Travelling with the Traveler

Hi, I'm flying to Asia with wife and two little kids. I am thinking of taking my Traveler along, instead of the smaller TV60mm. So, for those of you who have actually air travelled with a similar arrangment,
-what mount and tripod did you take
-how did you pack them
I will have to juggle lots of luggage so I am looking at a minimum stable configuration. Would love to bring a Eagle pier with a DM-6 but that would not put me in good graces.

Thanks
Ivan

Hi Ivan,
When my wife and I went on S&T's eclipse cruise last year, we hand-carried two refractors -- a 60mm Coronado H-alpha, and a TV85 -- and assorted eyepieces. No problems with security in any country, although security officials did look at the scopes a couple times. For mounts, I took two TV Tele-Pods, and checked them in my luggage. Not the most stable mounts, but certainly fine for casual observing on the trip. If you do something like this, be sure to check the mount's hardware. I found that a couple screws & knobs came loose while enroute.

Ron
Equipment Forum co-moderator

I've used a Bogen 3063 fluid head with a Bogen 3046 tripod.
Tripod goes double-box in cardboard boxes as checked luggage
(not elegant, but survived many such trips). Fluid head
just goes in a suitcase with other stuff.

Ivan:

After much trial and error, I've arrived at the following solution: a Tak Teegul (Lapides modified version), which I carry on board in a backpack (it's heavy, but it can be done), and a Gitzo 5530-S carbon fiber tripod, which weighs very little, carries a huge amount of weight, and can be packed into an average-sized suitcase, which I check in. The Gitzo is scary expensive, but it's an amazing piece of equipment and will likely outlive me. The Traveler I carry on with me, of course, and stick in the overhead. While the combination may not be perfect, I've found it extremely stable.

Jim