Recommendations for Flight Bags?

Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,626
Likes: 12
From: UK
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.
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Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
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
I'm on my third, they usually last about 5 years, and I've not paid for one yet.
G
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Dorking, England
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,547
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From: Dublin
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.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Cranfield UK
flight bags
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?
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?

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 748
Likes: 9
From: LFMD
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
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
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: EGTT
I have this one, I wouldn't recommend it:
Transair Cockpit Bag
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)
Transair Cockpit Bag
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)

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 63
From: UK
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.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,598
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From: Amsterdam
I've got this bag from AFE. It was a present when I got my PPL.
AFE Soft Flight Case : AFE - Airplan Flight Equipment
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).
AFE Soft Flight Case : AFE - Airplan Flight Equipment
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).
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Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
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From: UK
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
G
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: UK,Twighlight Zone
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
G
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Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK

Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 129
From: Near Stuttgart, Germany
A bag? I take a map and a head set......
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 . 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).



