It's raining - and forecast to continue for another week! My test flying window is getting smaller - which is a little unnerving. 13 more days to take off!
I'm putting together my packing lists. My flying friends tease me because I keep list of everything - and on a 3x5 index card I have a list of WHERE everything is that I've packed. Crazy? Well, consider that I have 10 different places to store stuff on my Drifter! If I need something, I don't want to be searching all over for it - so I pull out the index card and know exactly where to look!
A lot of people are curious what I take. This is a really complete list - boring to almost everyone except those who want to do long cross country flights without a ground crew. (Which means you either take it with you or hope you can land somewhere to get it.) So - here's my complete list.
- in the wings (zippers in each) I store my sleeping bag, towel, titanium ti-downs, rudder stop, large plastic bags to cover the engine if it rains, a roll of toilet paper, and a sweatshirt and sweater.
- a small compartment beneath my instrument panel, is where I store batteries (for my camera & GPS,) tools, and fuses.
- a 8" x 12" x 7" Rubbermaid storage container, which sits on a "package deck" right behind & below my gas tanks is where I put my "hope I don't have to use this stuff much, if at all". Things like fluorescent surveyors tape (for streamers in case I go down - to make the Drifter easier to find,) wheel chocks, cotter pins, duct tape, extra ear plugs, electrical tape, NASA-type emergency blanket , extra pair electric mittens, fan belt, first aid booklet, fuel filter replacement, fuel line stand-offs, extra carb jets, loc tite, waterproof matches, mattress repair kit, measuring tape,
medical kit, extra muffler springs, quick disconnects, rope, rubber bands, rubber & metal O rings, safety wire, sewing kit, silicon adhesive, spark plugs, string, extra primer “plunger”, gap tool, tie wraps, fuel pump repair kit.
- a 14" x 20" x 6" Rubbermaid container which holds an inflatable mattress (a thermarest just doesn't cut it for weeks of camping,) an electric pump for the mattress, water, 4 pints of oil, flashlight, chemical handwarmers, peanut butter, raisens, M & M's (these are my survival foods,) paperback books.
- a black duffel-type bag with clothes, toiletries, water, oil measuring/mixing container, wipe rag, #64 rubber bands, extra-large band-aids (for nose sun burn protection,) clear flight goggles, Wet n Wipes, Scalex, camera, emergency signaling mirror, sectionals, road maps, pen and small notebook, cell phone charger.
- my tent
- an extra prop blade.
With the exception of the stuff in the compartment below the instrument panel, and in the wings, everything else is strapped on with rafting straps. CAREFULLY strapped on, since my Drifter is a "pusher" - meaning that the engine and propeller are behind the wings, and anything that isn't strapped down really carefully will go through the prop! I never allow anyone to distract me when I'm strapping everything on, to try and ensure that I don't make a mistake.
If you ARE curious about anything I've listed here, drop me a line and I'll explain it.
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