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What do you do with everything?

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  • What do you do with everything?

    In a L2 you've got a fairly roomy cockpit but no little extra seat (like in a BC-12) to put all your flight gear. Reaching behind, while strappedin, is a bear... so stuff in the rear seat is basically out of reach. Dropping something on the floor is asking for double-trouble (a) You got you head down chasing as best you can by feel, or (b) it gets into cevices for the rear stick/rudder pedals and you lock up the controls. Today, I think I came up with a solution.

    An old hunting vest. (1) It's cool because it's not a coat.SO you can use it all the time. (2) Everything fits, extra maps, writing utensils, radio batteries, back up radio, whiz wheel, flash-light, rulers, flight plan, writing pad, sun glasses, even a sandwich and bottle of water. I even found that sticking the chocks, which I haul by a string and in last, once I'm secure at the brake pedals have a place in the front game bag. (3) The pockets pooch out over the lap belt, but under the shoulder harness. SO you're in tight but you can get to the pockets of the hunting vest. (4) Blaze orange looks enough like safety orange that people think you're wearing an expensive custom made survival vest and not going hunting. I probably look like the pilot for the Pillsbury dough boy... but it seems to work. Mine's an old Filson Vest that is too raggedy to pull through bush and therefore has been otherwise retired.
    How about you? Where's all your gear go... particularly in an L2?
    With regards; ED OBRIEN

  • #2
    Re: What do you do with everything?

    Can you PLEASE send a picture

    Andy

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    • #3
      Re: What do you do with everything?

      I have no pictures of me -- in mine --and I'm not likely to get any pictures soon.
      Here's the vest.
      Filson unfailing goods are made with the best materials and craftsmanship. Building a legacy of quality and durability since 1897.

      They still sell them. Mine is blaze orange, 30 years old, and beaten to sloppy perfection. Too old to use as a hunting vest because it's been torn up a bit... I think it'll be perfect in the plane for the purposes I've described. See what you think and good luck.
      With regards; ED OBRIEN

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      • #4
        Re: What do you do with everything?

        Come on Ed. There have to be some young tech guys around there with digital whiz bang camera's just aching to take pictures of anything. We gotta see that vest with all the goodies mentioned stuffed into it. With you wearing it of course.
        Darryl

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        • #5
          Re: What do you do with everything?

          I wonder what the guys who flew them in the Army did to solve that problem?? Maybe they had a flight suit with enough pockets, although I suspect not.

          BTW Ed, you mentioned lap belt AND harness. My L2 has only a lap belt that looks like it should be in a chevy. Can you tell me more about the harness in your L2?

          Does anyone know the orginal configuration and where you can find a replacement now days?

          Thanks,

          Tony
          Last edited by Tony Johnson; 06-03-2007, 09:21.
          sigpic

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          • #6
            Re: What do you do with everything?

            Military type belts are available from Wag Aero and they install in the BC12 well. They are less expensive than the "civilian" ones and have the quick flip unlock function when you install a complete set with shoulder harness. Mine work really well. They appear to be military surplus but look exactly like the pictures in the catalog.
            Darryl

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            • #7
              Re: What do you do with everything?

              As far as seat belts go... I put in a standard belt, 3 interlocking metal loops, joining together, and locked down with a long buckle into the lap. Cinching
              straps on each shoulder meet in a "V' just above the crotch. It's standard light acro belt for sale everywhere -- Wag-Aero and Univair have'em. As far as pictures go... no I can barely work a computer, and putting pix on the web, from a digital camera? I'm so far away from understanding that process that I'll likely be dead, first. Truth? Some of us are analoged brained left handed goofs lost in a digital world. I've got an Pro I.T. son behind me as I'm typing this message laughing outloud about your suggestion. He doesn't smile all that often but thinking I could work a digital camera is "Chris Rock outragous funny" to him. My wife wants me to take up ballroom dancing. So I got a lot of things to learn.
              With regards;
              ED OBRIEN

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              • #8
                Re: What do you do with everything?

