David Megginson wrote in message ...
Craig Prouse writes:

You can get a really nice portable O2 system for significantly less
than the cost of a handheld GPS. If you fly an airplane that can
get you above 10,000 easily, it really makes sense to have one. Out
here on the west coast, MEAs go up to 10-12K just to fly back and
forth between the largest cities (Portland-San Francisco, San
Francisco-Los Angeles). I spend a lot of time up there.

Thanks for all the info. Any recommendations on manufacturers? How
long does a tank last when you have four people breathing from it
instead of just the pilot?

I really like my AirOx. Its a bit more expensive than a lower end
units (like SkyOx) but has a much better regulator. The amount of O2
you use depends on the altitude (pressure altitude actually). I have
my wife and two kids. The kids have a regular cannula and the wife and
I have the Oxysavers (as far as I know, no one makes Oxysavers for
kids). As a result, we all use the same amount of O2 (the kids use 1/2
as much but waste twice as much). With a full tank we have no problem
at 12,000 feet + for 8 hours. That usually puts us just below 1/2 on
the tank. Be aware that the price to fill O2 at the airport can
REALLY, REALLY vary. I've been charged as little as $20 and as much as
$80 (SAC Exec Patterson). Its also not unusual for even large FBOs to
be out of O2. Also, if you fill at sea level you seem to get more than
in NM or such.


-Robert