survival gear in small aircraft

[greenn17h]

It's a bushplane, tailwheel. Usefull load / space won't be an issue, I'll easily have a couple hundred pounds to play with after everything's loaded. I'm a test pilot working on certifying it, and was asked to not say too much about it. There's a chance it'll be on display at the alaska airmen's association trade show at the beginning of May.

Incedently, i spoke with the owner of the company the other day, he said a gun was not necessary, because I'd be over roads the whole way. He's made the trip before, I'm not sure how many times.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A few people I've talked to said a 12 Ga shotgun is probably my best bet, as there is a variety of shot I could use (birdshot for small game, buckshot / slugs for defense). Does this make sense?

Very good sense.

From my limited research, it seem like a remmington 870 is a decent choice, as they're abundant, reliable, and inexpensive.

That's exactly what I would choose. I would go with a 20-inch barrel, and perhaps screw-in chokes.

One good thing is if you decide you'd like a longer barrel later, they're inexpensive and drop-in fits.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Consider that there are temp extremes, I will stay with the 18.5 inch barrel with it's own integral choke. No screw-in choke or extra part that will fail, get bent, froze etc.

KISS I say.

Im more than happy with my 870 Marine Magnum. However in such cold weather I would wear a type of glove so I dont leave skin stuck to it.

 

[Domino]

I guess it depends on what you consider survival to be in that environment. Here are a few good choices IMHO...

Remington 870 Marine Magnum for all around use...

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_870/model_870_marine_magnum.asp

Marlin 1895 SBL Guide Gun in 45-70 for all around big game...

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigbore/1895SBL.asp

Marlin Papoose in .22 LR for small game...

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/SelfLoading/70PSS.asp

Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull Alaskan for close range bear defense...

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5301&return=Y

Personally, I would probably go with the Papoose for putting food on the table and the Hand Cannon for self-defense.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I go to that airman's show every year. I'll kept may eye out for a EX. taildragger.

 

[larry_minn]

So when you can post some pics. Both of the plane and what you wind up with for supplies. (never let others "opinion of what safety equipment I need decide what I actually need)
There was a chopper that went down less then 2 miles from my house. Less then 50 YARDS from the nearest road. Three days later they still had not found the chopper (or his body) They had airplanes and search parties. (IIRC the start point to where he was going was 15 miles) So his buddy who was @500 miles away flew his chopper over and found him in a hour. So in a "civilized" area with lots of movement in summer time a crash just over a stones throw from a traveled road was not found for days. Heck I drove less then half mile from it a couple times during the search time. (I did not participate in any manner with search)
If there is not one on plane (and even if) I would buy one of those "SPOT" EPERB type things. $150 at cabel's with $50 rebate and (IIRC) $10 a month and it can not only show your position online (whenever you push button) but if emergency it sends your location to rescue services. (IIRC 50' accuracy)

 

[LibShooter]

How about something like these Rossi matched pairs?

http://www.rossiusa.com/products/gunselector-results.cfm?series=MFR&Category=MATCHEDPAIR

Two barrels, one stock saves weight.

 

[Wagon]

I know little about shotguns, but came to mind is Mossberg JIC, I would think it is well suited to the occasion... if PGO is acceptable.

http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_Guns/930/NEW/52340.jpg

The plain jane cruiser JIC (not marine) is on sale for <$300 in Cabelas.

 

[maksim]

I think S&W has survival kits now. the guy who does the box of truth reviewed it i believe.

 

[maksim]

oooh, would a Saiga 12 make sense in this case or too big?

 

[Albatross]

As a life long Alaskan (and 3rd generation) I can give you some advice: A pump shotgun or a large caliber hunting rifle will be sufficient. Get whatever you are familiar with and comfortable shooting/aiming. People die up here not from getting eating by bears.

Bears are large dangerous animals that should be respected, but they are not killing machines stalking around in the bush hunting for human flesh. Anyone that talks about firearms=life is grandstanding (or doesn't know what they are talking about). People love to exaggerate about Alaska and living in Alaska. People get killed by exposure. Wear warm cloths that will keep you dry (or still keep you warm when wet).

