What essentials do I really carry on flights?

In addition to those things required for the flight I take along a
first aid kit and clothes appropriate for the weather along the
route. This includes appropriate foot wear. A good pair of leather
gloves whether light weight work gloves or warm ones for cold weather
can save a lot of hide when walking out of the brush.

I also take a cell phone, but they are notoriously unreliable in many
areas. Even here in a relatively densely populated area you can find
many areas, and particularly out in the woods where they will not
connect. In addition I almost always carry an HT with both the
aviation band and 2-meter amateur band. Although it may have a much
longer reach than the cell phone the likely hood of some one hearing
it are slim.

A *small* hand held GPS suitable for navigating on foot would be a
good idea. I don't have one, but when traveling over wide areas of
woods and swamps that are sparsely populated that usually comes to
mind as "maybe I should get one of those things":-))

I typically keep a back pack in the car with essentials for a couple
of days and throw that in the plane before heading out on trips. The
backpack makes it much easier to carry that extra *stuff*. My
flashlight is a little solid state "Tac light" that can go from a dim
red to a very bright white and is good for several days even on
bright.

The back pack is pretty much my Oshkosh survival kit. A change of
clothes, couple pair of socks and underwear. A few small,light weight
tools. A couple days worth of meds should be in that first aid pack.
If you have a small camera, don't forget the flash can be seen for
miles at night.
"Skeeter spray/bug repellent" for summer. Sun block, cap, (stocking
cap for colder weather) remember the head is probably your largest
heat loss source so keep it covered and a long sleeve shirt.

I don't have one but one of those space age blankets would be a good
investment.

Few of us do, but we should all carry a survival pack with the
essentials to get us through at least one night. Include only the
essentials including a couple days worth of meds and fire starting
materials. Just don't start a forest fire. Remember too that even if
it's the hot part of summer it may get downright cold at night.

This time of year where it's down in the 20s at night and 30s or 40s
in the day we tend to get into the plane, complain about the chill
while taxiing to the runway and then forget about it once the inside
becomes nice and warm. We forget that we need warm clothes to even
walk out a mile or two, let alone an over night stay in the woods.

That's actually less of a problem in January and February as we are
dressed for the weather when we get into the plane:-)) (If it's not
snowed in or it's too cold to bother)
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com