Little Equipment Help

Ok gang...For those of you who know me, you know why this is here...for those that don't...

Winged 4+ years ago, VP-30, fleet tour in the EP-3 and now, after 1500 hours flying in not much more than a flight suit...I am headed back to Advanced...

I have a pub bag and a 7G kneeboard. What else would you guys suggest picking up to get ready/get comfortable with prior to showing up at Krock or Meridian? I am looking for the little "nice to have" bits that make life in your new home easier...Thanks.

Approach plate strap
Nvg pen or finger light.
The pub bag the PRs make in Krock is tits, a bigger one may not fit.

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2nd the pub bag the Krock PR's make, fits everything you need and snugly fits behind your right elbow in the jet.

This thread title looks like the subject line from a pharmaceutical spam email.

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Everyone in Meridian always used the little pub bags that one of the PR's in the flight E shop built. I never got one, but I did use the "hornet" one that wings in pcola sells. Funny thing is that when I actually got to Hornets, I never used it again.....if you go VFA, you will walk with only your helmet bag and whatever is inside. BTW, congrats, I had no idea you had transitioned. There aren't a whole lot of night flights in the jet syllabus, but maybe a finger light if you get your hands on one, would be nice. Beyond that, I can't really think of anything that wasn't provided that I really needed. Make sure they hook you up with CEP's when you get your gear checked in. It makes a world of difference with the crappy radios in the T-45. They will also hook you up with Oregon Aero helmet liners if you don't already have one....just ask the PR's.

+3 on the small pub bags from PR's. Use your helmet bag to haul your shit to the squadron, small pub bag for the jet. I still used mine in the rhino, came in handy on numerous occasions.

I thought "little equipment" was a requirement for the tacair community!

Ha!!

I'll go back to flying my airliner.

I have a pub bag from the loft in Meridian...had a friend pick one up because I got tired of losing shit in my helmet bag in the P-3...

Thanks for the help guys...I've heard some people say two kneeboards...no?

Good thing you picked one up when you did. Dude got fired from what I recall earlier this year.

I'm not a fan of the two kneeboard thing. Although I know people who do. Mostly used as an approach strap really. Sounds like you're set. Unless your PRs can get some of those new gloves I got when I checked into the RAG. Much better than the issued ones. Or just don't wear them, but I feel like that debate happened a while ago. Congrats though

Most use a single kneeboard, but if you're use to two, no need to change it up.

T-45's, probably not. I started using a second KB once I got to CAS in the RAG. Right kneeboard for writing on, and the left one has checklists, approach plates, en route chart printouts, and in flight guide gouge. Has worked for me, though I know a lot of guys that keep it simple with just one board. I use the 9G and then just a generic board that I attach my kneeboard card to, along with a BLIN/MSP/gripe card for mx.

Yeah, I've seen that as well. Might get that done as well sometime soon

I preferred a leg strap for the other leg to keep plates/charts/other stuff on, but if 2 KB's work for you then roll with it.

Obviously I recommend the Night Vision Pen over a finger light.

One kneeboard and then a leg strap for the approach plates will be good. Want to get fancy? Get an iPad running ForeFlight or WingX Pro with a MyGoFlight sport kneeboard and the Bad Elf GPS. Light years better than paper.

What, they won't allow it? I haven't been in the TRACOM since '00 and iPads didn't exist then.

I like using 2KBs over a strap. Not sure why, but it's my pref.

I'd suggest the NVPen not so much for the night flights but for the sims. The lighting in the T-45 sims is terrible, some don't even work and it's a pain in the ass to write down your clearance on the go only to not be able to read it because the lights went out.

Some guys have the crazy gloves with the fingers cut out. I've never had a problem with the standard issue full fingered gloves but some guys really don't like them.

New post for the iPad thing-

A bunch of Studs were using them here in Krock for a while in lieu of paper approach plates. After about a month the powers that be said that it gives an unfair advantage to those who can't afford an 800 dollar iPad and said we can't use them.

That's ridiculous. Should I not use my wiley-x gloves because they give me unfair advantage over someone who can't afford a $50 pair of gloves? Pretty asinine reasoning.

0-1s/0-2s who can't afford an $800 iPad? With the cars, condos, and bar tabs some of you boast?

Shenanigans.

Meh, it's all those transition guys who are married and have kids and are upside down and underwater on mortgages, who drive their 1993 Chrysler Lebaron into work everyday who were complaining.

"It's unfair... I'm a geezer and if I buy an iPad I have to buy my wife an iPad, and diamond earrings and a new car"

You'll be there soon enough, Junior.