What do you keep in your flight bag?

[scottfromiowa]

Portable GPS, Headset, fuel sump/analysis tool w/combination screw driver built in, water bottle, logbook, Portable com radio and headset attachment, pen, notebook, spare AA batteries, sunglasses (spare pair), pen, flask water bottle, military emergency strobe, flashlight, flashlight with red lens, cap mounted red flashlight, electrical/duct tape, vicks vapor inhaler, airsick bags, plane keys, knee board w/emergency & checklists.

 

What am I missing?

[Apollo]

What flight bag do you have? Gosh!

 

[scottfromiowa]

Just a little Sporty's dude.  It's pretty compact actually.

[jetdriven]

406 Mhz PLB,  1 spare spark plug and socket, electrical tape, precison screwdrivers.  tube of silicone glue.

Quote: scottfromiowa

Portable GPS, Headset, fuel sump/analysis tool w/combination screw driver built in, water bottle, logbook, Portable com radio and headset attachment, pen, notebook, spare AA batteries, sunglasses (spare pair), pen, flask water bottle, military emergency strobe, flashlight, flashlight with red lens, cap mounted red flashlight, electrical/duct tape, vicks vapor inhaler, airsick bags, plane keys, knee board w/emergency & checklists.

 

What am I missing?

[Hank]

Quote: scottfromiowa

What am I missing?

[scottfromiowa]

I use a Gatorade bottle instead of the sink...Holding out on the PLB.  I have all but plug in my baggage tool kit/Flight Manual bag.

[dcrogers11]

I've carried my small cordless Black & Decker screw gun and had to use it twice when away from home. Saved me tons of time pulling the cowl to change a sparkplug.  Since I've changed over to fine wires i've never had pull a plug since.  

[eldeano]

Just the basic little tool kit in a tool roll.  Also have a little survival kit from Sportys.  Portable radio in the flight Bag.

[eldeano]

Quote: scottfromiowa

Portable GPS, Headset, fuel sump/analysis tool w/combination screw driver built in, water bottle, logbook, Portable com radio and headset attachment, pen, notebook, spare AA batteries, sunglasses (spare pair), pen, flask water bottle, military emergency strobe, flashlight, flashlight with red lens, cap mounted red flashlight, electrical/duct tape, vicks vapor inhaler, airsick bags, plane keys, knee board w/emergency & checklists.

 

What am I missing?

[rob]

Quote: nosky2high

Portable GPS, handheld nav/com, sunglasses, 2xheadlamps, 1xflashlight/signal strobe, extra batteries, POH, checklist, thermos, pen/pencil, multitool, fuel sample drain, knife, fire extinguisher, charts, holstered SigSauer with an extra magazine for added security when I'm stuck fueling up late at night at a rural airport using 24hr pump.

[markeg1964]

What is the vicks vapor inhaler for?

 

[DaV8or]

These days I only fly my plane, so all the tool stuff stays in the plane in my tool kit. My flight bag is actually trying  to get smaller since I started using the iPad and owned my own plane. Still hanging on to paper sectionals and the paper version of California Pilot's Guide for now. Eventually, I hope to just have kneeboard, iPad, spare paper and pencil, red/white flashlight, extra AA batteries, leatherman, 406 PLB and keys.

[DaV8or]

Quote: rob

Because rural airports late at night are a haven for criminals waiting on the stray airplane to land and fuel up? What exactly are you worried will happen to you at these airports?

[sreid]

Quote: rob

 

Because rural airports late at night are a haven for criminals waiting on the stray airplane to land and fuel up? What exactly are you worried will happen to you at these airports?

[Hank]

Headset--stays plugged in, both front seats; my cord has a carabiner light clipped on at the split where I can always find it quickly. Spare set on the hat rack.

GPS--the 430W is in the panel.

Kneeboard--checklists including performance charts; paper with weather briefing and flight plan; blank paper to write on; my nav log; destination diagram if unfamiliar; two-per-sheet approaches if desired.

Front seat pocket--swiss army knife; spare glasses [i've been caught by sunset, flying with my sunglasses on--it makes for difficult night landings, especially when the landing light burns out]; pens & plotter in the side knee pocket.

Back seat pockets--sick sacks; Garmin books; Owner's Manual; W&B forms; bungees for control locks.

Floor between seats--Flight Guide; sectionals/enroutes for the trip; approach plates in front; water bottle(s).

