Levi’s Men’s Faux Leather Aviator Bomber Jacket: It’s warm and features multiple pockets with snap closures, upper zipper pockets, welt pockets, and a hidden interior pocket.

Oakley SI Jupiter Squared Aviator Sunglasses for Men: The lenses provide optical clarity and razor-sharp vision as well as clarity and protection against impact and UV light.

SOJOS Retro Aviator Sunglasses for Women: The lenses filter out sunlight reflected glare and protect eyes from long term damage by blocking UVA and UVB rays.

Four-Channel Remote Control Airplane for Beginners: This classic airplane has a simple operation mode that only needs to press the switch and pull the stick to easily control the aircraft’s aerobatics. (Only good on 7/16)

MiiKARE Airplane Travel Essentials Phone Holder: This essential travel phone holder is designed to free up your hands and enhance your travel experience. It features multi-directional and 360-degree rotation.

Protective Hard Shell for MacBook Air: This shell from SoonJet fits snugly like a second skin, allows easy access to all ports and ensures smooth opening and closing. (only good on 7/16)

Small Portable Charger with Built-in Cables: Sethruki boasts that this is the slimmest and the smallest of portable chargers with cables, weighing only 122 grams and shaped like a credit card. (only good on 7/16)

Editor’s note: This article is not intended as an endorsement of the products listed, but rather as a list of options that may be of interest.

The post Top 7 Prime Day 2024 Deals for Pilots appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The tour, made up of 11 World War II-era DC-3s and C-47s, began in North America in May before heading to England to take part in events marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

According to Lyndse Costabile, executive director of the D-Day Squadron, the first night the tour was in the U.K. someone broke into the Western Airlines DC-3-119E, stealing all the Bose headsets (four A20s and one A30) and GoPro gear.

• READ MORE: Remembering D-Day

“There was no damage to the airplane, and as there were no crewmembers there, no altercations for the team,” Costabile said.

According to Costabile, the theft was reported to local police, but with little hope of the headsets being returned, a schedule to keep, and two months left on the tour, the crew had no choice but to replace them.

Since Bose is a longtime supporter of the organization, she contacted the company to see if it could help. It donated five new A30 aviation headsets to the Western Airlines crew.

“For warbird pilots and crew flying one of the most legendary and loud vintage aircraft of our time, the Bose product is unmatched,” Costabile said. “Bose Aviation remains a strong partner in our annual commemorations and historical programming to honor the greatest generation. We’re grateful they answered the call, a rescue to our efforts and a very deserving crew who worked tirelessly to get Western Airlines aboard this mission and across the pond.”

The headsets were waiting for the crew when it arrived in Germany on June 14 for the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.

“The Berlin Airlift 75th anniversary commemoration was a success, and thanks to Bose Aviation, the Western Airlines DC-3 crew felt right at home again equipped with A30s for a memorable Jelly Belly candy drop, 75 years later,” said Costabile. “We are looking forward to reuniting with our Bose family at this year’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, as a collection of DC-3 and C-47 aircraft fill the skies for scheduled ‘DDay80’ commemorations.”

• READ MORE: The Goodness of Colonel Halvorsen, the Candy Bomber

Sean Rossi, Bose vice president of global marketing, said it was an honor to help the crew complete its mission.

“There was no question we needed to help,” said Rossi. “These pilots were flying in an extremely strenuous environment, and we didn’t want the burden of replacing the stolen headsets to impact their participation in the Legacy Tour in any way. We are honored that the D-Day Squadron turned to Bose for assistance and hope the crew’s new A30 aviation headsets bring comfort and clarity to the remainder of their journey.”

The D-Day Squadron wouldn’t exist without the help of private and corporate support, according to Costabile. The organization was established in 2019 as a means to make sure future generations learn about “Flying Freedom” and the Allied flight into France on that famous day in 1944. 

