This list is meant for camping under the wing, or nearby. Not Backpacking away from the airplane. Minimize airplane added weight while also providing broader support than would be carried in a backpack.

A bottle of hand sanitizer kept in the airplane for in-flight use.

Shelter

• Free Standing Tent (no stakes)
  • Insects will eat through the fabric wherever food is spilled
  • Floating fire embers will punch holes through the tent instantly
• Biffy Bags for emergency use while flying, and use if the FBO bathrooms are closed at night.
  • BIFFY means “Bathroom In the Forrest For You”
• On Amazon, search: Biffy Bag, disposable human waste bag system, packable privy, disposable toilet, WAG bag, and pocket potty.
  • Disposable Urine Bags handle are better for Pee-Only times of need.

• Mosquito Net can be lashed up to a wing when a tent is too hot to use
• Plastic sheet under tent to keep tent bottom clean and dry
• Sleeping bag (appropriate for the climate)
• Breathable Polyester Camping Sleeping Bag Liner Sheet
  • Helps keep bag clean, easily hand washed, dries quickly, adds warmth
  • Can be used separate from bag as a light cover when warm
• Sleeping pad, or air mattress (avoid large volume ones that need a pump:added weight; unless you need the support)
  • Body weight compresses sleeping bag and then thermal insulation is lost
  • Asphalt is too hard to sleep on directly
• Use rolled up clothing as a pillow
  • don’t sleep with clothing, body perspiration makes clothing wet
  • uncomfortable when getting up on a cold morning
• The cook stove can heat a locally found dense rock, slipped into a small purpose-sewn insulated bag, to add contact protection and long term warmth in a sleeping bag
  • The insulated bag can be used to stow other equipment when not in use
  • Do NOT use any porous, sedimentary, or shale rock as entrapped water can cause rock to explode when heated
  • See Appendix A for more detail so you can check an instructor’s knowledge when they are teaching a more verbose set of related skills

Cooking & Kitchen

• Amazon Keywords: Mini Gasoline Stove, Liquid Fuel Alcohol Diesel Oil Stove
  • Can use gascolator to refill cook stove
  • Empty stove before transporting
• Lighter or other reliable waterproof source of flame
• A 2-cup nonstick pot: multitasks as a plate, bowl, cup
• One spork: make due; unless traveling with others
• Lightweight kitchen paring knife with makeshift sheath
  • folded & taped cardboard from a cereal box wrapped around & longer than blade
  • when packed, sheath won’t come loose
• Can opener and bottle opener (only if needed)
  • consider packing all dry-ish food in “Labeled” Ziploc bags
    • permanent fine marker
    • label maker for marking at home
• 50 feet of parachute cord (trash control, splints, temporary shelter, traps…)
• Trash bags: keep it far away and tied dangling from a tree branch more than 8′ high
  • Keep bears and other critters away from your airplane
  • Don’t feel bad about picking up some of other people’s trash, drop off at FBO
• washing dishware: A kitchen sponge lightly saturated with a biodegradable dish soap, all kept in a Ziploc bag
• A multi-purpose white rag, kept in an appropriately sized Ziploc bag
• A small bottle of dishsoap with wash cloth in a ziploc bag

Food & Drink

• Not much more food than the portions needed
  • See Appendix B: Vegetarian Backpacker Meal Ideas
  • Pre-pack every meal in a labeled Ziploc bag
    • if a critter gets into one, hopefully the others are still good
    • this is an easy way to plan enough for a trip
    • you can always find a grocery store if on an airfield
  • if planning to backpack, take more food than you need
    • learn how to forage
• Dip eggs in food grade mineral oil and dab off the excess oil, this provides a bacteria barrier. Eggs in a cut section of an egg carton, last weeks without refrigeration
  • • Before cooking, put eggs in a cup of water, if it floats at all, throw it away
• Drinking water (plan for one gallon per person per day, more if arrid)
• Water Purification Tablets: To make local water safe to drink, hydrate dried foods…
  • Or, battery operated UV stick to submerge in water bottle
  • Or, water filter of various designs
• Cooking oil in a clean tightly sealed small travel bottle; in a ziploc bag
  • Put in a Ziploc bag with part of a paper towel to absorb leaks
• Tiny Labeled Ziploc bags of salt, pepper, and other spices
• Ziploc bags of dried ingredients:

