- Joined
- Mar 25, 2013
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I now have two contest under my belt during which I camped exclusively. The experience has been entirely positive. I have saved a little cash. But more importantly I have SLEPT. There is nothing like a Holiday Inn Express with truck drivers yapping in the corridor at 2am on the way to a cigarette run or a chittering girls' lacrosse team at a corporate Vermont B&B to properly destroy any hope of much needed sleep. The only drawback is that you might miss the bar or the banquet. (That might be a good thing if you've been following the recent "Exploder" discussion.)
Rain?
We had a whole night of it at Springfield on Saturday. I woke up twice because of the shear volume of drops hitting my bivy but quickly fell back to sleep. I woke rested, happy and dry.
Shower?
There's always a hose. After 9pm there's not a soul to see you in your skivvies unless a cop drives by.
It is in my interest that no one else at northeast regional contests camp. If I continue to do it alone the quiet is certain to continue. So keep calling it weird. Or cheap. At the morning brief, look at my rested and refreshed presence with a little pity as you recall the audible phone fight in room 212 that woke you up at midnight. But if you want to give it a try, here is a list of everything I have needed:
(This checklist incorporates the IAC Competitor Checklist. Your results will vary of course.)
Checklist in Google Docs Format
I have what I think is a standard size Pitts turtledeck and everything fits. Although this time I did have to secure a spare quart of oil below the rudder footrest. Every other aerobatic airplane that I can think of other than a 1D has even more storage. This should be easily doable to any competitor traveling solo.
Sorry if I sound like I invented camping from an airplane. Obviously I am very late to the party. But it seems to be--if not a lost art--a rare art at modern contests. I think it deserves a comeback.
Rain?
We had a whole night of it at Springfield on Saturday. I woke up twice because of the shear volume of drops hitting my bivy but quickly fell back to sleep. I woke rested, happy and dry.
Shower?
There's always a hose. After 9pm there's not a soul to see you in your skivvies unless a cop drives by.
It is in my interest that no one else at northeast regional contests camp. If I continue to do it alone the quiet is certain to continue. So keep calling it weird. Or cheap. At the morning brief, look at my rested and refreshed presence with a little pity as you recall the audible phone fight in room 212 that woke you up at midnight. But if you want to give it a try, here is a list of everything I have needed:
(This checklist incorporates the IAC Competitor Checklist. Your results will vary of course.)
Checklist in Google Docs Format
I have what I think is a standard size Pitts turtledeck and everything fits. Although this time I did have to secure a spare quart of oil below the rudder footrest. Every other aerobatic airplane that I can think of other than a 1D has even more storage. This should be easily doable to any competitor traveling solo.
Sorry if I sound like I invented camping from an airplane. Obviously I am very late to the party. But it seems to be--if not a lost art--a rare art at modern contests. I think it deserves a comeback.
