# how do fighter pilots schlep their stuff to their duty station? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764 "2018-01-16T17:37:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/1 "2018-01-16T17:37:22Z")
OK, you’re a fighter pilot. You’ve been serving in one place - on a carrier in the South Pacific, or at an air force base in Ramstein. And now you’re being transferred somewhere else. How does your stuff make the journey? Your flight gear obviously gets worn while you fly your aircraft to its destination. But what about all the stuff you wear or use when you’r e not flying? Your toothbrush, your spare underwear, your volleyball tournament trophies - how does all that get to where you’re going? Is there any storage capacity at all on a fighter aircraft, or does all your stuff get bagged up and stuck on a transport aircraft? If the latter, is it a flight just for your stuff, or does your stuff get moved through a dedicated shipping network? Does it typically arrive the same day, or are you just stuck wearing the same underwear until the end of the week? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/2 "2018-01-16T18:19:10Z")
The military ships it for you. Normally, they don’t fly their plane to their new assignment. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/3 "2018-01-16T18:30:27Z")
Aircraft belong to a location. If a pilot goes TDY or PCSes, the plane stays behind. If they need to fly at the new location there will be a different plane there. The only exception I can think of is if there’s a mechanical issue. Based on stories I’ve been told, that could suck. Fly an F-16 an hour away, land at a new base, mechanical issue prevents you from taking off again and you just have to deal with what you have on you until they fix it. Or in some cases, you rent a car and drive home. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/4 "2018-01-16T18:46:36Z")
Blue Angel pilots fly their jets from base to base, but those are specially modified jets. They have a C-130 with them with all their seabags on board. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/5 "2018-01-16T19:22:22Z")
In some cases I do beleive there are “dry tanks” when you can put stuff. Just like external fuel tanks, but with a hatch. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/6 "2018-01-16T19:25:05Z")
The same way anyone’s toothpaste and underwear gets from one location to another in the military: the military hires a private firm to ship it for you. A fighter pilot doesn’t stick with his plane any more than an infantryman keeps the same rifle when going from one duty station to another: he’ll either fly commercial or hitch a ride on a military transport plane. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/7 "2018-01-16T19:29:57Z")
In the case where they are forward deploying a squadron to a forward temporary location like during a conflict they will most likely fly their planes there in multiple hops. Their equipment gets packed up and sent along with the support staff and support equipment. And since it’s the Air Force they probably have 5 Star accommodations waiting for them. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/8 "2018-01-16T20:20:26Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > And since it’s the Air Force they probably have 5 Star accommodations waiting for them. That brings back fond memories of deploying to the InterContinental Hotel in Budapest for 60 days during Allied Force 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/9 "2018-01-16T22:18:16Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The military ships it for you. Normally, they don’t fly their plane to their new assignment. Yes, if the planes are going somewhere new, there’s a veritable plethora of support equipment, spare parts, technicians, tools etc. that joins the squadron at the destination. Shipping personal baggage would be the smallest part of the cargo. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/10 "2018-01-16T22:41:31Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Aircraft belong to a location. If a pilot goes TDY or PCSes, the plane stays behind. If they need to fly at the new location there will be a different plane there. Do they get their name painted on the plane when they arrive, like Maverick and Goose? Does someone at their old location have to remove the name from the plane they used? Is that a real thing or just something for the movies? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/11 "2018-01-16T22:45:50Z")
I would put money on that a pilot has some basic essentials in a pocket. Toothbrush, wetwipes, tissues and maybe socks and underwear. I was a truck driver working in a job that got me home every night (almost), but I always had some basics for a night away in my kit - just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/12 "2018-01-16T23:34:48Z")
The military are experts in moving personal and their families and all their junk. One pilot and his seabag is a no-brainer. ---
**Author:** ![ThisOneGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@ThisOneGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisOneGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/13 "2018-01-16T23:49:48Z")
I have read a lot of fighter pilot memoirs, one thing that I remember is a 1950’s pilot recieving instruction on how to fit a sword (part of the dress uniform) into a F-86 cockpit. So at least back in the day they were expected to carry some of it with them. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/14 "2018-01-17T00:19:17Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Do they get their name painted on the plane when they arrive, like Maverick and Goose? There’s a real chance that after a PCS there’s not a plane waiting for them to fly at their new duty station. It could be a location that doesn’t have any of the planes they are qualified to fly…or even any planes at all. Flying planes is not the entirety of the job. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/15 "2018-01-17T00:50:02Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > The military are experts in moving personal and their families and all their junk. One pilot and his seabag is a no-brainer. Just for clarity, the military hires civilian moving companies to move household goods for a PCS (permanent change of station) move. If you are deploying, then you’re expected to bring your shit with you, either in a seabag, footlocker or suitcase. In my case, when Seabees deploy, it’s always by air, so your stuff is in the hold of the commercial charter you’re on. The military is, however, very expert in deploying large numbers of men, equipment, and weapons on military aircraft. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/16 "2018-01-17T01:36:08Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Just for clarity, the military hires civilian moving companies to move household goods for a PCS (permanent change of station) move. If you are deploying, then you’re expected to bring your shit with you, either in a seabag, footlocker or suitcase. In my case, when Seabees deploy, it’s always by air, so your stuff is in the hold of the commercial charter you’re on. The military is, however, very expert in deploying large numbers of men, equipment, and weapons on military aircraft. I’ve done work for a company that does this as one of their lines of business - [https://www.pashagroup.com/capabilities/relocation](https://www.pashagroup.com/capabilities/relocation) ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/17 "2018-01-17T03:57:46Z")
I do believe pilots now must hand carry their helmets with them due to their cost. Don’t think they can even check them as luggage. Will verify. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/18 "2018-01-17T19:27:09Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Do they get their name painted on the plane when they arrive, like Maverick and Goose? Does someone at their old location have to remove the name from the plane they used? Is that a real thing or just something for the movies? “They” don’t have a plane per se. They have their name on a plane but they don’t fly the same plane all the time. They fly the planes that are available. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/19 "2018-01-17T19:47:48Z")
IIRC, at least for Navy Aviation, a particular plane is “owned” by a Crew Chief. It will often be his/her name on the plane as well. ---
**Author:** ![Jimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@Jimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764/20 "2018-01-17T22:01:16Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > In some cases I do beleive there are “dry tanks” when you can put stuff. Just like external fuel tanks, but with a hatch. There was an old episode of NCIS (Kate was in it, that’s how old) where they found a dead body in one that had fallen off an airplane. Also, in Chuck Horner’s book, written with Tom Clancy, on the first Gulf War, he mentions them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fighter-pilots-schlep-their-stuff-to-their-duty-station/806764.md?page=2)