My trainer is built and I have my AMA membership. Can anyone share their thoughts for what tools are essential to take to the field? I would hate to get out there for my first run and not have something.

I appreciate your advice,
KUEE - AMA 770311

For a beginner... the essentials are the aircraft, radio, engine, fuel, fuel pump and a couple of spare props. The regulars at the field will rarely mind you needing it borrow a glow ignitor (especially while you are getting lessons) and they will have plenty of tools.

As you gain flying experience, you will see all the stuff that some guys bring... if the plane is properly prepared at home, you should be able to just strap on the wing (connect that aileron lead...), fill the tank, double-check the controls, hook the glow ignitor and fly it.

50% of the time when I go to the field that's less than 2 mi from my house, I don't bring ANY tools. (not even a spare prop)
When I go to the field that's 30 mi, I take anywhere from just enough for minor adjustments, and a couple spare props, to a trailer loaded with enough to build a couple of planes at the field...

I would say go ahead and buy a glow driver, small motorcycle battery, a 12 volt starter, and a voltmeter. Sure other guys at the feild will let you use their stuff but eventually you will need these things anyways, and if your like I am you really dont wont to have to keep asking ppl if you can borrow stuff. I know that this irritate some ppl b/c we have this one guy at our feild who never brings it but he has been flying for 2 years and it irritates the mess out of me.

Get a 'gel-cell' instead o fhe motocycle battery. Won't leak, and you don't really have to maintain it. They're the batterries you'd get in a typical home security system.

A chiocken stick or a starter is a good idea.. You can make a chicken stick easily enough from a small length of broom handle...

A box of some sort to carrythe tools & junk about! and a place to put all the stickers you'll collect!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Sun block and your sun glasses.

You can get by for a considerable period of time with a container with fuel, fuel pump, 12V gelcel battery, glow plug igniter, starter or chicken stick, If you use chicken stick you won't need the gelcel. A field box can be a cardboard container, a sturdy one. If you get the gelcel and starter you should build a field box and put a power panel on it. You can see the field box design in lots of ads or look at what the other pilots at your field have. You should have a couple of spare props and a four way prop/plug wrench and at least one spare glow plug. If you can easily find one a spare prop nut may come in handy although it's probably not essential. You will, over time, accumulate a lot of things you can't live without and later decide you don't need all of it. Then you will start trying to eliminate stuff and eventually try for a smaller lightweightfield box with only essentials.
Have fun !

Thanks for all the responses. I have collected quite a few tools and still tend to need something new each time I get to the field. Now, if I could only keep the bird in the air....

Thanks again,
KUEE

Check out the latest RCM "Beginners' Bench" column (the issue with the J-3 on the cover)....it deals with this topic.

Jerry