Microlighters

OK, OK, so this might be tantamount to asking a lady to reveil the contents of her handbag!! Eish!!

But, why not share that ONE item that you would NEVER fly without?

Here's mine . . . . . a pair of Knipex pliers (code 86-03-180)!

They are freakin' amazing . . . . relatively light weight, super high-quality, incredibly high "jaw-strength", and can be adjusted to most aircraft size bolts/nuts!!!

This pair was bought from a hydraulic shop in Brits, the "Technology Hub of the North West Province"!

OK . . . . please share!

My favorite. You can clamp it to a bolt on one side without damaging it and you have an extra hand. It is also handy if the bolt is in one of those awkward positions that you can not reach at the same time as fastening the nut. Most of the other gadgets on the tool is useless except for the file when you need one in the middle of nowhere.

Ya, those are really nice! I was not aware that Leatherman made a "vicegrip" type device!

I've just added these onto my Christmas wish list!

"Air in a can" for punctures!!!! used once when my mate landed in a wheat land, worked very well!!! just attach to valve and let it spray into the tyre and seals the leak!! at least you will get home!!

What I carry now always:

Mini tool kit
Cable ties
Safety wire
WALLET! (Hannes and I once landed at Aeropark for brekkie and we had both forgotten cash in our cars back at ML)
Water!
Spare Radiator cap!

What Im going to include in future:

"air in a can"
Small medical kit
Extra box of smokes
Spare exhaust springs!!!! (happened to me last Sat )

Good One! Thanks Bundy!

Water? To drink, right? How much do you normally take with for you and PAX?

Spare Radiator Cap?? Really? Is this just as a replacement, or do these come off in flight?? If so, should you not carry a spare propellor too?

Medical Kit! Yes, good idea. I have one, but due to the inappropriate contents and size/shape of the ones you can buy "over-the-counter" I made mine up specifically, comprising dressings (bomb-bandage type), burn gel, large format wound dressings, etc. as well as some odds and ends like Panado and Valium for nausea!! Not to forget an EYEWASH!! Might sound silly, but it is small and weights nothing and might be a godsend in the event of a bug in your eye!! Then, I packaged it all in a waterproof "ram-bag" (you know the type which you fold the top over and then clip the ends together, which you can buy from outdoor shops?), which allowed me to package it flat and about 75mm thick, to fit in your pannier bag!

Thanks again, John

Water to drink yes...this is just a force of habbit in all my hobbies. You never know when you may be stuck in the middle of nowhere (possible injured?) after an "out landing" and to sit in the African sun without a drink is not lekker.

The cap is a long story... the old plane I used to rent to fly seemed to chew through radiator caps. They would leak water during flight...sometimes quite badly! (the resident AP decided this was normal ...I always strongly disagreed but hey what do I know?)

Since then I have always had a spare... I must admit that since we have had DBP, she has never needed a new cap. (now this IS normal ) But nevertheless, the cap remains in the bag

Good call . . . . for the size and weight I'll be adding a spare radiator cap to my onboard spares!

Thanks for the advice!

Heya

Well,what I would usually carry is a 500ml coke & 500ml water,two 500ml's two stroke,spare tube and air in a can(more like tireweld )..cap for my head and spare set of spark plugs,cable ties,ropes and tent pegs..and of course the obviaas stuff like your plane's papers and wara wara

What I would like to carry is spare batteries for my gps and radio and a a lekka cooler box on the back filled with meat and cokes for an out landing..more like a precautionary braai spot check

On our Zebula trip...we carried alot of goods in our panniers as well as with the Tedderfield trip..I am really amazed at howmuch stuff you can put in those bags..ha ha..managed to get two sleeping bags plus some toiletries,clean t and the normal goods in the panniers..I had a pax,so no back seat

Have an awesome one

Hey Madman!

Excellent post!

Thank you,

John

Solo Wings make a nice bellybag and oversized paniers for the Aquilla.

Mmmmm.. lets see... 50 litres of fuel on backseat.(2x 25litre Addis cans - MADE for the backseat of an Aquilla. And provides great back / head comfort!) In the belly-bag: Toksak with 8 days clothing., toiletries and various comforts, etc. Tent strapped to pylon. Paniers - left: enough oil for 1400 miles. A Bundubag with Vicegrip, screwdrivers, 2 X shiftingspanners, extra plugs, extra tube, extra exhaust springs, safety wire and footpump. Paniers - right: Tentpegs, rope and ratchet tie-downs. laptop. Extra batteries for laptop / cameras. Charging equipment for the aforesaid and 3.5 metre electric leadcable with long multiplug. Bundubag with dried food stuff, coffee, sugar, cremora, 4 litres of bottled water. Trike cover. Collapsible shovel / pick, fire extinguisher, refuel pipe.

Came in at about 85kg's, fully loaded. Amazing how much you can load into a trike. Weight is not the problem - it's like carrying a pax. SPACE/VOLUME - that is where the challenge lies!

I also learned a lot from this trip in terms of what to pack and what to leave. Take HALF your clothes, to start of with. Since then, I now have one bag - normal sleeping bag size - that contains my tent, sleeping bag AND a matress! It is all trial and error.

Tip: If you want to outfit your trike for X country - go and shop where the Backpacking people shop - they have sorted out volume and weight looonngg ago!

Ask Bugwar.

Great posts Asterix and Demon!!

We can certainly learn from you boys!

Thank you for sharing.

John

Another item I always have is a small torch.

And lots of Klippies and bogroll as per the pic

Panniers

What are those