In-Flight Plumbing

First of all: Don’t believe those people who say “if you don’t drink much you won’t have to pee much.” Dehydration is a real danger and not to be taken lightly. More info here (amongst other places): https://www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/hydration

Even with a plumbing solution in place, you might still want to take a change or knickers or spare trousers, just in case.

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NEW kid on the block: Reusable nappies for adults

You like the ease of use of nappies but don't want to add to the plastic rubbish mountain? Amy from Kent Gliding Club has discovered reusable nappies for adults!

https://www.snuggleblanks.co.uk

Amy says: "I bought a washable nappy with washable inserts. It includes an overnappy. All very soft and comfy. Tested it out on long flight 5hrs and it was good. You could also just buy the over nappy cover.

You can adapt the capacity which is useful, its designed for incontinent people, theres lots of options. Got the superwetter with trifold booster."

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Nappies for adults (Attends, Tena, Aldi...)

• Other incontinence products for adults are available.
• Tena: Available in supermarkets and chemists
• Attends: highest absorbancy of the ones tested
  • http://www.attends.co.uk
  • Also available (cheaper) at Amazon, Boots, etc.
• Tested Attends product: Attends Slip Active 10 M
  • (10 = highest absorbancy; M = size)
  • Enough capacity for a 300-ish km flight
  • For a quick wee on the grid: Undo the blue sticky pads and then re-attach them.

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Easy Peesy (Internal Fitment)

https://www.frauenurinal.de/english-1/home/

The Easy Peesy in-flight toilet consists of a moulded bit, a vacuum valve connection, an extension tube and 10 urine bags. You can order all bits separately, too.

• Sold by Katrin Senne, member of the German Gliding Team
• Currently (2021) €170 +pp.
  • She may still post to the UK and accepts PayPal payments.
• Works with disposable or re-usable pee bags
  • (Disposable bags are cheaper from her than in the UK)
• Takes a little bit of getting used to, better in a reclined position
• Eliminates capacity worries
  • Pee bags, or a drain hole in the glider
• Use with a nappy or pad as there’s some spillage when removing it
• Clean and disinfect with Milton or denture tablet
• Best fit it shortly before take-off, else it’s a bit uncomfortable and the tube may slide out

Push the thicker end of the valve connection into the moulded bit and connect the extension tube to the thinner end of the valve. The valve stops a vacuum building up in the urine bag.
Place the moulded bit in front of the urinary passage, then connect the extension tube to the urine bag. 

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Home-made funnels

(The Diana King shower gel bottle top method)

Plastic Bag method

Cut most of the base out of the shampoo/shower gel bottle leaving a bit of a rim to give the “funnel” some rigidity. Cut off the top of the bottle, leaving it about 4 inches long and shape it in a nice curve to fit you. You may need some trial and error to get this bit right, so cut off the minimum initially. Smooth the cut-off plastic edge. Firmly tape a medium size freezer bag around the bottom end of the bottle, leaving a tag of tape to make it easier to pull the tape off after use.

Pee tube method

The ideal bottle is a shower gel bottle with a hollow tube for the hook. Cut off the other end of the bottle to fit your shape as above. Cut off part of the hook, leaving sufficient to push on a connecting tube. The connecting tube then fits onto the glider pee-tube.

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External devices with pumps

There are some with pumps, others rely on suction. The funnel is made of glassfibre, moulded around a piece of polystyrene.

The little plastic box in this example contains the vacuum pump, which – if the little switch is engaged – applies suction to the grey storage tank.

Disposal options

Pee bags

• Disposable proper pee bags: hygienic but plastic waste
• Double-bagged compostable dog poo bags might work as an instantly disposable option
• Re-usable pee bags with a valve, less plastic waste, keep clean!

Drain hole in the glider

• Advantage: No need for pee bags, reduces plastic waste
• Talk to a tame inspector before drilling holes
• Double-tubing recommended to keep glider tube clean
• Beware corrosion and general yuckiness
• Some pilots side-slip to avoid corrosion
• Adapt clothing (long zip in trousers)

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Pre- and post-flight relief

Some of these devices have been tested by a few women for in-flight use and generally found not suitable, but they might be a neat solution for that last pee before launching, or that first pee after landing.

Shewee – https://www.shewee.com/

Go Girl – https://go-girl.com/

The Whiz – http://www.whizproducts.co.uk/