Papa3 wrote:
Travis Beach wrote:
Just got my first sailplane...what kind of tools do
you carry everytime you go to the airfield to fly?
Whats in your toolbox?

Beach

Keep your eyes open for a sale at Sears (assuming you are in the US;
otherwise, local equivalent tool store) . About once a year they have
a tremendous clearance on Craftsman "Mechanics" tool kits. You can
the 100-odd piece set that comes in a molded plastic case. Mine has a
permanent mounting slot I built under the tow vehicle seat. It
contains:

- Metric sockets approx M4-M14
- SAE sockets in all the usual sizes
- Metric and SAE allen wrenches
- 12 common driver bits (slotted, phillips, torx, square) and
associated driver.
- Lineman, slip joint, and needle nose pliers.
- Wire cutter.
- Ball peen hammer (great for coaxing out an axle)

I augment this with a small electrical toolbox containing fuses, wire,
assorted spade and butt-joint connectors, spare battery connectors,
soldering iron and solder, heat shrink tubing, ties, mulit-meter etc.

Thank goodness, gliders take very little repairing compared to my
previous avocation (sports car racing). Still, I carry most of that
stuff, but just bought cheap stuff cheaply at Walmart, Schucks, etc.
Even with my motorglider, it gets used so seldom, that's good enough.
Every few years, I might have to borrow something like a power drill, or
go to the store and buy something. I can't think of any place where I've
flown (and that's all around the country, including Alaska) that didn't
have a Radio Shack and at least an auto parts store, and in truly
desperate cases, you can get almost anything shipped to you overnight.

I do carry a few special small items in case I have to remove the
engine, but I've never had to do it.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

"Transponders in Sailplanes" on the Soaring Safety Foundation website
www.soaringsafety.org/prevention/articles.html

"A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org