airline compatible refractor setup?

I'm trying to put together the best quality, yet airline compatible setup for long range travel (for eclipses, southern hemisphere observations, transits etc.)
I came up with:
OTA: TV85 or Takahashi Sky 90
Mount must be equatorial: GP-DX or G8 or Sphinx... or what???
Anybody has faced or is still facing the same dilemna?
Your advices much much appreciated!!!

Pierre,

I have a Sky 90II and have it mounted on TV Upswing and Davis&Sanford Pro Lift A tripod.
The tripod and head fit easily into the D&S nylon bag 36"x9" and fits diagonally in my rolling suitcase. The Sky 90 in it's tube ring fits in its Temba bag can be carried on a plane and you can double fist your EP/accessory case on board as well.

I hope this helps,
Owen

My portable observatory set-up is as follows:

1 piece of overhead-legal carry-on luggage

in to which fits:

1 one inch pad of camera foam to cover bottom of case.
1 Tak Sky 90 w/ clamshell attached.
1 Extender-Q
1 Velbon 640 Carbon Fiber tripod.
1 Bogen 410 geared head.
1 Takahashi Sky Patrol II mount w/ polar scope.
3 eyepieces.
1 copy of "The Observers Sky Atlas" by E. Karkoschka.
1 red light.
1 tiny tool pouch.

Works for me and am always happy with the views.

Were I to want to image, I would pack camera in smaller hard case repacked in with checked clothing and carry laptop separately.

-Paul S. Walsh

Stellarvue makes a number of high quality "airline portable" refractors, all but one being doublet or triplet apos in the 80mm to 105mm aperture range. All are built like tanks. Check them out at www.stellarvue.com. The "Telescope Specifications" page on that website gives all the dimensions. They also have hard and soft cases for the 80mm instruments that fall within airline carry-on guidelines, but the cases don't accommodate the mount. They have cases for the larger telescopes, but they are longer than 22". I'd be curious to see a photo of the inside of that Samsonite bag that Paul uses -- I've considered something like that myself.

Jim

hmmm....

No one ever seems to mention Borg.

How about a Borg 100mm ED? I love the idea of a lightweight OTA that breaks down into pieces rather than being limited to a focal length that will fit into a carry on. More aperture, but it very lightweight so that you can get away with a lighter mount.

I don't own (yet), just like the idea in theory. Maybe someone out there who does can chime in.

--Ian