Microlighters

Hi All,

Just a thought here, I am going on my first, overnight fly away/fly out to a pan in the kalahari, I have planned the route, calculated fuel etc, but that is pretty much about it. My dilemma is that I am not sure what to take with on the trike, how to fasten fuel cans, what can go in paniers etc.

I was just thinking of starting a thread for us inexperienced trikers who have no idea what to take or look out for, to get some help and advice from those more experienced, so please any advice is greatly appreciated.

I am flying from Sishen(FASS) to a Pan called Bruin Pan in the north western kalahari, total round trip about 178 nm. We are leaving early saturday morning and returning sunday, with no ground support vehicle(maybe foolish).

I will post the experiences and some pics when I return, hopefully my learnings on this trip might be of use to someone with a similar idea in the future.

Fly Safe

Is there cell phone reception out there?
Let someone, preferably another pilot know exactly where you are going (GPS Co-ordinates) and what route you plan to take.
In the event that you don't return as expected, at least someone knows where to start looking.

Lets start a list of things to take, everyone can add their item.

1) Clean Undies.
2)

Normally Id say condoms... but to be honest I dont think you gonna find much talent in that part of the world!

Most important items are going to be Extra fuel, warm clothes, plenty water!!! as well as an extra gps if you are flying there alone! No real set rules for tying it all down but just make sure that nothing can fall out. (pretty obvious)

Other than that, I think a support vehicle would be a very good idea. Pretty deserted out there.

Have a great trip and please post some pic's on your return.

[quote="bobthebuilder"]Is there cell phone reception out there?
Let someone, preferably another pilot know exactly where you are going (GPS Co-ordinates) and what route you plan to take.
In the event that you don't return as expected, at least someone knows where to start looking.

Lets start a list of things to take, everyone can add their item.

1) Clean Undies.
2) Trike tie downs, no use holding the trike the whole time!

Adding to the others,

First aid kit
Extra handheld radio if possible
Spare batteries and GPS if possible
Extra emergency rations, energy bars etc
Signal mirror
Space blanket
Matches or lighter in a waterproof container
Spare spark plugs
Essential tools
Condoms(emergency water container ha ha)

Bob is spot on about letting people know the route etc. Emergency locator if you can borrow one.


Have fun and fly safe

You must take spare batteries for your GPS.

Hallo Garry,
Jy skuld my nog n besoek!!
Die beste item wat jy kan saamneem is n pel in nog n trike.
Op my trip van die annerdag was my GPS,Cell en Laptop my grootste chomme..Daar was nie een plek waar ek geland het wat dit nie moontlik was om te connect nie...Deur die Kalaharie ...Die panne...Op langs Namibie se grens was daar orals ontvangs.
By geleentheid was my GPS vir so ses ure soek en ek het amper in my broek geskyt...dus ek stem saam met die voorstel van ekstra batterye en maak seker dat die gps nie maklik kan loskom uit sy houer nie.
Die eerste ding waarmee ek gefloor het was hoe om n trike in sterk wind vas te maak dat hy nie wegwaai nie..maak seker jy ken die regte metode want daar is net een regte metode.!! Maak die nylon toue ( nie te dik nie) voor die tyd stewig vas daar waar die twee inspeksie zips sit.Rol dit op en sit n rekkie om dit en los dit in jou vlerk. Onthou daar le nie klippe op die panne rond nie so neem n hamer- byl kombinasie saam om penne in te slaan..
Tyre fix..Die blikkie met lug en die stelsel om plugs in te sit.
Daar is altyd genoeg gereedskap in my trike om noodsaaklike werk te doen.
Ek het n fotostaat van my lisensie, ATF en med sert gemaak en dit op een folio blad gelammineer..Dit is altyd in my aerie en het my handig te pas gekom toe die polisie my in Bots gegryp het..

Geniet dit..Jy gaan dit moerse geniet..

Blue Max ek besef nou eers wie die omie is wat ek op die trip ontmoed het,ek was daar met die skyranger.

Hi All,

Thanks for all the feedback, we will be packing this afternoon ready for a 5:30am take off tomorrow morning. All the advice is really helpful as I am sure I would have forgotten a thing or 2.

Blue Max...Oom Paul...you are right I owe you a visit, definitely before the end of Feb next year.

I hope this thread stays a while as I am sure it could be of help to others.

I will post some pics and a story when I return on sunday...

Woooohooooooooo Happy and safe flying

Gary

BOATCH wrote:Blue Max ek besef nou eers wie die omie is wat ek op die trip ontmoed het,ek was daar met die skyranger.

Jy bedoel die jongman wie jy op die trip ontmoet het.
Ek het jou vorige einaar van daai skyranger hiet in Marblehall ontmoet.!!! Sy naam is Riaan.
Ek wil die einde van die jaar daar verby op pad na Port Alfred..Sal jou laat weet as dit materialiseer.!!

Hi All,

Thanks for all the priceless advice. We had a great time, but I must say making sure batteries are charged etc is very important. All went well except that the video camera's battery did not play along. That and the wind was not very friendly either.

I must say it was one hell of an adventure which I would advise anyone do to. Please make sure you always have a ground sheet or mat and make sure the trike is tied down very well.

I will post some pics later that I took with my phone...oh and speaking of which, make sure you always take 1 Vodacom and 1 MTN sim card with. As we found out there are areas where one SP has signal and the other not so if you want to be in contact make sure you have both.

Fly safe

Glad you enjoyed your trip!

Hi All,

Here are a few pics...I have a few videos to, but wish I only had a place other than youtube.com to show them. This was all taken with my iPhone as my video camera's battery died on me....

Some more...