Read the full post over at Rainy Day or see the the Checkpoint Flyer for yourself.

“So with a need for a much smaller bag, I searched for the perfect solution. After reading Scott Carmichael’s review of the Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer, I figured this could be the lightweight bag I need. And maybe I’d set a new trend in pilot kitbags.

I have a feeling this type of bag will be far more common in the future among airline pilots, especially as cockpits enter the 21st century. The Tom Bihn bag had all the features I wanted and a few that I didn’t realize I needed.

It includes a fold out section that houses a laptop, which the TSA now allows in lieu of taking the computer out of it’s case. Flip out the laptop portion and let it slide through security. It’s definitely been a time saver, especially when you have to go through the process two or three times a day.”

Read the full post over at Gadling. What we’ve excerpted here is only a small section of a fascinating post that describes what pilots carry with them.

“The Zephyr, much like many other Tom Bihn products is a bit of an investment, but will likely last you a long time—probably longer than the computer you are carrying in it. Furthermore, it is a good choice if you’re the type who wants a briefcase, but also wants something a bit more modern and adaptable than just a “laptop briefcase”.”

Read the full review (including pictures) at SchwarzTech. Or, see the Zephyr for yourself.

“The Western Flyer received a lot of abuse during the trip. We took a total of ten airline flights, spent time in buses, and bounced around in safari vehicles, and everything stayed protected and in its proper location. I appreciated the waterproof design of this bag when it was with me on an open safari vehicle at Kruger National Park one day and I neglected to cover it up during a rainstorm. The zippers are gasketed and waterproof, so nothing touched the electronic gear, even though I was drenched.” – Read the full article, complete with pictures, here.

The above article was covered by Gadling, who noted:
“To carry all the kit, he did something I’m very much in agreement with – he packed it in a Tom Bihn Western Flyer bag. You might remember that Tom Bihn captured our attention last year with their Checkpoint Flyer bag, which left us so impressed that it became one of our top 25 travel products of 2008.“

The article is also being discussed in our own forums by keb, who added:
“Did almost exactly this with the western flyer on a family trip to mexico, except that in addition to the electronics craziness also had a clear quarter packing cube with first aid materials on one side and toiletries on the other. Even included a 32-disc DVD carrier. Padded organizer pouches are awesome for added protection for iPods, etc. I recently figured out that the Snake Charmer fits vertically into one end of the Western Flyer very nicely in either half of the front compartment, with room for a TB Kit and Oakley sunglass case, so that may give even more efficiency next time.”