courierguy wrote:

Hammer wrote:

courierguy wrote:Speaking of starting fires, I got one of these the other day:https://pocketbellows.com/ Brilliantly simple, and quite effective. We've all blown on fires to get them going, so not a new idea, but just a slicker way to get the job done, especially for those of us with beards. Cheap, and weighs nothing.

So do you just blow through it or is there an actual bellows? If you just blow through it I'd probably opt for a twenty-cent piece of plastic tubing, though it is pretty cute.

It is stupid simple, and yes a length of about anything would accomplish the same results. BUT, for 13 bucks, delivered, I respect that they had the idea, before I did, and it appealed to the gearhead in me! Since I got it, I've been using it at home, but the problem there is I bought for the plane's gear. So, I went thru the shop junk drawer and now have a 20' length of 1/2" dia. aluminum tubing that does pretty much the same thing. But, the "bellows" tubing is stainless steel, and anything stainless is a life time buy, I just love the material, and, it telescopes to a small enough size that will make the difference between carrying it on my person, versus somewhere in the plane. The taper of it I suppose increases the velocity of the air stream, while reducing the volume, and higher velocity is more effective then lesser but at a higher volume, I think.

On my to do list for ski plane flying this winter (abysmal conditions so far, got snow, just need the damn wind to die down a bit and the viz to improve) is a small pouch I will hopefully train myself to wear around my neck, with all I need (and hopefully more) to start a fire, no matter the condition's. My PBL will also be in the pouch. Like wearing a survival vest, the concept is, after leaping out of the burning plane, at least I'd have a fighting chance to create some heat to survive. Getting at the balance of my winter survival gear I always carry would be better, if I had the time. So far, I am guilty of my PLB being NOT on my person, handy and nearby in the plane, but not around my neck......I need to change that.

Ya...I love gadgets too. If they made it in titanium for $114 I'd probably buy it...

I guess one thing that would worry me is getting my lips stuck to the end when it's really cold. That would sting somewhat.

NunavutPA-12 wrote:My cut-off USED TO BE minus 30C (-22F). Now it's a bit higher (warmer) and gets warmer every year as I get older.

I fly over some of the most remote country in Canada, so my risk-management informs my cut-off temperature. It's smart to think about all the things that can go wrong when you're ski-flying, and there's A LOT that can go wrong. The consequences of an un-planned landing and an overnight camp-out can be pretty severe. I'm likely to take somewhat greater risks when I don't have to worry about a passenger.

My home-built PA-12 has very little in the way of cabin heat, but the heated seats help a lot. I have to dress very warmly while flying, which is a good thing anyway, it's just difficult to get in/out of the 'plane while dressed like the Stay-Puffed marshmallow man.

Take lots of good survival gear. Take an Inreach and activate the tracking feature. File a flight plan or at the very least give your flight details to a responsible person. Gather and use all the weather information that's available and be on the look-out for changing conditions.

Fly with another 'plane if you can - a luxury I don't have.

Having said all that, ski flying can be very rewarding. It can also be very challenging. Remember that it's supposed to be fun - leave the riskier stuff to the commercial pilots.

I agree Kug: appropriate clothing is essential. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve done a curtesy flights for guests and they are not dressed properly for the flight even after for-warning them on the proper attire for the flight.

Remote flying is just that: remote. You are on your own. I use spidertracks. But Murphy’s law is: it is DOA when you need it. So be prepared. Does that mean an hour? Day? Week? How remote are you? Timbucktoo.... well then better figure at least a week. 20 miles off International Runway.... I would hope they could locate you within a day or two. But no knows, been crazy experiences in the past.

Transparency: I probably could take more precautions as possibly available to me at the time, but I don’t throw causation to the wind either. It’s a balance. Not an overkill, at least as to carrying superfluous survival gear.

That said, if down in a remote location in extreme cold and dire situation, would any preventative preparation been overkill? Probably not. So where is the balance. Folks here are talking about mechanical metal straws for fire starting advantages... I’m thinking: really, why, if I’ve put down in some place and need to start a fire, unless I’ve exhausted the fuel supply, don’t I have 100LL as a fuel source? Blowing on that with a straw might remove some eyebrows! LOL.

Side note; I knew of remote crash where the float plane was unable to reach a lake on an engine outage. Plane ended up upside side down in the trees about a 100 yards from the water. It was fall, temps warm. Pilot had his family aboard. Young ones had a squirtgun with them. Pilot filled the squirtgun with avgas and squirted it on rescue fire when search flights were in the area. Saved their bacon.

Possible emergency scenarios can play on like “ I love Lucy’s “ reruns. What if’s?
All one can do is: be appraised of the current environment, prepare for it as best you can and McGuyer the rest.

Yes, actually, by far the most important “tools” for survival are the participants’ knowledge, skills and mental attitude.

Gadgets.....if they make you happy, fine. Otherwise, they’re excess bulk. Carry the basics, then if there’s room for more....whatever you feel will help in an emergency.

One of my favorite survival “tools”? A good paperback book. Something to keep you occupied as you wait for weather or help, and BTW, previously read pages = kindling.

MTV

My favorite survival tool is...... a credit card. I only say that as I remember flying thousand mile + XC's in my Pterodactyl ultralight, with no GPS, no smart phone, no money, or at least just barely enough, AND NO CREDIT CARD. What a great piece of safety equipment, having the ability to hole up in a motel in B*mf*ck Montana, (OK, town of Big Timber it was, and it was blowing 25-35+ mph for days, and the morning of my second day I heard a news report of a small plane going down, with a fatality, that had left Powell, WY, west bound, right into the teeth of the rotors, that made my motel expenses on the CC a real bargain) until the wind dies down. All that potential safety in an ounce or two of plastic, what a great time to be alive.

My 'droid phone has had a cracked screen for 2 years, and the battery is so shot that when outside unless in my chest pocket close to my body warmth, it dies. A few days ago I realized it was a CRITICAL potential piece of my winter time ski flying safety equipment, so rather then screw around repairing it I opted for a new phone, ( I put it on my VISA card of course), safety first.