What is a Flight Box?

A flight box is essentially a toolbox which has been customized for use by people who fly radio controlled (RC) aircraft. Flight boxes are an important thing to have for RC fliers, and they are readily available from companies which carry RC aircraft and equipment, and from hobbyist groups which focus on RC flying. People can also build their own or modify a regular toolbox to meet their needs.

When people take their radio controlled aircraft out for a spin, they need a lot more than just the plane. They usually need fuel, batteries, controllers, and equipment to make adjustments and repairs. Since most RC fliers try to be cooperative and friendly, they may also want to carry things which could be helpful for other fliers, such as spare parts. First aid kits, accessories for their aircraft, and other things are also needed on a field trip.

Flight boxes help people organize their equipment and supplies. There are a number of advantages to using a flight box rather than packing a case or bag each time someone takes a plane out. The first is that using a flight box ensures that someone has all of the equipment he or she needs, because it is always stored in the flight box. The flight box can also be used to store things like club membership information, licenses, preflight checklists, and other tools which can be absolutely critical for flying.

The second is that keeping things organized can allow people to spend more time flying. A well-organized flight box can make things easy to find, and it facilitates rapid inventorying of tools and parts so that people can keep track of what they have, what they need, and how quickly they go through supplies. People can do things like explicitly labeling drawers with a list of their contents to make it easy to confirm that a flight box is packed and ready to go, and the flight box also has room to store fuel and other bulky items which will make it easier to get around in the field.

Each flier develops his or her own personal taste in flight boxes. Some people prefer small, lightweight boxes with stripped down supplies so that they can get around easily. Others prefer larger boxes which may be attached to wheels or casters, with an array of every possible item imaginable which might be needed in the field. People may also opt to customize their flight boxes with paint jobs, stickers, and other decorations to make them stand out.