So there's not a lot for the flight bag:   another plotter and 'whiz wheel'; markers; pens; handheld radio with headset adapter plugged in & spare battery pack; blue/white flashlight with spare batteries; small first aid kit; mini mag lite in belt sheath; assorted junk.

Tool bag lives in the back with "traveling tools":  leatherman, Craftsman Robo Wrench w/padded jaws; Kings & Phillips reversible driver; mechanic gloves; oil; safety pliers & some wire; a few zip ties; a rag or two. All in a flat rubbermaid container almost as long as the short-body cargo bay. Oh, and the all-important tow bar!

[Becca]

Quote: nosky2high

 

Because rural airports late at night are a haven for criminals waiting on the stray airplane to land and fuel up? What exactly are you worried will happen to you at these airports?

[David Mazer]

Did I miss the prime aviation ingredient in everyone else's flightbag, money?  I always carry a checkbook.  On the ground, almost any other requirement can be obtained with that one.

[MARZ]

Found this interesting on the BrightLine Bag site.... its the contents listed under the Air Force AFSOC Pilot bag items.  I may pare this down some - Obviously some of the stuff is miliary (camo and such) but it does give one a start.... I currently have the bold and consider my Beretta on cross countrys

David Clark Headset 

Audio Sigtronix Box 

Panasonic Toughbook Computer / Ipad (Model CF-19) 

Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) with case 

PRC-117 Survival Radio 

VHF Radio 

Chem Lights (2 overt, 2 covert) 

Silva Compass 

Waterproof matches Lighter

Poncho 

Water Bag 

Benchmade Knife 

Gerber Leatherman 

Strap Knife 

Green Flashlight (NVG Compatible) Red Flashlight

2 x Strobe Signal Devices 

Flint/Steel Firestarter 

3 small chem lights 

Small bottle of iodine water purification drops 

1 pack of AA batteries 

Camo Face paint 

Airsick Bags 

Firefly signal device 

Wrist Compass 

Survival Whistle 

IR Peel & Stick 

Small Flashlight 

Finger Light

 

 

 

[DaV8or]

Quote: maropers

Found this interesting on the BrightLine Bag site.... its the contents listed under the Air Force AFSOC Pilot bag items.  I may pare this down some - 

[MARZ]

LOL - yep planning on deleting a few items....

[DaV8or]

Quote: Becca

In the other hand, I find that some people are excessively suspicious of strangers, and weirdly it seems more prevalent amongst gun owners (do you buy a gun because you are more suspicious, or does owning a gun make you more alert?).

[Hank]

**Major Hijack--apologies in advance, but I do return to the subject! **

I own gun(s) not because I am afraid of bad people who want to do bad things to me. Yes, it's loaded. Yes, I always handle all guns as if they are loaded until I personally open and empty the chamber. ["Unloaded" guns are dangerous. In an emergency, they are useless; in a moment of carelessness, a gun thought to be unloaded can be fired--people die like this every year, but it is not the fault of the gun any more than a stall/spin in the pattern is the fault of the airplane.]

I have insurance on my house, cars, plane and life, too. No, the life insurance payout will not do me any good at all, but I still bought it. Have yet to file a fraudulent claim to get "extra money" from the insurance companies, and I don't worry excessively about wrecking the cars, crashing the plane or anything happening to the house. Sleep soundly at night, too.

I have fire extinguishers (2) in my house. They are loaded. The 3 or 4 smoke detectors all have new batteries in them. But I am not afraid my house is going to catch fire and burn down while I am eating supper or sleeping.

My kitchen is full of knives. So is my workshop. I own several pocket knives and hunting-style knives. All are very sharp. [Dull knives will cut you worse, because you must push/pull harder to cut, making a slip more likely. Then it goes much deeper. Cuts from a dull knife hurt much worse than a cut from a sharp knife, which you often won't feel until after you find the source of the blood you start seeing.]

I own an airplane, and I use it to travel, sometimes even at night  . I am not a terrorist, I do not transport terrorists, and I am not trying to avoid airport security checks so that I can carry contraband. But I do travel in my very own private plane, kept inside a hangar where no one can watch what I load into it, and it is based at an airport without a control tower or even a security fence and no annoying background checks, security clearances, badges . . .

[boy, I never realized just how shady of a character I am . . . . . Should I be afraid to meet myself in the dark?]

