Recommend a Flight Bag?

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, RobertGary1 said:

As a CFI I have to chuckle at  75% of the pilots out there that carry these massive bags with all kinds of stuff. Personally I got the smallest bag I could find. Headset, kneeboard, and iPad is really all you need. I keep some training overlays for teaching but that's about it. Backup charts are on my cellphone. If I lose the iPad and cellphone that's extreme enough I don't mind asking ATC for an approach briefing.

 

-Robert

You can usually tell a CFI because they typically either a) have no bag at all,  b) have a bag barely big enough for the headset. 

Edited December 8, 2021 by EricJ

[N201MKTurbo]

I’ve never owned a flight bag, but I was at Atlantic at KSBA today and this guy who had some GA plane out in the south 40 came in to order fuel. He had the most magnificent flight bag I’ve ever seen! He was wearing it like a fine Coach purse. You could tell by the looks on all the jet drivers how important he was.... I should have snatched a picture.

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I’ve never owned a flight bag, but I was at Atlantic at KSBA today and this guy who had some GA plane out in the south 40 came in to order fuel. He had the most magnificent flight bag I’ve ever seen! He was wearing it like a fine Coach purse. You could tell by the looks on all the jet drivers how important he was.... I should have snatched a picture.

Or just snatch the bag. . lol

[201er]

On 12/7/2021 at 12:23 PM, DCarlton said:

Hopefully the OP won't mind me taking a tangent but .... where do you guys keep your log book?  Are you hardcopy or electronic?  Do you leave it in the plane or take it back and forth in your bag?  

What do you need your logbook with you for?

[DCarlton]

41 minutes ago, 201er said:

What do you need your logbook with you for?

Old habits.  Been recording time at the end of the flight for over 30 years.  Keep my medical stapled to the log book.  Need it at the plane more than I need it at home.  Old habits. 

[N201MKTurbo]

If my iPad and Stratus are charged, I have a pen in my pocket, the flashlight is in the seat back pocket and the clipboard still has a few pages left on the pad I’m good to go.
 

If I’m flying another plane, I have my backpack which has everything I need to fly and spend a night or two.

[N201MKTurbo]

Back in the day, like 10 years ago, you needed a small suitcase full of charts and approach plates. Not any more. My plane, IPad and phone have everything I need.

[GeneralT001]

Uck....I remember having to lug all the charts out to the aircraft for pretty much the world to update the CC130 when the new cycle of charts showed up...thats a lot of paper!!

[icurnmedic]

A little pricey but extremely well made. Found mine on eBay for a few hundred less than retail. Watch out for fakes though. large enough for an overnight as well. 
 

https://saddlebackleather.com/flight-bag-leather-briefcase/

[PT20J]

For years (until I wore it out) I used an old lawyers leather briefcase that belonged to my father. Best flight bag I ever had. Nowadays, my flight bag is an iPad.

[V1VRV2]

Saddleback flight bag as mentioned already.

[skykrawler]

I have one of these - Markham.  My spouse bought it.  

https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/product-category/flight-bags/

[midlifeflyer]

On 12/7/2021 at 12:23 PM, DCarlton said:

Hopefully the OP won't mind me taking a tangent but .... where do you guys keep your log book?  Are you hardcopy or electronic?  Do you leave it in the plane or take it back and forth in your bag?  

When I used paper I only took it out of the house when I needed to - receiving instruction and checkrides. Now that I'm fully electronic, my logbook is always with me. The paper log comes out when I receive  instruction or endorsement from a CFI who still feels uncomfortable about electronic signatures.been about 3 years now.

On topic...

Since I fly multiple shared airplanes and teach, I need something to carry. For daily use, it's the small AOPA headset bag. I don't use it for my headset but it's roomy enough for whatever stuff I need. Multiple other bags, from backpack to briefcase to Brightline, to choose from for longer trips.

However small or large the bag, we'll always fund a way to fill it!.

Edited December 19, 2021 by midlifeflyer

[Marauder]

Looking for a good flight bag than can comfortably hold the charts/pubs and headset.

Ah flight bags… I have a closet full of them. Everything from the old Jepp catalog bags to the freebies from air shows or AOPA.

I finally settled on the Brightline Bags series. What I like about these is they are configurable to your current needs. I like a smaller bag for most flights but there are times I want to carry more gear and the Brightline series allows you to change the configuration. It also has a lot of small pockets for flashlights, keys, my CO detector, etc.

The side adapters can be changed out. I have one set up to carry my handheld and the other the PLB.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Marc_B]

I've had a Cencal flight bag for about 20 years...not sure what happened to the company.  But the bag is padded, has a front zipper pocket that's got slots for log book and half a dozen pen/pencils; double zippered top pouch for plenty of charts, ipad, and goodies; radio pouch with dual zip so the zippers can allow a slot for a handheld radio; and the other end has a pouch just big enough with a plastic buckle for a headset.  a little worse for the wear but I can't find anything I like better to replace it.  Similar to the bag in the pic.  not too big, not too small...just right!

Marc.

[KB4]

This. No weight.  I have the newer style flight bag from sportys.  But found I like these cheapie ones better.  I use ‘em for luggage too  

 

https://smile.amazon.com/FOLDABLE-LIGHTWEIGHT-RESISTANT-BACKPACK-PACKABLE/dp/B07Z18SQC9/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3JVTJITBRRLTZ&keywords=Lightweight+foldable+backpack&qid=1640360643&sprefix=lightweight+foldable+backpack%2Caps%2C46&sr=8-3

[KB4]

On 12/8/2021 at 10:29 AM, RobertGary1 said:

Headset, kneeboard, and iPad is really all you need. 

 

-Robert

I would add some passenger comfort items in there. Barf bags, aspirin, tums, PP thingy’s, 1lb free standing zip lock freezer bag, Quease ease, handheld radio blood Ox or Apple Watch, tiny bottle of water, ear plugs, snack bar, . . .  (basically anything that will keep a Px happy enough to get where you are going. Seat back pocket is good too but kinda gets filled quickly and when u jump in a different plane…

after I heard another MSer’s horror story about an Angel Flight Px hanging his ass over the back seat. never be without that freezer bag. I believe that Px only had a paper bag. Good news is that kid had good aim, but that didn’t help with stank. Mike recommended the Freezer bags.