Very Random Question - but serious answers needed!
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Very Random Question - but serious answers needed!
Hi folks,
This is probably one most of us have thought about us but few of us have actually bothered to get a proper answer. Well my dream is to be able to take my own aircraft, non-stop to Milan or Cannes in 4hrs non-stop. I know many a plane that can do it but not sure about my bladder. With a few girls in the back and being the good host - is there any "preparation" one and one's passengers can do before flight to ensure you don't need to go to the toilet during the flight without become dehydrated?
VORTIME
This is probably one most of us have thought about us but few of us have actually bothered to get a proper answer. Well my dream is to be able to take my own aircraft, non-stop to Milan or Cannes in 4hrs non-stop. I know many a plane that can do it but not sure about my bladder. With a few girls in the back and being the good host - is there any "preparation" one and one's passengers can do before flight to ensure you don't need to go to the toilet during the flight without become dehydrated?
VORTIME
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No drinks the night before 
and a Lady Jane at the ready...... Seriously: I've done many a trip of that duration and while it's not a (big) problem for the chap(s) up front, the main issue you'll find is the boredom factor in the back. Suggest you fly 'em to France for a nice lunch, then a tea break in Switzerland (or southern France), then on to drinks and dinner at destination. Much more civilized and smiles all round 
and a Lady Jane at the ready...... Seriously: I've done many a trip of that duration and while it's not a (big) problem for the chap(s) up front, the main issue you'll find is the boredom factor in the back. Suggest you fly 'em to France for a nice lunch, then a tea break in Switzerland (or southern France), then on to drinks and dinner at destination. Much more civilized and smiles all round
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I wouldn't bother, really! Drink as appropriate, you need fluid to function and pee when you need to (try a plastic bag) or plan to take "comfort stops". There is nothing worse than flying when you can't pee when you need to (well maybe flying after you done a runny No. 2 in your trousers). Or you could get a good builder and get a proper bog put in.
PM.
PM.
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Originally Posted by ormus55
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I recently did a 4 hour flight with a good friend, and though we stopped at random small airports every hour... And purchased a can of pop at each one... I was suprised that washroom breaks didn't happen at all. Made the whole trip without even thinking about it.
I will note, however, that my wife goes every 15 seconds it seems... Thankfully she wasn't on the flight!
I will note, however, that my wife goes every 15 seconds it seems... Thankfully she wasn't on the flight!
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For males, the standard product, a red plastic bottle available from the usual pilot shops, works very well, and you don't even need an autopilot.
In fact the little screw-top Tropicana juice bottles work perfectly, with the advantage that one can chuck them in the nearest skip upon landing, whereas the red thingy has to be taken to the hotel, washed out, and left to dry. Top tip #1 is to use a bottle with a secure screw top (like the little Tropicana joice one); top tip #2 is to not lose the screw top while having a wee
For gurlz, it is less trivial. They can use the red plastic thingy, with the appropriate "lady Jane" adapter, but they can't do it from the sitting position. They need to climb into the back seat and do it in a rather more upright position.
However, it appears that the silica gel product works well for gurlz, and can be used in the sitting position. Essential if flying alone. But I have never used it so can't say any more.
Being able to "use the loo" transforms the sort of flying one can do. Suddenly, you can go to all sorts of places without having to worry about needing the loo. Until you get this sorted, you will never know what you are missing!
In fact the little screw-top Tropicana juice bottles work perfectly, with the advantage that one can chuck them in the nearest skip upon landing, whereas the red thingy has to be taken to the hotel, washed out, and left to dry. Top tip #1 is to use a bottle with a secure screw top (like the little Tropicana joice one); top tip #2 is to not lose the screw top while having a wee
For gurlz, it is less trivial. They can use the red plastic thingy, with the appropriate "lady Jane" adapter, but they can't do it from the sitting position. They need to climb into the back seat and do it in a rather more upright position.
However, it appears that the silica gel product works well for gurlz, and can be used in the sitting position. Essential if flying alone. But I have never used it so can't say any more.
Being able to "use the loo" transforms the sort of flying one can do. Suddenly, you can go to all sorts of places without having to worry about needing the loo. Until you get this sorted, you will never know what you are missing!
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I've just completed a trip with a number of 4Hr+ legs. Rather to my surprise the plastic bottle was never needed. Perhaps the 80F at 2000' temps had something to do with it!
PS Can you drop a plastic bottle out of a Cessna window without it putting a dent in the stabilizer? (over the sea of course).
PS Can you drop a plastic bottle out of a Cessna window without it putting a dent in the stabilizer? (over the sea of course).
Careful if you poop into a plastic bag and throw it out of the DV window, especially if someone else had vomitted into the same bag. Leaves a fancy looking "racing stripe".
That reminds me. Does Barry Eustance still work for Virgin?
That reminds me. Does Barry Eustance still work for Virgin?
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PS Can you drop a plastic bottle out of a Cessna window without it putting a dent in the stabilizer? (over the sea of course).[/quote]
As a sailor as well as a pilot, I urge you not to dispose of any plastic in the sea at any time.
As a sailor as well as a pilot, I urge you not to dispose of any plastic in the sea at any time.
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Whilst on this subject, someone I know (honest it wasn't me!!!!) was about 9000ft up and had some severe stomach cramps after a night on the booze. I won't go into too much detail, but lets just say he couldn't wait to land and had to jump in the back and found that the only useful item he could find was a map!!! (USA maps are not laminated like the CAA's).