The post D-Day Squadron Headsets, GoPro Gear Stolen in U.K. appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Icarus Instruments EXTenna Switch is a small device that, when installed in an aircraft, allows the pilot to use an existing VHF comm antenna with any hand-held VHF radio.

According to EDMO, EXTenna Switch greatly extends the range and readability of most battery powered, hand-held radios that usually rely on the rubber antenna that comes attached to the radio. Often the range on these devices is very limited inside the aircraft.

The EXTenna Switch eliminates the need to install a dedicated backup VHF comm antenna, a process that is often expensive and adds drag to the airframe, as well compromising the aesthetic authenticity of antique and vintage designs.

Installation

Installation can be accomplished by using Minor Alteration FAA guidance, as the EXTenna Switch is a small, nonpowered, passive device that weighs only 2 ounces.

The EXTenna Switch can be panel mounted (P/N EXTSW-1) by drilling three small holes (precision steel drilling template supplied) and applying a supplied label.

It can also be installed in a preexisting 2.25-inch clock hole (P/N EXTSW-2). The unit has two

BNC connectors on the back side. One labeled TX connects to an existing VHF comm radio’s antenna connector (normally Comm 2) using a BNC jumper cable (not supplied). The other, labeled ANT, connects to the VHF comm antenna serving the same radio using the existing cable that was previously connected to the radio.

The default condition has the comm radio directly connected to the existing comm antenna through the EXTenna Switch.

When the pilot needs to use the hand-held radio, a supplied 4-foot cable is attached to its BNC RF jack at one end, and its 3.5 mm connector is plugged into the jack on the EXTenna Switch. This enables the pilot to disconnect the normal comm radio from its antenna and reconnect it to the hand-held radio.

In addition, EXTenna allows effective use of a hand-held radio in emergency situations, such as avionics or electrical failure, or for prestart Clearance Delivery or Ground Control communications.

The unit sells for a suggested price of $129.95.

The post EDMO: New Antenna Switches Boost Aircraft Comms appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

ASA has been helping pilots achieve certification for decades. The Instrument Pilot Oral Exam Guide, now in its 11th edition, is arranged by topic, and provides a question-and-answer format very similar to the way the oral portion of the checkride is presented.

Blair aligns the guide with the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) that went into effect May 31, 2024. 

This edition has new and expanded content for the pilot to apply during the preflight, and discussion of the departure, en route, and arrival phases of instrument flight. There is an increase in application of scenario-based training, along with additional study material for Instrument Instructor (CFII) candidates. There’s also guidance for instrument proficiency checks (IPC) which to be effective, should be much more than shooting approaches.

The Instrument PilotOral Exam Guide can be found at pilot supply shops, online retailers or at ASA2fly.com.

The post ASA Releases New IFR Oral Exam Guide appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

It takes a lot of personal equipment to learn to fly. It’s frustrating when you don’t have something you need—especially if no one told you that you’d need it. You may have noticed that pilots carry specialized gear bags, referred to as “flight bags.” They are designed with padded pockets for delicate items, such as headsets and tablets, along with multiple straps in which to store items so that they can be located readily in flight.

FLYING has a few suggestions for what to put in your flight bag so you are prepared for the best training experience possible.

Headset

Aviation can be loud. Hearing loss can be a common affliction among pilots, so protect what you have. An aviation headset, preferably one with a noise-canceling function, should be your first purchase to put in your bag. In fact, the padded pocket of most bags fits this purpose precisely. If the headset uses batteries, always make sure you carry spares and keep them in the original packing until use. This protects them from interacting with metal (like keys or clips on pens), which can lead to electric arcing and fire.

Flashlight

An aviation flashlight should have a white lens and at least one colored lens—be it green, red, blue, or amber—to protect your night vision. Some pilots carry multiple flashlights. For example, one could be an L-shaped, military-issue C-cell battery strapped to a shoulder harness so it projects on the instrument panel during night flights.

