Pulling-back on the controls and lifting-off the ground never gets old, and neither does exploring a new destination. Pulling clothes out of a closet or drawer, stuffing them into one bag or another, sifting through a messy duffle bag - these activities are, for better or for worse, a normal consequence of travel: the inefficient, cumbersome and annoying process known as packing. I knew for years there had to be a way to improve it, but I was too busy flying missions to do anything about it.
Then, following a six month deployment, came a terrible fate: I was posted to a ground job. While no pilot is happy to leave the cockpit for a desk, it allowed me to be exposed to things I barely knew existed. Coming home every night gave me a little more time to think, and enabled me to find a solution to the packing problem.
I looked everywhere for a product that could help. There were a few products that came close, but none fully solved the problem. After months of searching, it became clear: the solution didn’t exist. I didn’t see myself as a luggage guy at the time, but this was a problem I wasn’t prepared to let-go of.
It started as a simple question: how do you make packing and unpacking easier? That question led to to more questions: who is packing? What do they need to pack? Where are they going? How long are they going for? Out of these questions came my new mission: to re-invent luggage for the most frequent of all travelers - the business traveler.
The concept developed quickly. I like to move quickly, so checked bags were to be avoided. This meant that everything needs to fit into a 9x14x22 inch box. Clothes hangers can easily fit into this box, but how does one effortlessly get the clothes hangers out of the closet and into the box? I decided the box would have to be opened-up and flattened, which led me to the need for a special mechanism to secure the hangers (and clothes) in place. Following some more measurements and sketches, I had the basic elements in place. The vision was simple - hang the luggage in the closet, transfer clothes, then zip it up and go.
I was motivated to see these sketches into action. Enter Design 1st, whose experience in design and engineering was what I needed to bring my sketches to life. We started developing prototypes, centring-in on functionality. We sought-out an established manufacturer with the expertise to produce this new and innovative product, and worked diligently to incorporate as many elements as possible to enhance traveler efficiency. There were set-backs, but each one brought learning and an improved design.
Now, after four years of meticulous designing, prototyping, engineering, and perseverance, I’m ready to show you the Ruebel Pilot — a fresh take on business travel luggage that eliminates the need for folding and unpacking. It’s all about organization and efficiency, allowing travelers to focus on their mission, not the mess in their luggage.