Flight Bags Saga

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Rich
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Flight Bags Saga

Post by Rich »

Over the years I've used number of flight bags to carry the necessary stuff back and forth to/from the airplane. Once upon a time this included thick chunks of charts for VFR and especially IFR, flashlight, headsets, etc.

As circumstances changed I used smaller and smaller bags, and for the last several years I'd been using a nice compact Brightline bag. The other day I realized even that was basically empty, given the plane is in a hangar, I'm the only user of the plane and the Stratus semi-permanently mounted in it. I normally just need to carry a couple of iPad minis, the GNS data cards, and a few spare AA batteries for the headsets. Everything else is left in the plane. Even those new Sporty's bags are way oversize for me. So now I use a general-purpose traveling bag that is just the right size for the minis plus the few small items that I normally need.
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Colin
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Re: Flight Bags Saga

Post by Colin »

Is there a link for that bag?

My evolution is similar, and I keep doing things like replacing the headset batteries with ship-powered headsets. Dumping all the paper was huge. I suppose if I had WiFi near the plane I could leave an iPad mini there and just sync up the flightplan stuff that I set on another iPad at home.
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Rich
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Re: Flight Bags Saga

Post by Rich »

There are other places one could go for similar ones, but mine is from Rick Steves' store (which was basically local to me when I bought it):

https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/ipad-bag

This will actually accommodate full-size iPads. We use our iPads for other stuff, so forever carrying back and forth. Only takes a minute to hook up, so no biggee.

And you're correct, losing paper charts (especially IAP's) was the big deal, as was not having to lug headsets.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Rich
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Re: Flight Bags Saga

Post by Rich »

Since I can't ever be satisfied, I've gone somewhat back to a Brightline bag. But in the interim this line of bag has gone big-time modular, allowing me to configure a bag that is exactly suited to my needs.

This is the configuration I now use. It is snapped in place against the left sidewall alongside my left leg, giving me ready access to things I might need in flight and the things I need to carry back and forth:

https://www.brightlinebags.com/products/b0-slim
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Re: Flight Bags Saga

Post by Boatguy »

I went with Brightline a couple of years ago. Lots of zippers and compartments; very configurable. I use one configuration for day trips, and another for longer trips.
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Re: Flight Bags Saga

Post by gyro3816 »

Got a personalized one from Sporty’s last week - customized embroidery for my airplane. $70 and I had within 30hrs of purchasing. Lots of compartments and good quality.
Has a spare radio pocket and a unique hangar for your headset to prevent damage when stowed, very slick.
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Rich
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Re: Flight Bags Saga

Post by Rich »

gyro3816 wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 7:25 pm Got a personalized one from Sporty’s last week - customized embroidery for my airplane. $70 and I had within 30hrs of purchasing. Lots of compartments and good quality.
Has a spare radio pocket and a unique hangar for your headset to prevent damage when stowed, very slick.
I have one of these also. They are very nice. The only "weakness" is I can't stuff it into my front footwell when my feet are in there :D . This will now become my "extra stuff I don't need in flight but want to have along" bag.

I have accumulated numerous types of flight bags over the years as needs changed. Now that I'm the only pilot of the only plane I fly, the collection of things I need to carry back and forth has dwindled to a mere trickle. Back when others were using my plane, things like headsets (more than one), my Stratus, kneeboard, iPad mount, etc. had to follow me twixt airplane and home.
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Re: Flight Bags Saga

Post by pietromarx »

Colin wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 6:53 pm Is there a link for that bag?

My evolution is similar, and I keep doing things like replacing the headset batteries with ship-powered headsets. Dumping all the paper was huge. I suppose if I had WiFi near the plane I could leave an iPad mini there and just sync up the flightplan stuff that I set on another iPad at home.
I put a cellular router (a Cradlepoint) in my hanger ... :-)
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Re: Flight Bags Saga

Post by CBeak »

Many of us seem to have similar stories. My flight bag is now a “lunch bag” I got on final clearance before my local KMart closed. I am pretty much the only pilot of my airplane. My wife, who is not licensed, sometimes goes out with a longtime pilot friend. He’s much heavier than me so I have to readjust my seatbelt. He always removes my RAM mount from the window as well. But that little lunch bag has room for everything including the portable radio and all my spare batteries.
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Re: Flight Bags Saga

Post by NDCDA62 »

I have found the Diamond Aircraft Backpack to be absolutely ideal. Plenty of pockets and very light.
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