Recommendations for Flight Bags?

[rich_g85]

Hi all,
Just wondered if anyone had any recommendations for decent flight bags which would be suitable for PPL-level flying.

Thanks,
Rich

[Whopity]

I bought a nice one in Argos for about £20 made by Pierre Cardin (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2858542.htm) Its better than most of the hard leather bags I have. Spotted a student with one and got one myself.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Flexible black synthetic-canvas briefcase / conference bag: £10-£20 from the local market, or free if you attend the sort of conferences that give them out.

I'm on my third, they usually last about 5 years, and I've not paid for one yet.

G

[neilgeddes]

E-volve Final-Approach Pilot Flight bag / case | Buy iPod and MP3 Accessories (http://www.i-nique.com/detail.asp/c=510/sku=5055205261614)

[RTN11]

Got one at tesco which easily fits my laptop in. Perfect for pre-flight planning with wi-fi.

[dublinpilot]

I bought a nice one in Argos for about £20 made by Pierre Cardin Its better than most of the hard leather bags I have. Spotted a student with one and got one myself.

I use the same one myself! Pefect size, shape with pockets in the right places etc and doesn't cost silly money for a bag.

[rich_g85]

Whopity, dublinpilot - that looks ideal! And because it's not from an 'aviation' shop, it's half the price! ;)

Thanks all.

[MIKECR]

An old slimline laptop bag. Just enough to hold a headset and a pen...oh and a sandwich and mars bar.

[SkyCamMK]

It costs in fuel so every extra gram should be rejected.

What could you possibly need a bag for when you have both hands occupied for hours on end? Unless you are overnight stopping of course and then you just need a credit card and a small amount of cash.

Travel light - be green and realistic.

If you have a large baggage capacity spare carry a spare GPS and beacon

Or just do as you like, do we all want to be the same?


Edit: If you know why you need a bag you know what you want to carry so will a carrier bag do? or is fashion a consdieration?

[n5296s]

For the heli I used a small carrier bag from the Apple store for a long time. But I don't need to carry a headset for that. Now I use a give-away Jeppesen bag that I got at AOPA Expo.

But I do have an enormous red bag for the plane, containing charts for most of the western US, IFR plates, California airport guide, AF/D, POH, handheld radio, handheld GPS, half a dozen flashlights, batteries, ......... I'm sure you all know what I mean. Still no headset though since that lives in the plane (one of the rare advantages of owning your own plane).

n5296s

[Whopity]

If you have a large baggage capacity spare carry a spare GPSWhy do you need a GPS at all, let alone a spare?It costs in fuel so every extra gram should be rejectedThink Green use a Map!

[1800ed]

I have this one, I wouldn't recommend it:

Transair Cockpit Bag (http://www.transair.co.uk/product4.asp?SID=2&Product_ID=1239)

It's not very well designed, as it doesn't actually seem tall enough to fit a folded map or your kneeboard in the main compartment! Also, the zip came apart on the smaller compartment on my one - however that's probably just a one off problem.

(Just though I'd warn you if you were considering this one)

[cats_five]

<snip>
Edit: If you know why you need a bag you know what you want to carry so will a carrier bag do?
<snip>

I wouldn't use a carrier bag as things can come out of it - I'd want something that I can zip up so nothing can wander. But I can't see any point in spending money at a specialist pilot shop either when there are plenty of suitable low-cost bags around.

[BackPacker]

I've got this bag from AFE. It was a present when I got my PPL.

AFE Soft Flight Case : AFE - Airplan Flight Equipment (http://www.afeonline.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=175&products_id=179)

What I like about a specific pilot bag in particular is the headset pockets. Other than that, I agree with others, any bag will do.

This bag in particular is just fine. The main compartment is big enough to store A4 binders, the large zip pocket is useful for all those loose items that you accumulate (outdoor GPS plus cables, pack of chewing gum, small flashlight, spare pen, flight timer, you name it), two headset bags on the sides, and the two open top pockets are used for stuff that I want to grab easily, such as a hi-viz jacket (mandatory at my airfield).

[S-Works]

A bag? I take a map and a head set......

[Genghis the Engineer]

A bag? I take a map and a head set......

I take those, a kneeboard with PLOG, Pooleys, wizz-wheel, couple of additional charts, checklist, fuel tester, torch, sick-bag, camera, sunglasses, mobile phone and a few spare pens and pencils - plus a pencil sharpener. That seems to justify a bag.

G

[Zulu Alpha]

I have a Jeppesson one with clip on headset bags available. Used only twice and in perfect condition. Let me know if you are interested.

ZA (now GJ)

[S-Works]

I take those, a kneeboard with PLOG, Pooleys, wizz-wheel, couple of additional charts, checklist, fuel tester, torch, sick-bag, camera, sunglasses, mobile phone and a few spare pens and pencils - plus a pencil sharpener. That seems to justify a bag.

