Essential kit for new pilots

[mad_jock]

Not if they have been trained properly.

I have survived for 1200 hours flying SEP's without having one.

And know many pilots that have never used one and have managed to not bust airspace run into hills or the multitude of other things which its meant to prevent in a SEP.

[Mariner9]

Sky God

[mad_jock]

Nope tight scotsman that can fly straight and level while looking out the window and occasionally looking at a chart.

Must admit though if I was flying down south I would more than likely get one of these AWARE thingy's.

[tommoutrie]

take a pretty woman.

I've done a fair few flights now and an awful lot of them have fizzled from my memory but I can honestly say that I remember every single one where the other seat had someone I fancied in it.

[tommoutrie]

strictly speaking thats a bit off topic.

I'm not suggesting you stick a woman in a bag. That would be a bit wierd..

[rmcb]

I'm not suggesting you stick a woman in a bag. That would be a bit wierd..

Really? My instructor always asked what the 60 Kg bag in the back seat was all about in the flight planning stage...

[mad_jock]

There is a middle east mod putting seats in the rear hold of some biz jets for wives.

[Steve6443]

strictly speaking thats a bit off topic.

I'm not suggesting you stick a woman in a bag. That would be a bit wierd..

Whereas I have to admit to having stuck a bag on a woman...... in my defence, I was drunk when I picked her up, and had sobered up before we did the dirty.......

[Mariner9]

I carry a pack of 3 condoms for all the babes I'm going to meet at airfields. Still on my 1st pack after 12 years flying. And that's despite using 1 as an emergency pitot cover

[Speedbird777]

Thanks for all the replies so far guys. Treated myself to the Bose A20 so put a tick in the headset box.

I expect to be doing around 50-100hrs per year. Given a significant amount of flying will be over water, I may buy some life vests.

I'm undecided on the handheld radio - any commentary on this? Any recommendations?

I have an iPad - is Skydemon worth it?

Thanks again peeps!

[Mariner9]

Given a significant amount of flying will be over water, I may buy some life vests.

Life vests are mandatory for flights over a certain distance from land so a wise purchase. Remember to keep them serviced.

I'm undecided on the handheld radio - any commentary on this?

You have been taught to Aviate Navigate Communicate in that order. You should prioritise your kit in the same fashion. I have never bothered with a spare radio personally, but the thought of flying without a basic service from an FISO or similar seems to terrify many on here

As for Skydemon - nothing better for VFR flight planning.

[A and C]

Hand held radios are more or less useless using the antenna supplied from the inside of a metal aircraft I have seen radio TX ranges of less than seven miles.

The same radio will have a range of up to fifty miles with an external antenna fitted. As one time King built a mechanical relay to enable you to connect the handheld to one of the COM antennas while disconnecting the failed panel mounted radio.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

an aviation GPS should be top of the list

Only if you rent planes that are sufficiently crap that they don't have one built in, surely?

[kestrel539]

Most important thing in the flight bag should always be a roll of toilet paper.

[Pilot.Lyons]

Mariner9 "I carry a pack of 3 condoms for all the babes I'm going to meet at airfields. Still on my 1st pack after 12 years flying. And that's despite using 1 as an emergency pitot cover"

Hahahaha tickled me 😃