Catheter question

Several people have commented that successfully peeing into a bag from a
semi-prone position is at best difficult.
I have a suggestion that has worked well for me, including in one ship where
the owner believed that using a baggie was impossible.
Before getting airborne, take a one-gallon zip-lok bag and cut a round hole
halfway along one side, just below the zipper.
To use the bag, open the top, insert the appropriate part of your anatomy in
the hole, tuck the lower part of the bag down between your legs, lift the
free side of the bag up in the air so nothing goes over the top, then use
one hand to hold the side of the bag that has the hole snugly against your
crotch, relax and let go.
The thicker plastic of the zipper helps to support the free side of the bag
so that it doesn't collapse even though you are not supporting it (you do
need the other hand for the stick, after all).
Do glance down from time to time to keep track of the liquid level and don't
let the tide get too high. Once the bag has some liquid, its lower portion
can often be re-positioned to increase the available volume. On my ship,
pushing my knees outwards, towards the cockpit sidewalls, also helps.
The easiest way to cut the above mentioned hole is to make two folds in the
bag just below the zipper, the first fold parallel to the zipper, the second
at 90 degrees to it, then cut a quarter circle of appropriate radius with
scissors.
Obviously the system works best if the hole is a reasonably snug fit, but
this is easily customized.

For disposal, twist the bag below the hole to seal it, and launch it firmly
downwards from the side window so that it doesn't hang up anywhere on the
sailplane. A pee bag plastered against a wing leading edge is not only
un-aerodynamic but gives pilots of nearby sailplanes way too many
opportunities for gratuitous comments. Don't ask how I know.

I too like the idea of using bio-degradable bags.

Any USA sources / brand names?
..

"Stefan" wrote in message
...
Bert Willing wrote:

I use bio-degradable plastic bags.

Can you point me to a source? Thanks.

Stefan

Ray Roberts wrote:
Several people have commented that successfully peeing into a bag from a
semi-prone position is at best difficult.

I use the "travel John" available from Sporty's
(http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl....product_id=300) and
other places. Less than $2 each. I make sure to take at least 3 per
flight as I have never (yet) needed more than that

The molded top makes a good funnel. I lift my butt just a little and
slide tha bag underneat and let go. Once done, the contents is gelled
and won't spill. I just shove it forward along my leg. Take a look at
the cover shot on the July 2003 Soaring mag
(http://ssa.org/test/Covers/Cover200307_large.jpg) for an example of
storage

-Tom

"5Z" escribió en el mensaje
ups.com...
Take a look at
the cover shot on the July 2003 Soaring mag
(http://ssa.org/test/Covers/Cover200307_large.jpg) for an example of
storage


Nice mountains, where was the picture taken?

In Switzerland: Coop and Migros, garden stuff ("Kompostierbeutel"). They
come in rolls of 10, 5 liters each. 5 liters is a lot, but I just don't
care.

"Stefan" wrote in message
...
Bert Willing wrote:

I use bio-degradable plastic bags.

Can you point me to a source? Thanks.

Stefan

I'll second that regarding corrosion. Cost me a gear rebuild and later,
after repositioning the exit to the bottom of the gear door, I believe
that some was being drawn into the rudder hinge area (LS-6) but can't
confirm that.

The catheter and bag works. The seal on self-sealing cathers works fine
and keeps it a closed system. No flow back even if the bag is on the
same level. I found the area under my calf worked great for the bag.
My calf never touched it.

I was always a bit to big in the small cockpits to figure out how a
ziplock is used but it clearly works fine for many pilots in many ships
(until they **#$%^ spill one).

I suggest keeping the bag until landing. My first experiments with
tossing bags failed in multiple ways. 'Nuff said there.

1980s experience from Foureyes.

Go wrote:
One thing to watch out for is where the urine goes once it is outside
the aircraft as it is very corrosive to metal parts. During my annual
yesterday we found some unusual corrosion on the aileron bellcrank
mount. All other controls are in great shape. There is a drain hole in
the fusilage just aft of the gear doors and the drain tube termination.
I am speculating that some of the urine 'mist' may be getting inside
the fusilage and causing the corrosion. The mount is directly aft of
this drain hole and of course inside the fusilage.

