Hello Bill, Lots of replies on tools and such. All I can add to that is the same principle applies to planes as to boats. You don’t need an entire spare airplane. Sometimes it will seem like you need that in spare parts. Don’t give in to the temptation. What you need depends on the mission. Roy and I do a lot of cross-country. The thing I enjoy most in our hangar is the large aviation map of the U.S. with thumb-pins of all the places we’ve been.
In the plane: I LOVE my CQ1 headset
https://cqheadset.com
It is so comfortable that most of the time I forget I have it on, and I can wear any kind of hat (think sun protection or keeping the head warm) and the sound quality puts my old “top brand” over the ear headset to shame.
I also love my sheepskin seatbelt covers - oh yes, and the seat heaters.
We typically fly with:
A small first aid kit (and we have had to use it)
A hydroflask water bottle (Keeps water cool)
Granola bar and gummie bears (gummie bears wet the whistle without creating the need for potty stops)
We each wear a Bright red fishing vest, and we each have a PLB in a pocket of the vest, and a signal strobe (see marine supply stores)
Others have mentioned, and I’ll confirm, a way to fix a flat. We’ve had to do this waaayyyy too many times. I think someone mentioned the E-Lift.
I purchased an Eagle Creek X-Large packing cube to keep all the bits and parts, like tie-down rings, fuel sampler, and so on. The cube is lightweight and super strong.
You’ve hooked to an amazing community here. Such great people. Such fun planes. I hope you have a blast. Maybe see you out there!