...before leaving campground, walk slowly around the Barth. Sit for a minute or so...walk around again. I almost drove off with an awning up. Reminds me of the time I launched my (former) boat without the drain plug.

quote:

my (former) boat

So, does now belong to 'Davey Jones'?

We use a couple of clothpins marked "antenna" and "levelers" and stick them on the steering wheel. Always walk around one more time before takeoff. "Crew, yellow door selected"

I just do a light-check prior to deployment.

Checking ALL your lights requires a complete walk-around and requires your eyes to travel up and down the vehicle.

As I walk-around, my hand checks all 14 compartment doors and 5 access panels.

I secure my awning arm safety straps to the awning arms (while the awning is deployed on-site), as to not forget to strap-'em-on before I'm haze gray and underway.

I keep a SouthCo E3-5-15 cylinder key on a retractable key-ring on my belt.

EASY ...never miss a thing.

Thanks for all the good tips.

Jim, I managed to haul the bloody thing out just in time. I can verify what they say about the two best days in the boat owner's life.

Checklists are the aviator's best friend. There is a list for preflight, before starting, before takeoff, for descent and landing and for shutdown!

They will never let you down if you use them.

There's one part that always makes me laugh on the preflight list:

Flight Controls: FREE and CORRECT
(There ain't nuthin' free on airplanes!)

CIGAR TIP:
C for controls, free and moving properly
I for instruments (including checking the directional indicator against runway heading and magnetic compass)
G for gas, both quantity and set on correct tank, alternate fuel pump on or off as appropriate, and also for gear
A for altimeter
R for runup
T for trim set for takeoff
I was for interior, doors and windows locked
P for propeller set for takeoff.

I do my walk around doing all the above mentioned items plus I have a thing hanging on my drive selector so before I remove it or start the engine I go around checking again "just in case". Then I am ready to go.

With the plane, after my walk around, I too do the CIGARTIP except before the R for run up I have another R which means for the people around the plane to RUN after I yell "clear the prop".

Jim

Landing is "GUMPS"

G - Gas: Boost pump on
U - Undercarriage: A smoother landing occurs with the wheels down
M - Mixture: Full rich
P - Prop: Fine pitch
S - Select: Main fuel tank

Mnemonics

With my memory, I'm better off with my thumb on the laminated list...

GUMPS: Ground Underneath Makes (Landings) Potentially Smoother?

Three Worthless Things to an aviator:

1. Fuel still on the truck
2. Altitude above you
3. Runway behind you