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pilot relief tube

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:28 pm
by cptndavid
Has anyone installed a pilot relief tube in their DA 42?

Re: pilot relief tube

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 11:52 pm
by N503TS

Re: pilot relief tube

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 5:59 am
by Kai
OMG... a pilot relief tube? I did not know it existed and had too google myself. What comes next? Retractable on-board rolling walker ramps? I believe that a characteristic of wisdom is not to do desperate things. So if I cannot hold pee for the few hours the tanks keep me in the air and even peeing into a Gatorade bottle is not an option anymore: I hope I will be wise enough to enjoy other things.

Out of sheer curiosity: can the physicians on this board please chime in and let us know if a catheter is an option?

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Re: pilot relief tube

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 3:24 pm
by ThomasD
I do not know for sure but was told by a group who maintained a Spitfire at a local airfield that UK 2nd world war fighters (Spitfire, Hurricane) had them quite commonly.
(And told that if the pilot had upset his ground crew that the ground crew would stopper it up, to get back at the pilot :D .)

Re: pilot relief tube

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:56 pm
by cptndavid
:) I had one in my Barron and it was quite convenient. I would like to install one in my DA 42 which would make my 3 hour legs more comfortable,and eliminate the pee bottle.

Re: pilot relief tube

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 5:57 pm
by carym
Kai wrote:OMG... a pilot relief tube? I did not know it existed and had too google myself. What comes next? Retractable on-board rolling walker ramps? I believe that a characteristic of wisdom is not to do desperate things. So if I cannot hold pee for the few hours the tanks keep me in the air and even peeing into a Gatorade bottle is not an option anymore: I hope I will be wise enough to enjoy other things.
Out of sheer curiosity: can the physicians on this board please chime in and let us know if a catheter is an option?

There is such a thing as a condom catheter, and that would be entirely possible. But, I can't believe that anyone would want to use it. As an aside, I personally find it nearly impossible to pee given the angle of the seat in my DA42. I have to try to stand, and there just isn't enough headroom for that. Therefore, length of legs for me has to be under 3.5 hours.

Re: pilot relief tube

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 7:25 pm
by Colin
I am not sure Kai should really be participating in this discussion, since I think he once nearly incapacitated himself by not drinking enough (since he didn't want to pee in the Gatorade bottle).

I was never successful peeing into a bottle in my DA40. I got the red PortaJohn thing from Sporty's and that has working *okay* in the DA42. The stick, angle of seat, lack of headroom... not a good combination. I had the stick removed on the right side, so I suppose I could slide over to that seat when I am solo...

Re: pilot relief tube

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:04 pm
by cptndavid
On trips I now use a gopilot from Sporty's. I have also invested in a flight suit that has 2 direction zippers that works ok.
One must unbuckle the seat belt to be able to use the gopilot and remember to take it home for disposal/cleaning. The
P.R.T. is simpler to use as it is attached to the airplane and cleans buy pouring some water from you Poland Springs water bottle in it. What I am really asking is "has anyone received a 337 to install one in a DA 42".It is very simple to install, a venturi is added to the under side of the fuselage , a rubber tube is run into the cockpit and attached to the P.R.T. one must drill 5 holes into the airplane 4 for the screws to hold the venturi on the airplane and one for the rubber tube. Time on task for the Barron was about 35 min. Total cost for parts is about $80.00.

Re: pilot relief tube

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 3:25 am
by Colin
It has an active suction happening? That would make me really nervous.

Re: pilot relief tube

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 3:54 am
by cptndavid
Yes it has a slight suction,but not enough to cause concern.