Kneeboard

A kneeboard is like a lap desk you use in the airplane. Make sure it can be secured to your leg and is stable. Also, ensure it does not get in the way of the yoke or stick when installed on your leg. It should have room for your notebook or tablet and a means to hold writing implements.

Charts and Chart Supplement

You may use ForeFlight or another app in the aircraft on a tablet, but you may find the paper versions of this information—in the form of charts—come in handy. Paper doesn’t break when you drop it on a hard surface like the ramp, and you can read paper charts easily in direct sunlight. Sectionals and terminal area charts (TACs) can also be turned into sunshades if you need them. Make sure they are current if you intend to use them in the aircraft.

Fuel Strainer/Pipette or Gauge

You will use these tools during every preflight to check the fuel for impurities (a strainer) and the actual amount in the tanks (a pipette or gauge). Many flight schools have these on board the aircraft, but they tend to go missing. Make sure you put your name on yours and that the pipette/gauge is the correct one to use for the fuel tanks on the airplane you fly.

POH/AFM

There is supposed to be a pilot’s operating handbook (POH) or aircraft flight manual (AFM) aboard your training airplane. It covers the “O” in the “ARROW” mnemonic pilots use to recall the necessary documentation for the aircraft, in fact, because it includes the “operating limitations” referenced by that letter. In addition to the one found in the aircraft, you should have a POH/AFM of your own for reference. You will be using this book for every flight to determine takeoff and landing distance, fuel burn, etc.

E6-B Flight Computer

The flight computer is a must-have. They come in an electronic form (think calculator on steroids) or the mechanical E6-B, which is a circular slide rule and looks intimidating until you realize the instructions for use are printed on it. For primary pilots, I like the manual E6-B because the wind side helps with visualization of crosswinds and learning about VORs. You will use the E6-B during your knowledge test. Although there are apps for E6-Bs, you won’t be allowed to use your smartphone during the knowledge test, so get used to using something else.

Syllabus

Bring the syllabus with you to every lesson. Every. Lesson. Find an instructor who knows how to use one and will use one. It’s the best way to keep your training on course.

Multitool

This is a “just-in-case” device. You may need a tool to adjust your headset fit, trim a piece of rope, open a bottle of oil, or reseat a screw if the FBO and/or school policies permit.

Notebook and Pen

There is a lot of note taking as a pilot. You should make notes during the pre-lesson and post-lesson briefing with your instructor. You will also be writing down things in the cockpit—for example, the information from the automated weather. While there are many who choose to record information electronically, you may find paper more expedient as it does not require batteries and can be used as fire fuel in an emergency situation. Make sure you have several writing implements as well.

This feature first appeared in the March 2024/Issue 946 of FLYING’s print edition.

The post Pointers for Packing Your First Flight Bag appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The A20 is set to cease production in less than a year. More and more professional cockpits are ditching the molded earpiece and boom mic for a ProFlight, but the model generates fewer sales because of its defined market.

Although Chris Wuerfl, Bose’s business development manager, did not reveal a new aviation product, he expressed a general wish that one would be forthcoming. However, it would seem that the one-year anniversary of the Bose A30 headset was reason alone for the company to celebrate here at the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo (SNF) this week. According to Wuerfl, the product has been well received. 

• READ MORE: Bose A30 Aviation Headset Review

Like all of the company’s headsets, the A30 was designed to reduce noise fatigue. Bose claims that the unit has a slightly higher degree of effectiveness. A touted 20 percent reduction in clamping force, in addition to a headband with larger cushions that span a greater area, are also attributes. The clamping attribute is a game-changer for me, because for whatever reason, Bose headsets eventually begin to pinch the top of my head.

One feature of the A30 that the competition hasn’t added is the ability to swap the position of the mic from one side to the other. The headset allows this to be performed gracefully by simply pulling and replugging without the use of a tool. Although for GA use this feature isn’t a must, after more than four decades of flying professionally, it just seems awkward to have the boom mic always on the left side no matter what seat you occupy in the cockpit.