  • Vegetarian Backpacking Dried Food

• Based on your preferences, and allowable gross weight and cg limits
  • bring vaccuum sealed and canned goods
  • avoid foods that require more than 10 minutes to cook; conserve fuel
    • however, with a gasoline compatible stove, the gascolator can provide fuel from aircraft tank to supply stove

Clothing

• Regionally requirements are different
• Moisture-wicking layers for day and night
• Pants
• long-sleeved shirts
• Sweater or fleece pullover
• Rain jacket and pants
• Warm hat and gloves (for cold weather)
• Sun hat and sunglasses
• Sandals (for camp or showers)
• Swimsuit if bathing in public

 

Personal Items & Safety

• First-Aid Kit (always kept in aircraft, single use packages to reduce weight)

  • Clozex Laceration Kit, or Butterfly bandages

  • band-aids (a few of different sizes in small Ziploc)
  • alcohol wipes (a few individually packaged)
  • triple antibiotic ointment
  • ACE wrap
  • Non Stick Gauze Pads (4”x4” individually packaged): cut smaller if needed
  • hemostatic gauze
  • roll of gauze
  • medical tape (small roll)
  • burn cream, optionally include Hydrogel-based burn pads
  • tourniquet
  • Travel Medicine Kit (small sealed packages)
    • Advil Tablets (4 PCS)
    • Non-Aspirin 325mg Tablets (4 PCS)

• • • Aspirin 325mg Tablets (4 PCS)
    • Pepto Bismol Tablets (4 PCS)
    • Antacid Tablets (5 PCS)
    • Sodium Bicarbonate/Citric Acid/Aspirin Effervescent Tablets (3 PCS)
    • Diarrhea Relief Tablets (3 PCS)
    • Electrolyte Tablets (4 PCS)
    • Sinus Decongestant 10mg Tablets (3 PCS)
    • Over-the-Counter Instructional Pamphlet (1 PC)

• • Motion Sickness Medication: for your passengers

First Aid Tools & Supplies

• A hands-free light source: A headlamp to do first aid at night
• Scissors or Trauma Shears: For cutting tape and clothing
• Tweezers: For removing splinters or ticks
• Safety Pins: For fastening bandages or slings
• Irrigation Syringe: For flushing wounds with water
  • use drinking water tablets as-directed in water for the syringe
• First Aid Guide: A small, waterproof guide or information cards

Other Important Items

• Cellphone with offline Google maps installed (when no cell towers)
  • Enormously useful for local information
  • Also download whatever tutorials you may find useful when planning
  • Download a Travel Guide for your area being traveled
  • 12 volt socket type cell phone USB charger adapter
    • check with passengers to see what they need
• Personal Medications: small Ziploc bags labeled with medicine and instructions
• Sunscreen: To protect against sunburn
• Insect Repellent: To deter bugs
• Large Mylar Emergency Blanket: For heat retention in emergencies
• Toilet Paper
• Shaving Razor
• Baby Castile Bar Soap in a Ziploc bag: Many Uses
  • Laundry, body, hands, shaving, hair, dish cleanup, utility
  • Medical cleaning of wounds
  • Rinse and dry bar before putting back in bag
• Solar Hot Water shower bag and nozzle
  • If the FBO isn’t expected to have available showers or camping in back-country
• Various Size Ziploc Bags: To keep your supplies dry
• Lip balm with SPF

• Toilet paper
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, hair brush, and other toiletries
• Quick-drying towel and washcloth
• Duct tape
• A map and compass or GPS (if hiking)
• Cash and ID for all occupants

Optional Fun & Extras

• Books, cards, or board games
• Camera with extreme telephoto lens and tripod (cellphone camera for other shots)
• Binoculars, Star Gazing Telescope
• Hammock (doubles as a cargo net to prevent load shift and CG change)
  • in-general it is hard to find a place to attach a hammock
• Lightweight extension cord and 120VAC mini-inverter for LED lights and luxury electronics
  • Monitor aircraft battery voltage, keep batteries charged to restart engine