Lots of fun stuff lives in my plane, but not a whole lot stays in the flight bag. The wonderful joys of ownership, I don't have to lug everything back and forth to the airport when I want to fly. I do have to remember the keys, though, and finally made a spare set [including the hangar] for my wife to keep. You never know when a good opportunity to fly will arise, and running home for the keys is not always an option.

I have heard that people used to leave keys in their airplanes while tied down. Some people left the keys in the ignition of their cars at home or while shopping. Some people actually used to sleep inside their homes with the windows open and the doors unlocked! Others won't go anywhere alone at night unless the area is lit up like daylight. I enjoy walking in the dark.

Some people fear everything new, or everything outside their personal experience, or all people that they don't know, or the dark, or the unknown, or the future, or tight places, or open places, or heights, or spiders, or flying. Those who do not fear the same things are not strange, or unusual or to be feared. Differences are what makes life interesting. If we were all alike, and all places were the same, travel would not be very enjoyable. Why would I want to fly to where you live, if it is just like where I live, and if you are just like me and my neighbor? I'll just walk down and visit him instead.

Thanks, but I don't want to live in your world of fear and dread. I can own a firearm without being paranoid. I can purchase insurance without being afraid of losing my valuables. I can have a fire extinguisher without dreading a sudden fire. I can own and fly an airplane without being in cahoots with people circumventing the law. I can own a fast car without driving it at excessive speeds [very often--the Mooney is still faster, and no threat of blue lights behind me]. I can live in the country without fear of strangers. I can drive through the city without fear of carjacking. I can land at rural airports without fear of being shot at. I can walk through National Parks without fear of being eaten by wild animals. I can walk downtown without fear of serial killers. It's all in your head. It's all in your head, and please don't project it onto me. It does pay to be alert, even in your own yard.

My 72-year-old dad rescued his two-pound puppy from a hawk because he was alert and saw it before it struck. I've dodged furniture falling from the vehicle in front of me on the interstate, in heavy traffic, because we were alert and many cars dodged the falling, bouncing, rolling furniture and each other. When I drive through rough neighborhoods, I notice and roll up the windows and lock the doors, but I do actually stop at red lights. Just be alert, and listen to your gut instinct; if you are uncomfortable, raise your level of alertness. If this makes you panic, then take someone with you who can remain calm, and pray you never have an in-flight emergency alone.

[rob]

Quote: nosky2high

I'm worried about what has happened in the past and have learned to be trained and prepared for any future issues.

Situation 1: Back in October a couple of men (pilot & passenger???) I think from another aircraft approached my wife and daughter after we were done refueling and I was using the afterhours restroom. There was no one else around the airport. I walked out and one man had walked all the way around my airplane to where my family was preparing to board and was asking them how to get a ride into town the other was looking into the back window where my son was strapped in. I called them over to me, said I didn't appreciate them approaching my aircraft without permission, and asked them to go about their business. They were disrespectful to me as well with their tone and manner, completely failing to understand that my family's security and comfort was not respected.

Situation 2: A couple years ago I was on a night cross country from NC to KS, made a fuel stop at a rural TN airport, quick turn for fuel, didn't see anyone around. After shutting off the pump, a truck had pulled up and two men get out, they didn't see me initially. I quickly got in and fired up the airplane for a hasty taxi/takeoff. They proceeded to bright light me with a powerful spotlight as I started my take off roll. I told ATC about it when I got my IFR clearance in the air.

Just like when out in the family car, or out riding my Harley situations have occurred; you can either be prepared and vigilant about your personal security or you can take your chances.

Stay safe out there.

Anthony

[garytex]

" I also see them from time to time as I drive away." 

Oooo, stupid Coyotes...can I come visit?  All of ours that are left are smart as hell. 

Quote: DaV8or

I'm at a small rural airport and at night the gun might be most useful for the packs coyotes that scrounge the fields for rabits and skunks I guess. I've been down there at night quite a bit lately and the coyotes howling in packs is kind of creepy. I also see them from time to time as I drive away. 

Criminals by the gas pump? Not so much.

[jetdriven]

I'm with you Hank.  I don't worry much about getting robbed etc.  I walk at night in Africa, Belgium and all kinds of scary places.  Becca has one thing right though, I feel less safe at our home airport than Africa, with a convicted attempted murderer who sleeps in the FBO with a .38 under his pillow.