My Cross Country In Flight Dining Strategy

[Seth]

Without trying to be too critical of Seth, his strategy is a great recipe for dehydration and diminished capacity.  Unfortunately, we don't have bladders like frogs since they can reabsorb water if they get dehydrated from their bladders.  In addition, we need to produce urine regardless of our fluid intake.  A further loss of fluids, called insensible loss, occurs from breathing and through the skin (think sweat).  The best way to keep hydrated and extend your range and maintain your faculties at your highest level is to drink small amounts on a regular basis trying to just replace the amount of urine being produced and replacing insensible loss.  A few sips of water every 10 -15 min is likely to produce the best results.  Slugging down water is fine to replete after dehydration  but will likely over-shoot and cause your body to create urine faster which, since we aren't the aforementioned frogs, is unrecoverable and, worse, forces other needs contrary to the stated goal of greater duration.  Not drinking anything will extend your range but diminish your ability to fly well, a primary concern IMHO, and may cause other problems like a urinary tract infection or kidney damage.  Kidney damage is rare and very unlikely under these conditions unless one has underlying kidney disease already and not know it.

 

Considering the ubiquitous autopilot, urine bags work great with the appropriate company on board.  That solves the range and potential dehydration issue all at the same time.  Just knowing the bag is available is often enough to eliminate the psychologically generated need to go and extends your range.  They are cheap, small, work well considering the other facilities available (not), and readily available.

 

Sorry, I just felt I had to chime in about this because of the potential damage dehydration can cause in flight and after.

David

 

 

David - I agree 100% - May strategy does lead to dehydration and thus diminished capacity - however, I've only made those longer flights a few times.  Usually my legs are no more than 3 to 3.5 hours - and I'm fine with no special prep except using the bathroom beforehand.  This technique has only been used for the 4.5+ hour legs - I can count one hand the amount of times those flights have been made.

 

Dehydration is extremely dangerous.  After those last flights, I was thirsty when waking up the next morning each time even though quasi replenished plenty upon landing and into the evening (water - not beer or wine).  I have asthma and try to stay as hydraded as possible often as it helps my breathing - It is not the best strategy, but it helps for those long legs.

 

It just means in the future I should go ahead and get a turboprop or have unlimited disposable income and get a jet.

 

-Seth

[David Mazer]

Seth, get the unlimited funds and the jet!

[Jamie]

Anything with onions or spices is out because I don't like to rebreathe smelly burps.

lol. The words of someone who has been there / done that. I wonder what sort of wisdom is passed along to new astronauts that never makes it into published manuals?

[Marauder]

Anything with onions or spices is out because I don't like to rebreathe smelly burps.lol. The words of someone who has been there / done that. I wonder what sort of wisdom is passed along to new astronauts that never makes it into published manuals?

Since we are now exploring the dark side of this thread, one thing I will never eat again before a flight is chili. It makes for a toxic environment...

[Hank]

I've never given WHAT I eat before flight much thought, only whether I should eat now or after arrival. In flight food has similar requirements as for in-car "dining", or easily opened, not messy or dripping and suitable for one-handed feeding.

But then, I don't make many trips in the 5+ duration range, either.

[FlyDave]

I find that, especially in instrument conditions, I need to eat en route but particularly before the descent and when things start to get busy. I bring protein shakes (Naked Juice protein or a Muscle Milk drink) and down 1/2 to a full one before the descent.

[rainman]

+1 for protein bars and water. No muss no fuss. I start munching and sipping within the first hour after takeoff. Ray

[M016576]

a Subway sandwich is my favorite.  I bring a thermos with coffee sometimes.  A couple water bottles.  goldfish crackers..... shoot we're flying a general aviation single engine prop... bring what you want- it's our "personal airliner!"

[320KPH]

St Dalfour Gourmet to Go has a range of healthy foods  in cans that actually  taste good cold..

 

 

(has seasoning and a spoon included. Chuck a couple on the hatrack...)

[FloridaMan]

I stick to crackers and water. I don't allow sodas inside of my airplane due to the corrosion risk of a spill. 

 

I also keep MREs and bottles of water in the cargo area in case I get stuck somewhere there's no food available. MREs can turn a really crappy situation into a minor inconvenience. 

[Alan Fox]

Without trying to be too critical of Seth, his strategy is a great recipe for dehydration and diminished capacity.  Unfortunately, we don't have bladders like frogs since they can reabsorb water if they get dehydrated from their bladders.  In addition, we need to produce urine regardless of our fluid intake.  A further loss of fluids, called insensible loss, occurs from breathing and through the skin (think sweat).  The best way to keep hydrated and extend your range and maintain your faculties at your highest level is to drink small amounts on a regular basis trying to just replace the amount of urine being produced and replacing insensible loss.  A few sips of water every 10 -15 min is likely to produce the best results.  Slugging down water is fine to replete after dehydration  but will likely over-shoot and cause your body to create urine faster which, since we aren't the aforementioned frogs, is unrecoverable and, worse, forces other needs contrary to the stated goal of greater duration.  Not drinking anything will extend your range but diminish your ability to fly well, a primary concern IMHO, and may cause other problems like a urinary tract infection or kidney damage.  Kidney damage is rare and very unlikely under these conditions unless one has underlying kidney disease already and not know it.

 

Considering the ubiquitous autopilot, urine bags work great with the appropriate company on board.  That solves the range and potential dehydration issue all at the same time.  Just knowing the bag is available is often enough to eliminate the psychologically generated need to go and extends your range.  They are cheap, small, work well considering the other facilities available (not), and readily available.

 

Sorry, I just felt I had to chime in about this because of the potential damage dehydration can cause in flight and after.

David

Wow , A technical answer to the age old question  "Is a frogs ass watertight??"