"TF" wrote in message
. ..
I've mastered fuel management now the hardest part. How to manage mine
and my wife's bathroom breaks. Our trips are typically 3 to 3.5 hours but
our blatters don't always make it thus forci6ng a stop. Thats a big 30 min
addition to the trip. On my last filight I filed two flight plans and
then called ATC to open the next flight plan when we felt we could make it
all the way without the stop. Seemed to work.

Any suggestions on preflight preparations that have worked for others ?
No coffee before the flight ? No liquids xxx hours before leaving etc.
etc. Sort of like preparing for an operations.

Thanks.
Holding it in

I'm usually a two diet coke before going to work (or the airport) kinda guy,
but when I'm flying X/C I limit my intake to maybe 3/4 of a can, and make
sure that's an hour or more before departure so I can unload most of it at
the FBO prior to departure.

My airplane has a control stick and not a whole lot of room, so piddle packs
and/or a porta-john really are not options.

One of our routine trips is between Dallas TX and Atlanta. The airplane
will do it in 4 hours or less, but unless we're in a real hurry to get
someplace, we usually set down in Mississippi, just to stretch out and use
the bathroom. It makes for a more enjoyable flight than having to
figuratively cross your legs and pray that there isn't any turbulence for
the last 1/2 hour of the trip. Also, you can plan the stop for a field with
the services you desire.

Additionally, it is really futile to try and tough it out, then have to land
at some little armpit airport 30 minutes from home (after crossing your legs
for an hour) 'cause you realized that you didn't have a 4 hour bladder in
the first place...

Beyond that, the airplane has about 4.5 - 4.75 hours of fuel capacity, and I
feel a lot more comfortable planning to arrive at my destination with an
hour or more of fuel on board. Runways do get closed unexpectedly from time
to time, winds can drive you to alternate airfields, and there is always the
chance that you didn't get the last gallon or two into each of the tanks.

KB