How is that for a compact visual travel setup!

[PeterHA]

Here a picture of my air travel setup, a Sky90 on a Swiss AOK AYO Traveler mount.
The mount is 900 grams and the dovetail plate can be taken of and a Takahashi clamp fits the bolt holes directly. The mount is milled out of one block with a small brace which doubles as a handle, friction is controlled with the two nobs.
When I travel I remove the dovetail part to make it lighter and more compact by mounting the Tak camp directly.
It fits on any photo tripod with 3/8" bolt.
Up to 150x it is easy to track, limit with my setup is the tripod not the mount.
Mount and tripod go in the check in bag, Sky90 goes in the backpack as hand luggage.

[Kunama]

Now that is truly one of the first Grab and Go systems I have seen here Peter.
I still haven't followed up in your PM about the mount, I better get my act in gear.

[Allan]

That's a very nice setup you've got there Peter.

[David Niven]

Beautiful gear you got peter!
Gives me the incentive to cut down on my cuppacinos and start saving for a TAK Sky90.

[Camelopardalis]

Looks a very sweet setup :)

[MortonH]

Wow. Did you order the mount direct from AOK or somewhere else in Europe?

[PeterHA]

Hi Morton,

I ordered my AOK mounts directly from AOK, Beat Kohler. He responds to mails in English and is a very nice guy.
Prices on the website include VAT which will be deducted for export orders.
When I purchased my AYO II I tossed up between the Discmount DM-4 and the AYO II. The AYO makes tripod extensions for my scope un-necessary due to its shape and was a tad cheaper landed.
As I am very happy with my AYO II for my FC-100 and Sky90, single or in parallel I purchased the AYO Traveler as a light weight air travel mount.
I am now also very happy with the Traveler and when I go to Europe in summer I will get the encoder kit for the Traveler and with my NEXUS and iPod touch I will have DSC the same way I use it with my AYO II and the integrated encoders. :thumbsup:
Cheers.

[MortonH]

Thanks, Peter. Very interesting and not as expensive as I imagined.

Having encoders on such a compact mount would be great. No air travel in my immediate future but even here I can easily run out of space in the car, so it all helps!

[MortonH]

Meant to ask, what tripod do you have it on?

[PeterHA]

OK Morton,
My standard (not my travel setup) is a FC-100 on a AYO II which sits on a Berlebach UNI 18 with tray and double leg clamps & Nexus DSC.
This is rock solid up to 250x with only the FC 100 or with a parallel mounted second scope. With solid I mean, at 250x if you touch the scope/ EP you see a very small image shift but no following vibration. I do not use 250x that often but 210 a lot.
It would still be solid with up to 120mm f9 which is the limit of this setup (for my taste).
I attached an image of the whole thing.
I also use a Berlebach height adjustable Astro chair type "Charon", works perfect and is very comfortable - di dI mention, I like observing with that combo, very relaxing.
I ordered the Berlebach stuff directly from them in Germany, not cheap but you get what you pay for and I am sick of too many compromises, the limited time I have I like to enjoy the image I see.

[MortonH]

Very nice. I'd love a Berlebach tripod one day.

[Camelopardalis]

Wow, looks a cracker Peter :)