No Drill Relief Systems
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ziplock trash bags restop relief sys peeing in a bag leg bag depends bags

Bags

Must be tested in the privacy of your bathtub. I mean you could practice for the first time in the glider. But the cleanup. And there will be cleanup, will be easier in your bathtub. Some bags you might be willing to keep in the glider during your flight, others you might not. If the bag is going overboard, you want to make sure that it is positioned not to allow the air to force the liquid out of the bag and back into the cockpit. Typically some twisting and the bag opening out first is a good idea. Once the bag goes out the window swiftly downward flick of the wrist is in order. Because the wing is not something you want the bag stuck to, bounce off of, explode on, etc.

Bags get complicated when it’s cold outside, and you need to get enough of your plumbing into the bag. You need to make sure you do not retract back out of the bag midstream. Always make sure you takeoff with enough. I have yet to be at a contest where someone isn’t walking the grid looking for spare bags. I have been that someone at least once.

The art of peeing in a bag

You want to hit the back of the bag, you wouldn’t think this is a big deal, some weird magic goes on, and there is a tendency for it to flow back out again. At the same time of peeing towards the back of the bag, you want to make sure your bag is closed at the top around your plumbing because while in flight it will not be smooth like it is in your bathtub. The bag is also placed in a way allowing the maximum amount of liquid to fill the bag while not spilling. All of this while not interfering with the stick.

Trash bags

I have used small trash bags that come on a roll. Those seem to work pretty well, but they can be too thin for anything remotely sharp in the cockpit. So you have to take extra care, and pre-inflate and pressure test. The real problem here is you can not safely keep these in the cockpit with you. These must be twisted very well and rolled precariously out the window. If I have bags going out this is my preferred method.

Ziplock

I typically don’t go for the off-brand here. Gallon freezer ziplocks are robust, have a reliable locking mechanism, and don’t have to be tossed out. If it is going out, the same precaution must be used when going out of the window. Without twisting, you may allow the liquid to travel back into the portion of the bag that is still inside, even name brand bags are not strong enough for that pressure. If I am planning on keeping them on board, I will put an absorbent sack from a diaper or a tampon in them to help minimize the liquid anything absorbent to reduce the risk of a cockpit catastrophe. Then I typically place it inside a second bag that can hold a few others and place it near my knee or behind my waist. This is my most commonly used method.

Restop

RESTOP is the professional version of a Ziplock bag.  Unlike your freezer bag, it has thick walls that will not leak.  It has internal absorbent polymers and enzymes that soak up 20 ounces of urine.  The polymers and enzymes take the place of an absorbent sack from a diaper or tampon.  RESTOP is easy to use, sanitary and environmentally friendly.  These bags are never tossed out but disposed of after landing.

Leg bag

It is designed for the medical field to be leakproof, clean, easy to operate, etc. Leg bags are my new preferred method when it comes to bags. I’ll talk more about external catheters later, but I typically have a  quick connect and two extra-large leg bags with backup zip locks in the side pocket. In an upright seating of a two-seater, I usually attach the bag near my ankle or leave it on the ground behind my feet. Single-seat gliders it is just a matter of getting it as low as possible.

Depends

I have not used them; my female friends do; they are not fans. Just like your toddler screaming about sitting in their own warm then cold urine, it’s less than ideal. Adult Depends will hold a lot of liquid, and I did have a male reader email me who will remain anonymous “My personal experience with Depends urinating relatively small amounts during long flights has been very successful. No leakage”. Simplicity is a lot easier than peeing in a bag. If the volume is not too high, this is a lot less complicated.

Banner photo by Mandi Ireland

heading 3 for product 1

PowerMouse LXNAV PowerMouse, The great FlarmMouse has gained a new powerful member into the family. PowerMouse is a more powerful stand-alone box hidden behind/below the cockpit dashboard. It has an integrated USB port which is easier to use than the SD card slot. It has a GPS module and the option of an IGC flight recorder with an internal pressure sensor. The PowerMouse is based on PowerFLARM technology. A second FLARM antenna option (RFB) and ADSB module are also available.

PowerMouse is standalone PowerFlarm® with an external GPS antenna and USB socket. It’s a collision avoidance device, designed for gliders as well as for other participants in the air. FLARM® is in widespread use and features include:
• Display of nearby Flarm traffic with warning visually and acoustically of approaching other aircraft or fixed obstacles(where a database has been installed)
• intelligent motion prediction which minimizes nuisance alarms and supports situational awareness
• integration with over 50 compatible products by other manufacturers (e.g. PDA moving maps) through an open serial port protocol
• USB socket for easy uploads and downloads, IGC–format flight recording and OLC–approval
• based on the award-winning original FLARM® design, endorsed by FAI, IGC/OSTIVand EASA (AMCPart 21, Part M)
• optional diamond–level IGC-approval with/without engine noise sensor (ENL)
• a typical radio range that can be verified with online radio range analyzer
• powerful 72–channel high–precision uBloxNEO8–GPS module
• full compatibility with a wide range of Flarm–licensed products
• operation on a license-free radio band, not based on transponder technology
• small size and simple installation

5 PowerMouse variants
• PowerMouse with Flight recorder (Not approved by IGC), with enabled SAR (search and rescue) function
• PowerMouse with IGC approved Flightrecorder(Up to Diamonds) and SAR function
• PowerMouse with IGC approved Flight recorder(Up to Diamonds), Engine noise sensor and SAR function
• RFB – second Flarm antenna (dual antenna diversity) – available for all versions (Non IGC, IGC and IGC ENL)
• ADS–B module as an option

Glider Pilot Hat

Glider Pilot Hat Glider Pilot Hat is made from 100% cotton and features two brass eyelets on either side for ventilation. The hat features a sailplane on the front with W&W clothing brand on the back. The brim/visor is approximately 2″, has an inner sweatband and is available in Small/Medium and Large/Extra Large.

garret willat  Garret Willat holds a flight instructor rating with over 8000 hours in sailplanes. His parents have owned Sky Sailing Inc. since 1979. He started instructing the day after his 18th birthday. Since then, Garret has represented the US Junior team in 2003 and 2005. He graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics. Garret represented the US Open Class team in 2008 and 2010 and the Club Class team in 2014. Garret has won 3 US National Championships.