Bailout and survival kit

On Monday, May 4, 2020 at 7:09:11 AM UTC-6, 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?

I've been thinking about this a bit lately. I have one of these:
http://www.hillpeoplegear.com/Produc...1/ProductID/71

In concept, it is quite good. Lots of room to keep lots of important stuff, and my Softie can be worn over it. However, in practice, when I put both of them on, the parachute harness straps don't quite fit with it nicely (my parachute has the aerobatic harness with crossed straps in the front). The bigger problem though is that I have so much stuff stuffed in the kit bag that it is quite thick. And it rides at the same level as the D-handle for the rip chord, making it more awkward to access the D-handle. This is a definite no-go. However, if I had a conventional harness with the transverse cross strap, it could fit a bit better. This doesn't solve the problem of it being so thick and interfering with access to the rip chord though. So my considered solution to that would be either:
1. Don't stuff it so full, or
2. Use a thinner kit bag like this:
http://www.hillpeoplegear.com/Produc.../1/ProductID/6

On Monday, May 4, 2020 at 9:09:11 AM UTC-4, 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?

A USAF survival vest is designed to carry a boat load of stuff, much of which you would not need in a noncombat bailout and is designed to not inhibit the chute harness. Will carry survival radio, extra batteries, compass, medical kit, knife, gun, flare gun and flares among other things. You also want to think about water and high energy food. I carried Tootsie Rolls in Vietnam. They don't melt, last forever.

Walt Connelly
Happy Helicopter Pilot

The vest we had in Nam consisted of 2 radios and a snub-nosed 38. Radios were below the parachute chest strap and were quite comfortable. We had a large hunting knife on the G-suite thigh with all other survival gear in the seat-pack. I think this vest would work well in a Sailplane Radio,hat, glasses, water,etc. Good place to store your wallet and cellphone also.
RF-4C GIB ‘68
JJ

WATER: This is the number 1 thing that your body requires. I often carry a bit of water in a flexible Platypus container. They're suprisingly durable and more comfortable to keep in my pocket than a rigid container.

The reality is that you can't carry enough water to survive very long, so be sure that you can find and filter water. My Garmin InReach is useful for finding water (ponds, lakes, streams, etc.). If you can handle 2 ounces, then I highly recommend the Sawyer MINI water filter. I use it to refill my water bottles on ultralight backpacking and mountaineering trips. At the very least, toss several MSR Aquatabs into your first aid kit. Drop one in your water bottle, wait 30 minutes, and you'll have safe drinking water.

STAY WARM AND DRY: After dehydration, hypothermia is probably the next most likely way to die, especially if you can't keep dry. An emergency blanket is great. If you can spare 3.8 ounces, I like the S.O.L. emergency bivvy. It's more thermally efficient to sleep in a sealed tube. I've spent the night in one at 12,000ft in a snow cave. I had a little condensation inside because they don't breath, but I slept pretty well.

FI Waterproof matches, butane lighter, fancy flint device... take your pick. More importantly, know how to start a fire. Most people can't start a fire with a full book of matches.

FOOD: Two cliff bars.

FLASHLIGHT: Go with a small headlamp! I've had good luck with products from Princeton Tech, Black Diamond, and Petzl. A black Diamond Storm and spare batteries are part of my standard climbing kit. For emergency use, you could go with something lighter like a Petzl Bindi (200 lumens, 35 grams).

COMMUNICATION: Garmin Inreach and cell phone.

NAVIGATION: Don't bother hauling around a compass unless you actually know how to use it. Also, don't haul around a compass, even if you know how to use it. Compass navigation is a fun skill, but it's a waste of time if you have GPS and a cell phone.

I have a Garmin InReach and cell phone. Make sure that your cell phone is prepared to navigate offline. If you have Google maps, you can download maps to the phone. I also have the Gaia app on my phone. I use Gaia for ski mountaineering but it's also useful for finding your way through the back country.

KNIFE: I keep a 1oz Gerber STL in my first aid kit. I used to be more of a knife fan, but after spending an awful lot of time outdoors, I found that I very rarely need one.

First Aid Kit: My first aid kit is about the size of a wallet. A couple band aids, ibuprofin, tweezers, a piece of mole skin, safety pin, a foot of Duct tape, etc. The most likely items I'll use? Definitely the mole skin and ibuprofin! You don't need ace bandages, trauma sheers, or a pile of gauze. Unless you happen to be naked, you should have plenty of material to wrap up a wound. As with starting a fire, you really need to know what you're doing. There are plenty of books on wilderness first aid.

CLOTHING: Cotton kills! It provides little insulation value when wet. Wear synthetic clothing and hiking shoes. I normally wear gortex trail running shoes anyways, so my feet stay dry in snow or rain.

All of my survival gear fits in my pockets (zippered pockets so I can't lose it!). Ultralight gear has gotten so good that there's no longer a need for big vests and pouches. If you really insist on carrying a couple more pounds of stuff, then check out the 986 gram Dudek paraglider. All you need to do is launch off the nearest hill and then fly home

David- Excellent suggestions! However, you forgot to mention something important. How about toilet paper? Not absolutely necessary, but having some might make you feel like you are a little closer to civilization. And now that the "BIG RUSH" on supplies has calmed down, you might even be able to find some in the store.

On Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 5:01:34 AM UTC-7, wrote:
David- Excellent suggestions! However, you forgot to mention something important. How about toilet paper? Not absolutely necessary, but having some might make you feel like you are a little closer to civilization. And now that the "BIG RUSH" on supplies has calmed down, you might even be able to find some in the store.

I bring a couple feet of TP on most trips, but I don't keep any in my soaring kit because I find that it doesn't last so long; it turns into toilet paper crumbs before the end of the season. You can definitely carry some, but you might want to replace it from time to time.

You can definitely carry some, but you might want to replace it from time to time.

Well, it's not exactly meant to be reused. I pack as much as I think I will need, add a safety factor, double that and then vacuum bag it. This might not be the best place for a product recommendation, but a Foodsaver vacuum bagger can maintain the viability and longevity of a number of space critical survival supplies. Don't forget the survival knife, as even a mountain lion would have a hard time opening a Foodsaver bag without chewing it into shreds.

PS. Open the bag before you need it! Ask me how I know this. (Well, don't ask. Just use your imagination. {Well, don't do that either. Just trust me.})

On Sunday, May 10, 2020 at 8:36:21 PM UTC-5, wrote:
You can definitely carry some, but you might want to replace it from time to time.

Well, it's not exactly meant to be reused. I pack as much as I think I will need, add a safety factor, double that and then vacuum bag it. This might not be the best place for a product recommendation, but a Foodsaver vacuum bagger can maintain the viability and longevity of a number of space critical survival supplies. Don't forget the survival knife, as even a mountain lion would have a hard time opening a Foodsaver bag without chewing it into shreds.

PS. Open the bag before you need it! Ask me how I know this. (Well, don't ask. Just use your imagination. {Well, don't do that either. Just trust me..})

Markm; You're not only a talented engineer, but a comedian as well! How about assembling a list of your best one-liners to keep us in good humor?

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!

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.