If you are a test pilot you probably already can, but be sure to know how to fly your plane/navigate without instruments. Experienced pilots with 100's (sometimes thousands) of flight hours fly their small planes into granite clouds or full throttle into the ocean when the weather goes bad. Which it will go from blue bird skies to low overcast quickly and unexpectedly. Weather reports are not reliable.

Don't be afraid to land and wait it out for a couple hours (days or weeks).

 

[Guns and more]

There be Polar Bears up there.

Flying a small plane from Alaska to the Pacific Northwest, where would you find polar bears?

 

[Hungry Seagull]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Polar_bears_near_north_pole.jpg

Near the north pole.

Habitat of bears

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Polar_Bear_Habitat.png

Polar Bears Alaska Assessment

http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/polarbear/pdf/Polar_Bear_ Status_Assessment.pdf

Source website.

http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/polarbear/issues.htm

There I think that about covers the bears pretty well.

Im not afraid of bears. It's the Black Bears where Im raised that is a concern at the time. Not the large white ones at the zoo playing with a block of ice in summer.

 

[Funderb]

Think about all the room a legal shotgun is going to take up in the back of your plane. There is precious little space back there, even in a 210.
If you are in a survival situation, you are not going to have the means to take care of the meat a 12ga will bring, and defending yourself against a bear attack is less important than having fire, shelter, and food. in that order.

If you bring anything, I suggest a survival .22 or a .22 that could be broken down easily and a brick of ammo. Everything else in the survival bag is a given. And if you fly a cirrus, you better only use the chute if your wings fall off.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Ok, I will admit that I feel heat from other posters regarding bears.

Allow me to clarify.

I can only fight what I see. And in the worst case scenario. If you are prepared for such a worse case scenario, everything else is easy.

It is one thing to be flying a 152 or 172 over the mainland with a dozen strips all around to light down onto if something came up. But up there in the wilderness... it's you and the rest of the great wide world and all in it.

I posted this to help others understand how I think sometimes. Again sorry if some think Ive gone off the deep end regarding bears.

 

[Funderb]

In case of mis communication,
I wasn't commenting on your posts, seagull,
just that, while a 12ga is nice, its going to be more trouble than it is worth to bring all that in the airplane around with you, not to mention municipal airport code involving firearms, they can be as strict as an international.
I tend to think towards the end that anything bigger than a .22 in that tpe of situation is going to slow you down.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Funderb, I understand and respect what you are saying.

I think maybe APOA or some other Pilots Organization up in Alaska can provide a collective experience on what they carry onboard thier bush planes when they run that area and what wildlife to expect should they have to set down somewhere.

Cheers!

 

[Funderb]

I'll go through the stacks of AOPA magazine here and see what I can come up with. Between my father and my best friend we probably have hoarded every issue ever like reader's digest at your grandparent's house!

 

[tango2echo]

CFII&G Land and Sea Ratings
Mutiple Type ratings
Single Turbine
Tailwheel Endorsement
12,000hrs flying in Canada and a few parts of AK. 15,000 TT

Get a Mossberg Mariner 12ga. (Or eqv. 870 Remington) Add a pistol-grip or folding stock. Side saddle ammo holder. You need a handfull each of #6 birdshot, 1oz slugs, and #1 buck. The only choke you need is IMP CYL. About $350

Second (and much lighter weight choice) is a Marlin 70PSS "Papoose" .22lr with 200rds of ammo. Add a cheap BSA reddot scope zeroed at 25yds. About $225

Third choice would be a 4" Ruger RedHawk in .44mag, or any similar pistol with +P Solids and a dozen rounds of CCI birdshot shells. About $550

I prefer to have the shotty in the tail section near the ELT. (check W&B) It's not much good if it's damaged. (Check to see if legal in your area) Consider yourself injured if you land out in BC or AK. Choose your gun based on what you think you can operate in less than ideal conditions (broken limb, head injury, ect)

Most of your use of a survival gun will be gathering small game and signaling for help. Bears are not as great a threat as most people believe, but it would still be nice to have a bigger bore gun than a .22lr.

Carry a good knife on your person (I like the Leatherman Surge MLT). Have a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a fire steel (Light My Fire or BlastMatch) in your pockets at all times. Good luck.

T2E

 

[riverdog]

12 ga and a .22LR if you're planning to stay in the outback. But don't forget to also have a PLB such as the ACR MicroFix so that you don't need to pack as much ammo.