I don't recomend the leathman programing method, but I sue it too (although we call it the paper clip method)! Bendix King radios are awesome...

I have used aerial flares on a number of occasions.
A few years ago we were in wash with a patient waiting for a helicopter. Radio communications were scratcy at best and they were having a hard time locating us. One of those 16.5mm flares was launched... we heard "O-K that was cool... we got you" ove r the radio. Worked like a champ. We played with them for signalling from team to team and they worked OK, but for signalling air assets at night they work great!

Fusses are great for backburning and signalling on the road but they are big and clumbsy. I'd loose them for a magnesium fire starter or some other firestarter.

You may grab a Doug Ritter Proton Micro Freedom LED light as your second light source... brighter than a mini-mag and much much lighter!

I have become a big fan of the new leatheman knives, especially the k503x.