Travel rig advice: AM3N with Redcat 61 and ASI 2600mc Air - Forums

Topic starter

26 days ago

Hi all,

I am putting together a travel (air travel) rig with a Redcat 61, ASI 2600mc air, EAF, and AM3N. I think this mount is adequate, although I see many people using an AM5 for this class of telescope. It seems to me this rig is the perfect use case for the AM3N.

I also have another refractor I’d lie to use with the AM3 which weighs in at 12 pounds with just the scope and flattener. This would still be under the 17 pound non-counterweight max of the AM3 with the mc air camera. But my primary focus is airline travel.

Any advice?

Walt

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David DeShan

26 days ago

I have a similar, but somewhat larger rig:

RedCat 71 WIFD
Asi2600MC
AM5n

The AM3n would certainly be adequate, I went with the AM5n to future proof my purchase for later scopes. I now also have an Apertura 8”RC Carbon, which still works well on the AM5n.

My rig travels well. I’ve attached a photo.

David

📷 IMG_7448.jpeg

Quinn Groessl

IOTD Staff

26 days ago

Looks good to me. I think a lot of people buy and recommend the AM5 since it’s not that much more expensive nor much larger for travel purposes, but it has quite a bit more capacity.

You should be just fine for what your planning. In the AM3N’s product page they market it holding an FF80 with what looks like a full mono DSO imaging train, and a C8 set up for planetary. Hell, they show it set up for visual use holding an FF107.

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Walter Windish

Topic starter

26 days ago

David DeShan · Dec 16, 2025, 06:07 PM
I have a similar, but somewhat larger rig:
RedCat 71 WIFD
Asi2600MC
AM5n
The AM3n would certainly be adequate, I went with the AM5n to future proof my purchase for later scopes. I now also have an Apertura 8”RC Carbon, which still works well on the AM5n.
My rig travels well. I’ve attached a photo.
David
📷 IMG_7448.jpeg

Thanks David, nice setup. The more I hear, the more I’m set on the AM3N as my mount. Airlines are getting VERY strict and as it is I’ll be paying to check the mount and carry the scope and camera, which will also probably cost me.

Walter Windish

Topic starter

26 days ago

Quinn Groessl · Dec 16, 2025, 06:10 PM
Looks good to me. I think a lot of people buy and recommend the AM5 since it’s not that much more expensive nor much larger for travel purposes, but it has quite a bit more capacity.
You should be just fine for what your planning. In the AM3N’s product page they market it holding an FF80 with what looks like a full mono DSO imaging train, and a C8 set up for planetary. Hell, they show it set up for visual use holding an FF107.

Thanks Quinn, Good point on their advertising. If the airlines weren’t getting so picky, I’d go for the AM5. Another consideration is Lithium batteries: Not only the weight in carryon, but up to 100 Watt hours are OK; up to 160 I will need to get prior approval. And forget a bigger battery. They’re even clamping down on mobility device batteries. The small Apertura battery just makes it under the 160 wh cutoff! Thanks again.

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