A subject that I always wanted to talk to backcountry pilots about...

What is the minimal amount of aircraft equipment/gear that you would want in your plane? (This is because you want to maximize the amount of fuel/camping gear you could take with you.)

For me, I want the required equipment called out in the FARs for night VFR, plus...

Avionics- 1 Comm, 1 GPS (Garmin 396 w/ XM weather), transponder, intercom.

Survival gear required by AK. http://www.preparedpilot.com/info_pages ... 248bcf7395

That is it.

Even tho I can buy avionics & aircraft parts at cost this is what I have in my Musketeer plus a full gyro panel, 1 strobe, handheld comm.

What do you load down your plane with that you can't live without?

-Todd Giencke

tie downs, 1gt oil, fuelsampler, window cleaner, EPIRB, I replace the 396 with a motion tablet LE 1600 running chart case pro software.
It's actually not an EPIRB, I think it's called a 406 mhz PLB. Made by ACR, does the same thing, almost as an EPIRB

Ok I forgot the little items,

1qt oil, oil rag, windshield rag, pexiglass cleaner, tools & supplies, sectionals, E6B, extra headset, pens, flashlights, handheld comm, batteries, fuel tester.

I have "the claw" tiedowns but mostly don't use them unless very strong winds.

-Todd Giencke

A condom

No, really. It can hold almost a gallon of fresh water. Just make sure it's not ribbed or lubricated.

Im pretty fanatical about keeping my airplane light. I usually fly with the back seat removed.Yanked out the old ADF. Chucked the aftermarket glareshield. I dont have a vacuum system or gyros which can be dicey here in the hazy east coast area. I enjoy my big screen portable GPS and ANR headset. Gotta have comfy lawn chairs for camping and plenty of water. Like my little portable LL Bean picnic table. Folds up to about the size of a large briefcase.

Water. Two quarts always and up to a gallon per pax in the summer. While this is the heaviest bit of survival gear I carry and it cuts deeply into my usable load, I can't think of anything I'm going to need more after a forced landing.

In addition to the usual survive/repair gear, I carry a down sleeping bag, small thermarest pad and bivvy bag. It guarantees a good night sleep wherever I get stuck. Oh ya, and a small plastic bottle of 151 proof rum...a few sips and you're not stranded, you're camping!

Chemical light sticks are much more reliable than a neglected flashlight and will illuminate a cockpit for hours if the electrical system has a glitch after dark.

One of the most eclectic collections of clothing, camping gear, repair tools and just fun toys is at www.aerostich.com. It's a motorcycling supply catalog, but it you're looking for high quality, lightweight, innovative items, it's a good place to start.

A good way to think about gear is to consider yourself a flying backpacker. Weght/bulk needs to be kept at a minimum. Otherwise, the survival kit and camping gear list starts looking like the table of contents for a Cabela's catalog.

Eric

Another item I haven't seen listed yet is one of my "gotta haves" and that is tire fixin' stuff.

Jack, attach point for the gear, patch kit, pump, and can of fix-a-flat.

Gump

tgiencke wrote:A subject that I always wanted to talk to backcountry pilots about...

What is the minimal amount of aircraft equipment/gear that you would want in your plane? (This is because you want to maximize the amount of fuel/camping gear you could take with you.)

For me, I want the required equipment called out in the FARs for night VFR, plus...

Avionics- 1 Comm, 1 GPS (Garmin 396 w/ XM weather), transponder, intercom.

Survival gear required by AK. http://www.preparedpilot.com/info_pages ... 248bcf7395

That is it.

Even tho I can buy avionics & aircraft parts at cost this is what I have in my Musketeer plus a full gyro panel, 1 strobe, handheld comm.

What do you load down your plane with that you can't live without?

-Todd Giencke

I always get a kick out of the fishing gear. Every list like this always has it. One MRE is the equivalent of at least a dozen fish, especially when you figure in the energy to make the fish consumable. Skip the fishing gear and throw in a few MRE's. Where can you find the smoke bombs? That sounds like a good idea.

I always pack a couple of concussion grenades and a ball peen hammer.

Spare tubes seem like a good idea after experiencing a need for one yesterday. Valve stem separated completely on T.W., necessitating a two and a half hour round trip by road to source another. Very lucky it was in a place that had a road nearby.
Now if there was just one in the back...

dontlookdown wrote:Spare tubes seem like a good idea after experiencing a need for one yesterday. Valve stem separated completely on T.W., necessitating a two and a half hour round trip by road to source another. Very lucky it was in a place that had a road nearby.
Now if there was just one in the back...

I carry the whole tailwheel tire mounted and inflated. It was there when I bought the plane and seemed like a good idea.

I gave up carrying stuff since I overgrossed my Maule trying to be prepared.

Although I have to admit that sometimes I put a couple of gallons of gas in but I try and use it up as soon as possible to keep the weight down.

Skystrider wrote:I gave up carrying stuff since I overgrossed my Maule trying to be prepared.

Although I have to admit that sometimes I put a couple of gallons of gas in but I try and use it up as soon as possible to keep the weight down.

Gas??????? Then where the heck do ya put the beer?

small generator, beer fridge, lights & stereo & lawn chair. fishing rod, with bobber, sunglasses and flip flops. If you're stranded, be comfortable... someones coming.

Several tire patches for mains and a spare for the TW. One air pump, light weight bike type < 6 oz. takes a while to blow up the tire but beats blowing. I don't carry an extensive spares kit. Extra spark plug & wrench, wire ties and a couple qts of oil, file & various common wrenches.

In no real order:
water/water tablets, shelter (6'x8' tarp with gromets and a reflective side, amazingly warm) and nylon cord, method of signaling (mirror, smoke), Fire, food/tools to get food & first aid.

If you can keep the heat in the body and hydrated you can last a long time. I'd be suprised if there's more than $45-50 in everything. That's a summer kit BTW.

My survival kit is very compact, just one item. An "easy button" as seen on TV.
Even around town, I carry a spare tube for my 800x6 mains, and a spare t/w tire and tube, along with a pump,jack set-up, and small tool kit.

Eric

Ive been flying 26 years and never had a flat tire away from home. On the other hand my plane sat outside overnight only one time last year, and a mud dauber clogged my pitot tube.