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OK, so this is probably not a good idea as my first post, but I have always taken a great deal of pride in the fact I have no pride at all - so laugh away! Before totally humiliating myself, let me say thanks to the finer points crew. Your podcasts were and continue to be a big part of my training and a significant factor in my joy of flying. I got my ppl last summer and now with about 200 hours I'm about to get my instrument ticket.

Jason spends some time on the importance of an organized cockpit in this podcast and I couldn't agree more. I use the "Ultimate Kneeboard" which is awesome, particularly since I have been working on my IFR ticket. But I also stumbled on to something else that, for me, is fantastic for cockpit organization and I use it whenever I can on long cross countries.

I wear a mil-spec nomex flight suit. Originally purchased as a part of a charity event at an Air Force base, it is the perfect cockpit organizer. It has leg pockets the right size for charts, so I can put the ones I will use in the right pocket and the ones I already used in the left. The pockets are deep and when sitting allow you to reach and grab one without moving your eyes or your head. I wear prescription glasses and the suit has 2 zippered pockets by the chest that are great for holding a clear pair and sunglasses. No more looking in the flight bag when the sun sets. It has pen holders that never stab you in turbulence and are right where you need them. It also has the perfect pocket for a flashlight right on the sleeve if you fly at night. The thing is wildly comfortable and while I don't use the knife pocket, I do use the dual zipper system on really long cross countries where I am well hydrated.

Laugh all you want, but if you can overcome the looks when you land at an FBO, the flight suit makes a big difference in terms of comfort and organization. Not to mention the nomex adds a certain safety factor.

good point! i dont think the military developed flight suits so that they all could look funny, they are a very practical piece of clothing.


ive also heard of people using fishermans vests for cockpit organization. lots of pockets and whatnot on those.

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Everyone must believe in something, I believe that I will go flying.

I'm using a hunting vest for my flying right now. Keeps my glasses, headlamp, flashlight, pen, iPod cables all right where I need them. Also keeps an energy bar, mini-survival pack, and first aid kit - just in case. Folds up and fits in my flight bag.

I do wear a flight suit when flying in the Civil Air Patrol, but find that taking things in and out of the pockets and transferring to my bag a bit of a bother. I usually end up wearing the vest over the flight suit.

My Mission Pilot examiner asked me what I had in terms of survival gear and I told him about my first aid kit in the flight bag. He kindly told me that things in the bag are called "camping gear" while things on you are "survival gear". I guess an off-field landing where we get out but the plane burns would leave me without my camping gear....

These all sound like familiar issues. Last year I started flying in a Sabre Jacket made by 5 11 Tactical. It's designed for law enforcement, but I found it to be very useful when flying.

For one thing it has two large interior breast pockets large enough for folded Sectionals and two exterior chest pockets for sunglasses & a flashlight... And the big selling point was the shoulder pen-holder/pockets. I've never hunted around for a pen since.

It's also pretty simple looking, so you can get away with wearing it anywhere you can wear a windbreaker.

http://www.511tactical.com/browse/Home/All-Products/Outerwear/Casual-Jackets/Sabre-Jacket/D/30100/P/1:100:50000:50400:50402/I/48036

I have a couple of their shirts as well. Also with pen holders in the shoulders.