The other 2 in the aircraft couldn't deal with the smell any longer so they decided to lob the map and its contents out the door of a PA28 over the desert. The map hit the tail and gave the aircraft a lovely go fast stripe
I was in another aircraft following these guys back from Vegas and when we all got back to base, couldn't stop laughing for hours
The other 2 in the aircraft couldn't deal with the smell any longer so they decided to lob the map and its contents out the door of a PA28 over the desert. The map hit the tail and gave the aircraft a lovely go fast stripe
I was in another aircraft following these guys back from Vegas and when we all got back to base, couldn't stop laughing for hours
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Originally Posted by acuba 290
where you found that one?
also my sister in law uses one at glastonbury festival!
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It's all very fine asking your wife to use one of those portable toilets when it's just you in the aircraft.
But if VORTIME is a bloke, his "couple of girls in the back" not be so comfortable with the idea.
I'd plan a stop to ensure no more than 3 hour legs. If at 2 & 1/2 hours everyone wants to continue to destination, then great.
Also remind passengers the evening before that they will have to do without going to the toilet for some time. It's obvious to us pilots, and would seem obvious to those coming with us once brought to their attention, but most need to have it brought to their attention! At the airport about to depart, as they are trying to finish their coffee before coming abord, is a bit late!
But if VORTIME is a bloke, his "couple of girls in the back" not be so comfortable with the idea.
I'd plan a stop to ensure no more than 3 hour legs. If at 2 & 1/2 hours everyone wants to continue to destination, then great.
Also remind passengers the evening before that they will have to do without going to the toilet for some time. It's obvious to us pilots, and would seem obvious to those coming with us once brought to their attention, but most need to have it brought to their attention! At the airport about to depart, as they are trying to finish their coffee before coming abord, is a bit late!
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The other day whilst flying along, I was caught short. Looking around the cockpit, I noticed an empty Pepsi bottle. Setting the throttle and jamming one knee against the yoke, I managed to get the lid off and duly did the business. I then replaced the lid and lobbed the bottle out of the window.
And he failed me for it!!!!!!!!
And he failed me for it!!!!!!!!
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Take a bottle of OASIS or similar with you for in-flight refreshment. You can drink it when thirsty. When you need a pee, the wide neck of the bottle makes it easier to refill.
I remember taking some guys on a (just over 1 hr) trip on their way to a stag weekend several years ago. They had had a bottle of beer or two in the airfield bar before going, and brought a bottle of Bud each with them. We weren't even half way before the "Are we nearly there yet" questions started. We pressed on, and the spectacle of one of them trying to refill the Bud bottle in the back of an Aztec whilst flying through behind-cold-front-bumps was something I won't forget
More seriously, to answer the question, don't drink very much within an hour before taking off, and then limit your fluid intake to the occasional mouthful until within an hour or less of destination. Once reaching destination is guaranteed, you can start to re-hydrate. Having said this, beware of the effect of dehydration on your flying performance and don't overdo it.
I did 4 hours with no prblem using this method, although I did have the Oasis bottle with me as a precaution. Like sick bags, you might find that having something to do it in will mean you don't need it, whereas the worry of not having something often makes the nasty event more likely.
ON NO ACCOUNT drop anything out of the aircraft! Quite apart from the breaking of aviation law, consider the effect of 300cc of liquid falling in a plastic bottle from several thousand feet when it reaches the surface (how do you know there's nothing there?)
I remember taking some guys on a (just over 1 hr) trip on their way to a stag weekend several years ago. They had had a bottle of beer or two in the airfield bar before going, and brought a bottle of Bud each with them. We weren't even half way before the "Are we nearly there yet" questions started. We pressed on, and the spectacle of one of them trying to refill the Bud bottle in the back of an Aztec whilst flying through behind-cold-front-bumps was something I won't forget
More seriously, to answer the question, don't drink very much within an hour before taking off, and then limit your fluid intake to the occasional mouthful until within an hour or less of destination. Once reaching destination is guaranteed, you can start to re-hydrate. Having said this, beware of the effect of dehydration on your flying performance and don't overdo it.
I did 4 hours with no prblem using this method, although I did have the Oasis bottle with me as a precaution. Like sick bags, you might find that having something to do it in will mean you don't need it, whereas the worry of not having something often makes the nasty event more likely.
ON NO ACCOUNT drop anything out of the aircraft! Quite apart from the breaking of aviation law, consider the effect of 300cc of liquid falling in a plastic bottle from several thousand feet when it reaches the surface (how do you know there's nothing there?)
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Whiz Cleancatch anyone......
"....and he failed me for it!" I'll be sure not to try that on my skills test....
All sorts of options on this site, how about a pack of 7 for your "girls in the back"? A snip at GBP 8.75
http://www.whizproducts.co.uk/en/product_shop.aspx
You should be able to make N Africa with those on board!
There some other device called a Pee-Mate that lets them go standing up - possibly good at glastonbury, maybe not in the back of a 4 seat plane...
I'll be sure not to try that on my skills test....All sorts of options on this site, how about a pack of 7 for your "girls in the back"? A snip at GBP 8.75
http://www.whizproducts.co.uk/en/product_shop.aspx
You should be able to make N Africa with those on board!
There some other device called a Pee-Mate that lets them go standing up - possibly good at glastonbury, maybe not in the back of a 4 seat plane...
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Dehydration has a serious effect on mental capacity, I understand. It certainly does on physical capacity, that's for sure. I wouldn't attempt to not drink leading up to a long flight. However, you can do what I do before a run and take on board loads and loads of fluid the day before (inc. cranberry juice maybe, as it soothes the urinary tract and makes things feel less 'urgent'?), then go back to just sipping a more modest amount as and when needed a few hours beforehand, to make absolutely sure you're not dehydrated.
No caffeine, obviously. And very salty, sweet or oily food makes you want to drink more water. And don't drink alcohol in the day(s) leading up to the flight.
There you go, serious answer. 
No caffeine, obviously. And very salty, sweet or oily food makes you want to drink more water. And don't drink alcohol in the day(s) leading up to the flight.
There you go, serious answer.