G

Blimey, I could not see the fairy and sink, are they in there as well? I feel under equipped compared to you!!! Were you a boy scout?
;)

[Genghis the Engineer]

Were you a boy scout?
;)

Is it that obvious? (And yes, I also take a Swiss Army Knife).

No fairy and sink, but did used to carry some loo roll - thankfully most airfields actually seem to provide that these days.

G :cool:

[what next]

A bag? I take a map and a head set......

Map? There is a GPS bulit into the panel. (Or otherwise the student or co-pilot brings his own map)
Head set? There's a speaker and a microphone bulit into the aeroplane...

But jokes apart, since many years I'm using a "daily bag" (both for instructing and commercial flying) like the one in this link: Adams Direct pilot shop your pilot supplies direct - online (http://www.flyingshop.com/proddetail.asp?modelno=Daily%20Bag) . They come from different suppliers and manufacturers, but the size is always similar (A4 and 3-4 in high).

It is reasonably small, yet it holds the headset, a kneeboard, logbook, a chart holder, a handheld radio (needed that twice already to get home in the evening!), a flashlight, everything I don't want in my pockets like wallet, mobile phone, car keys, glasses and spare glasses, a high-viz jacket (in case I have to fly to the UK...) and a toothbrush and a fresh set of underwear and socks in case we are stranded overnight (happened more than once over the years).

[BackPacker]

A bag? I take a map and a head set......

Actually, if I'm flying aerobatics, all I take with me is indeed the map (which lives in my kneeboard), a headset and sunglasses. The bag itself and the rest of its normal contents is left on the ground.

It would not be all that hard to stuff everything you really need in the pockets of a typical headset bag, together with the headset itself. In fact, I've got a headset bag that's my passenger set. Headset, sunglasses (lots of pax forget them or think they don't need them), hi-viz, barf bag. Plus last years aviation map so they can track where they're going.

[The500man]

This: ASA Pilot Briefcase £34.99 (http://www.flightstore.co.uk/asa-pilot-briefcase.asp/bags/flightbags)

Goes nicely with a fold flat headset like this: Sennheiser HME 95 Passive Headset with Sennheiser Case £149.99 (http://www.flightstore.co.uk/HME95.asp)

You have to use a bag with wings on, otherwise no one will know you're a pilot! :ok:

It would be much cheaper to just buy a starter pack though. They all come with bags.

Check this: Student Starter Kits | Student Starter Kit | PSK001 | Fixed-Wing Pilot's Starter Kit (http://www.pooleys.com/prod_detail.cfm?product_id=81&PageNum_rs_product=1&product_category_id=12&product_sub_category_id=77)

[batninth]

In post #12, 1800ed says:
I have this one, I wouldn't recommend it:

Transair Cockpit Bag (http://www.transair.co.uk/product4.asp?SID=2&Product_ID=1239)

It's not very well designed, as it doesn't actually seem tall enough to fit a folded map or your kneeboard in the main compartment! Also, the zip came apart on the smaller compartment on my one - however that's probably just a one off problem.

(Just though I'd warn you if you were considering this one) I have one of these too, although I got it as freebie when I bought my GPS. I find it's good as it stops me carrying loads of rubbish, I have to think about what I put in it & it fits neatly in the luggage space behind my seat.

But, as you say it's not quite big enough for maps so I end up with them sticking out. I've tried to persuade Mrs Batninth to use ithe sizing as a baseline to make something slightly larger that I could get a map into & zip it up for safety but I'm still asking.

So if anyone out there wants an idea - a bag just large enough to take a folded map & roughly the same depth as this feels like it would be about right.

Later addition: Just visited a local Maplins & saw a Netbook bag. Just the right size for maps etc, so had that "Why didn't I think of it before" feeling :O

[BackPacker]

I bumped into one of our flight instructors yesterday who got this one:

https://www.sportys.com/PilotShop/product/11878

It's exactly as it says. Big enough for a headset, an Icom and a GPS, plus a pocket that holds a few local charts, and a front pocket that holds a few pens, a small flashlight, fuel tester and some other bits and pieces. Everything you need for local flights up to PPL QXC flights.

The only thing I'm not quite sure about is whether it also holds a tri-fold A5 kneeboard. Maybe it'll only hold the metal A5 insert, but to be honest, that might be enough.

He got it embroidered with his own initials, maybe thinking it will become so popular all instructors are going to have one... :)

[Sir Niall Dementia]

I've used one of these for years. It carries everything I need plus spare shirt etc. Mine is now looking somewhat knackered (its 15 years old) but I love it. The Leather Briefcase Co.UK specialise in selling leather briefcases, leather travel bags, mans' bags, leather wallets and purses. (http://www.theleatherbriefcase.co.uk/detail_fullpage.asp?session_ID=&product_ID=183&range_ID=1)