• READ MORE: Bose A30 Takes the Pressure Off

Testing the unit at SNF was a good experience, considering the volume of ambient noise. The quality of sound was superb. In addition to the standard volume controls, the A30 control box contained a slide switch that allowed for the ambient noise reception to be increased or decreased by selecting low, medium, or high. Movement of the slide didn’t dramatically change the reception with my degraded hearing, but perhaps a noisy cockpit would make it more apparent. Simply tapping a couple of times on either headset cup accomplishes the same task. This feature is probably more of an asset in a professional environment when you need to hear another pilot, flight attendant, or mechanic.

Bose maintains a five-year warranty on all of its headsets. If a headset is out of warranty, $225 is a one-size-fits-all refurbishment fee. The consumables, like ear cushions and mic covers, can be purchased as a service kit for $49.95. (The SNF show special is $35)

No one can argue that Bose set the standard for ANR equipment. The A30 continues to maintain that standard.  

The post One Year After Debut, Bose A30 Headset Well Received appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Florida-based pilots Joseph Hurtuk, Ian Goldbaum, and Richard Golightly collaborated in the design of a specialty plate with the theme, “Support General Aviation.” Among their goals was highlighting the economic impact of aviation in the state, which ranks third in the U.S. for the total number of pilots, aircraft, and airports.  

The three pilots worked with Stacey Heaton, AOPA’s southern regional manager, to seek help from elected officials to promote the plate. State Representative Doug Bankson (R-District 39) and State Senator Gayle Harrell (R-District 83) played major roles in legislative efforts to gain House and Senate approval. The next stop for the plate is the governor’s desk, where it is expected to receive approval by the end of March, AOPA said.

“Special thanks go to representative Bankson and senator Harrell,” said Heaton. “The representative’s own passion for aviation and the senator’s recognition of our members’ passion for aviation made this effort possible.” 

After receiving the governor’s signature, the plate still has to go through a process to coordinate its distribution. Presales are set to begin October 1 with a requirement of 3,000 purchases before the state can begin turning out the plates for drivers. Proceeds from the sale of the specialty plates will go toward funding aviation education scholarships for Floridians, which will be managed through the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida.

The post Sales of Aviation License Plates to Begin in Florida Later This Year appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Having been a flight sim enthusiast in the decade before, but inactive since Microsoft Flight Simulator X and X-Plane 9, I decided to launch into building my own home flight simulator with the goal of pairing it with the freshly launched Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS2020). My goal was to create a cockpit that featured the avionics equipment that I wanted to learn when I could eventually go back to flying in real life, and I wanted my simulator to replicate all the switches and buttons found in most GA aircraft. After three years of building and customizing, my flight simulator reflects the missions and aircraft I like to fly while also allowing the practice of basic maneuvers and procedures at home. 

When the opportunity came to review the Yawman Arrow, I was apprehensive about an all-in-one hand controller designed for a mobile or minimalist home flight sim setup that seemed a world away from the cockpit I had purposefully built. 

The Yawman Arrow team took on the audacious challenge of condensing all of the major flight controls that flight sim pilots have in their home cockpits down into a single hand-held controller. It features two Vernier-style sliders on the bottom center. On the bottom left of the controller is a trim wheel. All the way to the right side are two conventional throttle sliders. Above them is the “six-pack” of black buttons. On the top left of the face is a thumb stick used for the yoke. Directly below and in the center-left position is a five-button switch, and a multidirectional hat switch sits in the center-right position, directly below the six-pack of buttons. At the very top of the controller is the most novel component of the Yawman Arrow—two rudder controls operated by each of your index fingers that are linked together like the rudder controls of a real airplane. When you depress one side, the other side moves in the equal and opposite direction. Two additional buttons near the rudder controls can be assigned to various tasks like the parking brake or for changing Yawman Arrow menus so that more than one function can be paired to a single button. 

