• DESCRIPTION •
The B4 SWIFT is
often recommended as the ideal VFR flight bag. It's designed to hold one
or two full-sized headsets plus a handful of charts, and/or an iPad,
plus all the small stuff you'll want along for the ride. It also serves
as an unbeatable carry-on personal bag when traveling on commercial
flights, or just as a terrific daily bag for a wide variety of personal
and professional uses.
The B4 consists of the POCKET CAP FRONT, CENTER SECTION 4, FLAT CAP REAR, along with two Side Pockets, Alpha and Charlie.
The
CS4 provides, that's right, four inches of storage depth, but keep in
mind that there is also two thin flat storage areas BETWEEN the three
modules. (Remember, it is a soft bag so it can expand slightly in every
direction.) Keep in mind also that you can add any other Center Section
to the B4 (like zip a CS2 in between the CS4 and the FCR) to add more
storage on certain days. Any FLEX System module can zip onto any other
FLEX System module.
This configuration will very commonly be
used to carry two full-sized aviation headsets of any brand. (There is a
nice, slightly-tricky way place two large headsets - like the BOSE A20 -
inside this space. It's really nice to fit two headsets like this in
such a relatively small space.)
There is a specially-designed pocket on top of the CS4 to hold Sunglasses and their case.
A
small collection of charts or flight docs can go in the space between
the CS4 and either of the End Caps. A 13" Ultrabook or MacBook Pro can
also fit into this "in between" space, and the iPad (or other tablet)
can go in the main pocket on the FLAT CAP REAR
The B4 SWIFT also
works amazingly well as a daily personal bag and/or as a commercial
carry-on bag. A 13" laptop plus a load of documentation plus an iPad,
plus all the small stuff like cables, adapters and support stuff for all
your technology, your digital camera, snacks, etc. - all of this fits
easily in this bag. Even your noise-reduction headset for those long
flights.
The other great thing about this bag is that it is
actually TWO bags for the price of one. Not only is it a B4 SWIFT, but
you can also build a B0 SLIM by removing the center section and zipping
just the two End Cap modules together.
Storage on the B4 starts
with the POCKET CAP FRONT: The POCKET CAP FRONT acts like the "hub" for
your entire FLEX System. No matter which configuration you carry you'll
be attaching the POCKET CAP FRONT to one end of your bag. And it's the
"hub" because it holds all the important small stuff and personal stuff
that you want with you no matter what. If you change configurations,
you'll always move the POCKET CAP FRONT to the new configuration which
means you'll always have all this key stuff with you, without any
repacking or reloading. The POCKET CAP FRONT module offers a variety of
pockets organized into three "main" pockets and six "secondary" pockets
for a total of nine small pockets on the front panel. In these nine
pockets you'll store all the cords, cables, chargers, batteries, stylus,
memory cards etc, for all your electronic gear. All these important
items will finally be separated and organized like you've always wanted.
In addition, you'll have room for your flight timer, fuel testers, E6B,
flashlights, compact portable GPS, etc. Not to mention space for your
wallet, keys, cellphone, business cards, multi-tool, glasses, pens,
markers, and things like Ibuprofen, Chapstick, Band-Aids, etc., and even
your digital camera. There is also a flat half-height slip pocket on the
inner surface of the module where you can stow an important document or
two like a copy of your medical or your passport.
Next, comes
the CS4 (4-inch Center Section), which is designed to hold 13” laptops
or a small collection of documents (or both). (Many, but not all, 14"
laptops will also fit. - But no 15" laptops will fit.) The CS4 has a
really versatile dual-access feature. First, you get full top-access.
Just the top of the bag can be fully unzipped to give the ability to
reach your stuff right through the top of the bag. And then when you
need, everything can also be accessed by unzipping the entire front
panel all the way down to the bottom, giving access to the gray interior
of the CS4. There are two adjustable Velcro "stopper straps" which
serve to limit how far the cover is able to pivot open - thus keeping
the cover from unintentionally flopping all the way open and dumping
everything out. The other key thing about the CS4 is that it has two
FLEX-Mount Side Pocket stations, one on each side, for attaching the two
included side pockets. You can, of course, also trade out the pockets
any time you like later on.
The Flat Cap Rear module offers two
flat pockets on the outside, and one flat half-height slip pocket on the
inner surface of the module. The primary outer pocket is accessed from
the top and has a cover flap that is secured with Velcro. This where
you'll likely store your iPad (as long as it's not in a thick case), or a
manilla folder or two for some documents, or a magazine. There is a
second flat half-height panel on the outside of the main panel that has a
zipper across the very bottom. If the zipper is closed then this
half-height panel acts like a pocket. If the zipper is open then the
opening at the bottom allows the telescoping tubes of a suitcase or
folding cart to pass through and the panel serves to secure your bag to
those tubes.
And finally, the SIDE POCKETS. The side pockets
attach to the side of any module that has a FLEX-Mount Side Pocket
Station. In the case of the B4, the side pockets will mount on the sides
of the CS4. This mounting method is super-secure, simple to install,
and best of all, your pockets don't LOOK like they're detachable.
SIDE
POCKET ALPHA is often called the "Radio Pocket". It will hold any,
repeat - ANY, handheld radio. And the top flap is such that the antenna
can just stick right out the side. In addition, the SPA is great for
holding a water bottle. The front face of the pocket has an expansion
zipper, so the pocket can hold larger or smaller water bottles. It will
hold up to a 20 oz bottle.
SIDE POCKET CHARLIE is often called
the "Pen Pocket". It has four pen slots on the outer surface plus a
zippered pouch that has room for pens, marker, highlighter, spare
reading glasses, etc. Of course, many people will put completely
different things in there besides pens. It's a great pocket many
different purposes.
The B4 SWIFT (as well as the other four
standard pre-configured bags) comes with a MAIN HANDLE, a SHOULDER
STRAP, and also a SLIM HANDLE KIT. The SLIM HANDLE KIT consists of a
SLIM HANDLE, two ADAPTER LOOPS, and four D3 CLIPS. The MAIN HANDLE or
the SHOULDER STRAP can be attached to the CS4 by use of the quick
release clips. If you convert the B4 to a B0 by removing the CS4, then
the D3 CLIPS and the ADAPTER LOOPS can be installed so that you can use
BOTH the SLIM HANDLE and the SHOULDER STRAP at the same time with the
B0. Note: it is a bad idea to carry the entire B4 SWIFT with the SLIM
HANDLE KIT, especially since the (much stronger) main quick-release
clips are there for the MAIN HANDLE. The D3 CLIPS will likely fail and
you may drop the bag and risk damaging the entire contents.
