What did Chris Cox forget? We need to know. I hope he didn't leave Joan at home! LL~ Steve
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Great story Mark with a happy ending.
Denny is a super cool dude.
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Dennis does it again! I had no idea this happened. The gear look like they were meant for the airplane.
Chris left his airplane at home (hotel).
Mike
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Almost as bad as me when I got to Tuscon for the VSC and it dawned on me that my old time entry was still on the hook in the basement. The kids paid for over night shipping to Aint Betty's place. Shipping was a lot less back then. Yes we have great people in this hobby/sport/career of model planes. D>K
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Great story … thanks for sharing …
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Dennis is a giver and a fabulous ambassador for our hobby. He's always ready to help me, and I need a lot. Because of his help with electric I fly 3 times as much as I used to.
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Dennis is great he is good for our hobby and great for humanity!
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Dennis does it again! I had no idea this happened. The gear look like they were meant for the airplane.
Chris left his airplane at home (hotel).
Mike
Actually I left my airplane at the field and went for lunch. A couple of questionable friends seemed to think I had forgot it. I planned to fly again after lunch and didn’t want to leave the airplane in the very hot car.
Yeah yeah, that’s it, that’s what happened! 🙄
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Actually I left my airplane at the field and went for lunch. A couple of questionable friends seemed to think I had forgot it. I planned to fly again after lunch and didn’t want to leave the airplane in the very hot car.
Yeah yeah, that’s it, that’s what happened! 🙄
I believe you Chris…