The Tree Climbers – Help for Long-Suffering Model Aircraft Pilots

We’ve all been there: a beautiful late-summer afternoon, steady thermals, the pleasant company of like-minded model pilots—what could be better? But suddenly, the model doesn’t want to do what the pilot wants. In this case, Peter Rahtgeb from the Liestal Model Flying Club. Not far from the club’s runway and clubhouse on the Sichern, the stately glider crashes into the forest.

At least Peter and his colleagues didn’t have to search for long, because the wayward model had chosen a fir tree right by the side of the path and was easy to find. In addition, the tail boom and a few small parts were lying on the path. However, the front section of the fuselage with the two wings was perched quite high up in the tree. And it certainly couldn’t stay there, because a gust of wind could eventually cause it to fall, which would be dangerous for hikers, and because we’re required not to leave any trash behind in nature.

But even for experienced model airplane pilots, there was nothing to be done, since it was probably about 20 meters from the forest trail up to the remains of the model. That’s a job for specialists. In the Basel area, these are the arborists from the company vita arborea in Nusshof. One phone call is all it takes, and they’re on their way. In this case, they arrived at 8:00 a.m. the morning after the crash.

Vita Arborea’s boss, Martin Müller, along with two of his employees, the pilot involved in the accident, Peter, and a few onlookers from the model-aircraft community, gathered at the site on the Sich-tern. Jonathan, a small, wiry guy, took on the task of climbing the fir tree. With professional gear, well-secured, and plenty of skill, he nimbly scrambled up the trunk. Once at the top, he freed

the model from the branches and gently lowered it to the forest floor on a thin rope. What had already been clear was confirmed: There’s nothing more to be done. The model had already completed its final flight.

Jonathan was just as quick coming down as he had been going up. A quarter of an hour, and it was all over. The laypeople were amazed—a routine matter for

the tree specialists. After all, they retrieve about ten models from trees in the Basel area each season. But his business couldn’t make a living off of that, Martin Müller noted with a smile, before the three set off to see their “real” clients.