GT carryon case

Has anybody here used the Gran Turismo case offered by ScopeGard to travel by air with a GT? The GT case fits into the standard dimensions for carryon luggage but the case with GT inside would weigh 30#. Any experience out there?

Here's a photo some of you will enjoy, my daughter took it as I was setting up for the last eclipse.

Cheers

Robert Howe

Added October 13--Does this mean NO ONE has taken a GT on a trip by air?

Attached Image:

Robert,

We took Sue's AP 130 GT to WSP last year in the ScopeGuard case. I commented it was a telescope each time it went through security and was put on the belt to the x-ray, and no one ever asked us to open the case. We had larger planes on both legs of our trip, so there was never any problem getting it into an overhead.

Sometimes we've had smaller planes where some carry-ons near maximum size had to be gate checked. Although I was fairly sure this wouldn't happen, I had a stuff sack that would take the lens end of the GT in my carry-on.

Clear skies, Alan

Robert Howe said:

Added October 13--Does this mean NO ONE has taken a GT on a trip by air?

I would be MORE than happy to volunteer. Up next is the longest annular eclipse of the millenium this coming January and where I plan to be in Nairobi, Kenya. Weather prospects are excellent at around 80-85% probability for clear skies.

Anthony.

I recently got a 130 GT too, but I haven't yet tried to fly with mine. But I've been flying a lot lately, thinking about my GT, and I'm confident the 30# would not be a problem except on very small regional flights in light aircraft. A greater likelihood is that in a very full flight, if you're late to board the plane, they could say there's no more overhead bin space and force you to check the GT. For that scenario I would (I will, eventually) make a padded nylon sleeve for just the lens cell to slip into. I'd hold this on my lap for the flight and feel okay about checking the remainder of the OTA.

Anyhow, there is no official TSA weight limit, though some of the big airlines say 40 lbs max for the sum of all carry-on and personal items (purse, laptop case, etc). This is not enforced however, nor have I ever seen any capacity for the airlines to weigh carry-on bags at the gate. My carry-ons are every bit of 30lbs and I've never been challenged. The max. overall bag/case dimensions acceptable for carry-on is 22 x 14 x 9, which presumably are the dims of the ScopeGuard case made for the disassembled GT. When I get around to making a case for mine (I'm a cabinetmaker, so I may as well) I'll shoot for these numbers or slightly below. Hopefully I can engineer the foam in such a way to fit four or five eyepieces too!

Hi Robert
Yes, I have taken my GT by air from Texarkana to Maui and return. I do have the ScopeGuard case for protection.

I have a small commuter aircraft from TXK to DFW. My
scope/case passed through TSA with no problems. After
it went through, I removed the objective section, wrapped it in bubble material, and put it im my carry-on bag. The scope case was Valet Checked from TXK to DFW. Everything arrived fine.

Once in DFW, I put the objective section back into the Scopeguard case. The case fit easily overhead in
the large aircraft to Maui.

Returning, I did just the opposite: ScopeGuard case from Maui to DFW. No problems with TSA checking it.
Also had to go through an agriculture X-ray checkpoint. Then in DFW, I took the objective out
and put it in my carry-on bag with the wrap. Back in
TXK I took the Valet Checked case and put the objective section back into it.

I said no problem with TSA at TXK, but they did sniff the package, presumably for explosives. I did
hover next to them to make sure the objective was
kept pristine. They were very friendly and accommodating to me. I don't consider this a problem.

I believe that they see a lot of large camera lense, etc., that its not a surprise to them. In fact, sometimes I say its a very large telephoto lens.

I checked into loss and/or damage for the trip, and ended up carrying an insurance policy on the scope and case for one year. It covers complete replacement cost with no deductible, no matter what
the problem was (ie. even if I drop it). Airline
fine print is loss limited to a couple of hundred dollars. Policy costs about $12 per month, but really gives me peace of mind. BTW I convinced them
to insure the scope for real-world replacement value,
not what it cost from A-P.

Since carry-on and checked baggage weight limits are now strictly imposed, when I put the objective piece in my carry-on bag, I put my binoviewers and finder in the 'hole' in the ScopeGuard case.

I hope this overly long narrative helps answer your question. BTW I must say that the GT at 10,000 feet,
on top of Haleakala gave outstanding views of the
Milky Way highlights. It was so impressive, that even
my wife was overwhelmed (she is OK with me doing Astronomy, but its not her cup of tea). Tonight we are
going to a Halloween costume party and she is going
as "The Milky Way" in her home made costume. Of course I'm the astronomer who likes to gaze at the Milky Way.

Hope you have clear skies when you get where you are wanting to go,

Wes