Ukraine Tee Dee .020 returns back home to the USA

Hello there everyone

I'm a new member here who's been active in almost everything RC since 1982, and with my left-handed way of thinking, I thought I'd jump into rc nitro glow engines.  It felt like it was the right time to jump into the world of glow engines, being older, more experienced, and having a lot more loot to blow on my hobbies vs back in '82 when I was a novice kid with a meager part-time grocery store job, trying to do the same thing now.

I've been a fan of Cox engines from the start, mostly as a result of the company's massive success worldwide a full generation before me.  With the technological advancement of electronics for rc; smaller servos, no more freq crystals or radio impounds, etc, the appeal for getting into this scene became more attractive to me.  I have a lot of basic knowledge for these motors but have never put it into practice or have run into problems that I would immediately know how to resolve.

Anyways, for those who are fans of the Tee Dee .020 engine and are active on eBay may have seen one of these motors listed on that site for sale for some time in Ukraine.  Of course, we all know the current affairs going on in that region of the world, which frankly sucks for everyone.  I served in the US Army for 7 years active duty and am a Persian Gulf War veteran, so I can relate to war.  As matters grew worse over there in Ukraine, I felt compelled to help out any way I could, so I pulled the trigger and bought the engine on September 30.  

I understood that there's a war going on there, so shipping/ mailing goods in & out of hostile territory has its unique challenges.  Every time I'd see the news about Russia doing something evil in Ukraine, I would mumble to myself "Don't you bomb my motor you cabbage head fish egg eating midget Putin!"

Over two full weeks of utter silence happened with the tracking number for shipping, which was last reported as being packed up in a shipping container bound for the US. Then, out of nowhere, I got 3 text updates in a row on its progress - it was moving thru the system with light speed!  The notifications came to me on 19 Oct, and it arrived at my doorstep the following Saturday.  Yes!  I was surprised because I wasn't expecting the motor until late November, or not at all.

The listing didn't do the Tee Dee any justice. Although the snap starter spring is a bit bent (it happens) and a sun-faded mounting backplate, this lil' cranker is in fantastic shape.  I'll be sure to make every effort to see that this particular motor runs again, and will power some kind of popular single engine private plane from that country.

I wanted to share this with everyone who has served in the US armed forces and enjoys this hobby because only they know why I bought it; not the impression that I'm "rescuing" it to get some kind of strange fame or media coverage for doing it.

I uploaded a quick video on youtube as a special message to Mr. Vasilik, who sold it to me.

to the forum and thank you for your service .

That is a great story, I see those engine listings from Ukraine from time to time.