I have also heard from other pilots of corrosion in the wheel and brake
areas due to this problem.

Of course you can prevent or remedy this problem. I am going to plug
the drain hole and the wheel problem could be remedied with regular
cleaning. The point is that you need to beware of where on your
aircraft the urinne may be depositied and take care of it.

I really think a catheter is the way to go because you need to nothing
else but think about it and it is done! But I am now thinking I may
have the tube go into a baggie filled with an absorbant material
instead of releasing the urine under the glider.

Maule Driver wrote:
I'll second that regarding corrosion. Cost me a gear rebuild and later,
after repositioning the exit to the bottom of the gear door, I believe
that some was being drawn into the rudder hinge area (LS-6) but can't
confirm that.

Careful thought needs to be made in terms of positioning the exit - it
needs to be in a low pressure area and positioned so that it doesn't
then risk contaminating corrodible parts.

Our Nimbus 2c has the exit in centre of the lower starboard quadrant of
the cockpit 'bulge', just aft of the widest point (i.e. low pressure
area). The only potential metal in that flow is the tail wheel assembly.
Not only have we not had any problems there, there is no trace of dried
urine on the skin of the aircraft.

Whilst I have used bags in other aircraft when cross country
instructing, having a plumbed in system makes for much more comfortable
flying.

As for catheters, I (and no pilot I know of here in Aus) uses the
adhesive tape that comes with the external catheters (known locally and
rather politically incorrectly as 'Irish condoms'). They seal perfectly
when rolled far enough down the penis.

The only problems I have experienced in removing them have revolved
around rolling pubic hair into them during the removal. I have decided
that a judicious shave is the answer to that problem!

--
Robert Hart
+61 (0)438 385 533 http://www.hart.wattle.id.au

Regarding 'low pressure' area. My six had been rather crudely modified
by the previous owner with a waste tube that exited in front of the gear
door area. Whether or not that particular spot was low pressure or not
didn't seem to matter. My personal plumbing in those years had positive
pressure at the source. The problem was that the gear well, despite
sealing, was a low pressure area and was sucking corrosive urine up into
the entire gear mechanism.

Obviously an exit anywhere in front of the gear well would be ill
advised on that ship.

After a rebuild, we mounted the tube on the bottom of a gear door so I
could open the gear when needed and extend the discharge point 5 inches
or so away from the fuse. Did the aerodynamics work for that?
Probably. That was about as much engineering as I was willing to do to
facilitate a pee.

If 'ol Foureyes cycled his gear while above you in the gaggle, you
weren't one of his favorites.

Robert Hart wrote:
Maule Driver wrote:

I'll second that regarding corrosion. Cost me a gear rebuild and
later, after repositioning the exit to the bottom of the gear door, I
believe that some was being drawn into the rudder hinge area (LS-6)
but can't confirm that.


Careful thought needs to be made in terms of positioning the exit - it
needs to be in a low pressure area and positioned so that it doesn't
then risk contaminating corrodible parts.

Our Nimbus 2c has the exit in centre of the lower starboard quadrant of
the cockpit 'bulge', just aft of the widest point (i.e. low pressure
area). The only potential metal in that flow is the tail wheel assembly.
Not only have we not had any problems there, there is no trace of dried
urine on the skin of the aircraft.

Whilst I have used bags in other aircraft when cross country
instructing, having a plumbed in system makes for much more comfortable
flying.

As for catheters, I (and no pilot I know of here in Aus) uses the
adhesive tape that comes with the external catheters (known locally and
rather politically incorrectly as 'Irish condoms'). They seal perfectly
when rolled far enough down the penis.

The only problems I have experienced in removing them have revolved
around rolling pubic hair into them during the removal. I have decided
that a judicious shave is the answer to that problem!