On Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 11:30:07 AM UTC-7, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
On Monday, May 4, 2020 at 6:09:11 AM UTC-7, wrote:
I attended Dave Nadler's presentation at the 2020 SSA Convention about his bailout in Utah and its aftermath https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8I3A3dqsu0&t=3s

It got me thinking about my own preparedness, and I have to admit that I am not carrying enough on my person if I ever "have to go for help." (As our ex-Air Force airport manager describes a bailout.)

I've been thinking about fishing/photographers vests with a lot of pockets, but the parachute and seat belt harness straps interfere with comfort and safety. Small kits like the SMAK PAK are a good start, but I'd like to carry more stuff, like a hat, spare glasses, water etc. I am thinking of an Air Force type flight suit with leg pockets, at the risk of being called a fighter jock wannabe.

Possibly a thin pocketed backpack that could fit between the 'chute and your body, if it could be made comfortable and not interfere with the seating position in the glider would work. But what to put in it and how to you pack it to avoid lumps and stuff digging into your kidneys?

Any ideas or suggestions? What works for you?

At one point in time I was a paid mountain climbing guide, just by way of qualifications. The biggest mistake I see so many pilots making is not dress for egress. I was at a Nephi camp (lots of rough remote terrain), yet I saw many flying in cotton short-sleeve shirt and shorts! Sheesh, that is like telling Mother Nature "you are good, but I am better. Let me spot you half the points you need to wipe me off the planet." I wear Musto sailing pants (with very flat cargo pockets designed to be opened while sitting). I wear a long sleeve sun hoodie and I wear a paracord bracelet(multi-function with lots of goodies) on each wrist. If I am down without a glider and the wind rain starts I can at least use some handy paracord to tie shut my pants bottoms and shirt sleeve cuffs, fill both pants and shirt with leaves, sand, dirt rocks, for added insulation. I also carry on my body multiple forms of starting a fire from several lighters, and a combo flint stick multi-tool around my neck (inside shirt) with paracord https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...3PLXJ7DC&psc=1
I also have a smack pack with survival medical gear, qwick clot, water purification tabs, fire, tourniquet out of paracord with a sliding locker...et. I am not confident the smack pack would stay on while trashing about trying to over come g-forces, so I have a Mylar blanket in a pants cargo pocket with two small packs of water.
I have had an unplanned land out at dusk once, not in a glider but another type of aircraft. Had the evening to think about the errors of my survival kit. Staying warm and dryish, can be the difference between giving up or not. Stay safe boys and gals!

The combo tool I wear around neck is considerably smaller than the one in the link above, but made by same company. The paracord bracelets I wear are by Wazoo (looks like they do not make anymore, but one of my bracelets has a wire saw woven into the paracord). I also carry several simple metal (very old style) lighters of kerosene fuel, wick and flint. This is a metal container that looks kind like a quail egg, it screws completely air tight. I check the kerosene level every year and test fire. I carry several of these on person and in smack pack. Wazoo does make a handy Firestarter business card that I carry in my flight wallet along with a credit card from one of my ex-wife's accounts. I know if I use that card she will come find me wherever I am.