                Ed, My son is an IT Systems Analyst also (I had to check spelling on that LOL) but I understand your problem and sensed your discomfort in your opening thread. That is why I suggested you get someone to do it for you. I just Really want to see that rig, with you wearing it. I'm not all that sharp at posting pictures either, and I have worked on hi-tech stuff all my life.
                Darryl
                Last edited by flyguy; 06-02-2007, 23:37.

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                • #9
                  Re: What do you do with everything?

                  Ed and Darryl,

                  Thanks for the info about the seat belt harness. How do you attach the shoulder harness to the airframe? If anyone has a pic of that I would enjoy seeing it.

                  Tony
                  sigpic

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                  • #10
                    Re: What do you do with everything?

                    Yes I made a Flight west for me, net back for hot days and LOTS of pockets and I can hang on the seat back as well. I fly a BC!2 d not a L2 .
                    It was tip from a glider pilot friend what put me onto it.
                    Len
                    I loved airplane seens I was a kid.
                    The T- craft # 1 aircraft for me.
                    Foundation Member # 712

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                    • #11
                      Re: What do you do with everything?

                      Here in the Northwest, it's been known to rain on the rare odd occasion and Filson gear is very popular. It is of superb quality and lasts for decades. A good source is EBay....there are several Filson vests there now.

                      Click here: Filson Vests


                      V

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                      • #12
                        Re: What do you do with everything?

                        I'll second the praise of Filson. Why buy a lot of crap. Save up your money and get something that will outlast you. A piece of outdoor clothing you trust. It's expensive stuff but never wears out. Gokey's, LL Bean, Orvis, the old Abercrombie and Fitch... you know from the 70's and only in New York City -- long before they all transformed into the mall-rats they are today... all of these stores were great. All of them gave up on quality for fashion trends and bottom line happiness. OK. The last great one left is Filson. Buy anything they sell and prepare to use it until they bury you in it. I don't work for Filson but half my wardrobe and nearly all my hunting gear comes from Filson, so yes I like Filson. Online www.filson.com, stores in Seattle and Denver only. A piece of advice -- you guys in the south, stay away from their wool stuff. Their wool is so warm, that you'll catch on fire above 30 degrees.
                        With regards; ED OBRIEN

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                        • #13
                          Re: What do you do with everything?

                          Tony,

                          I have the wide military lap seatbelt with the leather flap and swingover latch. Mine had shoulder harnesses but the guy just tied them off to overhead tubes. I do not believe originals had shoulder harnesses. Probably just military style lap belts, but I will look at my books and see. A friend of mine attached his shoulder harness at the base of the seat with a metal triangle part I have seen in aircraft catalogs. Hole and slot, hole for bolt to attach to frame or seat, and strap goes through the slot. I will take my camera to his hangar tomorrow and take a few pictures. I will have to redo mine this way. It was a joke the way it was set-up in my plane. The lap belts are very nice, however. (With this style of belt the shoulder harnesses attach through the military belt so it all latches and releases in one push, or pull.
                          Cheers,
                          Marty


                          TF #596
                          1946 BC-12D N95258
                          Former owner of:
                          1946 BC-12D/N95275
                          1943 L-2B/N3113S

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                          • #14
                            Re: What do you do with everything?

                            ditto for the puter with me too Ed!
                            I did not know I carried anything in my L2..actually I just tie my stuff to the struts.
                            seriously I have my wife hold it for me or whoever I invite along for that express purpose.
                            In regards to the shoulder harnesses they folks at Hooker know about L2's and can set you up with all the necessary stuff to do it right. and they are nice to boot.

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                            • #15
                              Re: What do you do with everything?

                              In regards to the shoulder harnesses the folks at Hooker know about L2's and can set you up with all the necessary stuff to do it right. and they are nice to boot.[/QUOTE]

                              In reguards to Mr. Jack hooker, he is a gentleman in the old way. Honest, not cheap, but you get what you pay for! He is amember of our EAA chapter and always good for a story or two. In the old days we described people like him "as having character". Another words he is a knowledgable old curmudgen
                              Larry
                              "I'm from the FAA and we're not happy, until your not happy."

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