While plugging in the controller and jumping into a quick flight is possible, I recommend spending time getting acquainted with the controller’s default button assignments. The Yawman Arrow website has pre-built these so you can print them out, or you can keep them on a second screen as a helpful reference for your first flight. Note that it is best to double-check the button assignments in the control options menu in MSFS2020 (and the equivalent location in X-Plane 11 or 12). I found that some default control assignments differed from the printable document available on the Yawman website. 

To effectively fly with the Yawman Arrow, I needed to spend time sitting in my home flight sim cockpit seat, looking at my controls and then making a plan to determine what assignment to give the most important buttons and sliders. Sitting in my cockpit allowed me to make a visual inventory of the controls, assign them, and then verify the assignments in the MSFS2020 control options menu to make sure I completed the process correctly. It went quickly once I had determined what controls I wanted to assign to the Yawman Arrow. I kept as many of the default settings as I could, only editing what I needed. 

• READ MORE: Setting Up Your Sim

For my first flight, I loaded into the Cessna 172 at KPWM and planned for some basic maneuvers out over the waters of Casco Bay, east of the Portland International Jetport in Maine. I used standard weather and light winds to minimize external factors influencing the aircraft. Preflight and taxiing were no problem once I set the necessary buttons for wheel brakes, parking brake, and flaps. Taxiing using the rudders was enjoyable. The linked rudder controls were my favorite feature of the Yawman Arrow. As a habit, I squeezed both rudder controls at the same time to bring the airplane to a stop near the end of the taxiway before remembering that I needed to use the braking button I had previously mapped. 

Takeoff proved to be more challenging than I anticipated. As I am used to using a realistic, full-size VirtualFly yoke, I needed to acclimate to the relatively small control deflection offered by the thumb stick of the Yawman Arrow. Add to that the effects of P-factor on the aircraft when under full power during takeoff, and my fingers were dancing between the action of rolling the trim wheel, pulling back the yoke hat switch and moving the rudder controls. It was an exercise in small movement motor control, which didn’t take long to get used to. In subsequent takeoffs, I spent time dialing in the yoke/hat switch control sensitivity settings and keeping an eye on my Air Manager display to double-check how much trim control I was using. I was challenged to find the control harmony on takeoff and believe there is more work to be done between dialing in the default sensitivities “out-of-the-box” in MSFS2020 on the Yawman Arrow and simply spending more time getting used to the way aircraft must be flown using the controller.  

Once airborne over the practice area, the 172 was stable, and I found the control harmony between the yoke and rudder controls on the Yawman Arrow was sufficient for slow flight and recovering from power-on and power-off stalls. Satisfied after completing a few basic maneuvers, I returned to the airport to practice a visual approach to a full-stop landing. I set up for a 5-mile, straight-in approach to Runway 29, having flown it before as an active private pilot in real life. I enjoy coming in over the waterways surrounding the city of Portland and MSFS2020 provides some great visual landmarks. 

On a 2-mile final, I set the power for the remainder of the descent and focused on fine-tuning the pitch using the trim wheel. Backing up my trim inputs again visually using the trim display instrument on Air Manager definitely helped. Setting the trim is a critical ingredient of a stabilized approach, and being able to do this consistently is key to making the Yawman Arrow an enjoyable companion or primary controller. The landing was satisfactory, and I felt that I had adequate control authority. Landing provided a good place to try the controller, as it combines relatively slow air speeds with a need to have your fingers near the trim wheel, on the yoke, on the throttle, and up at the rudder controls. This is easier than it sounds given the controller’s natural position in the hand and the thoughtful location of the aforementioned controls. It made me curious to see what a larger version of the Yawman Arrow would feel like, with just a bit more room for hat switch, trim wheel, sliders, and buttons. 

Yawman Arrow founder Jon Ostrower and I discussed the trim wheel in one of our exchanges, and he recommended using it when flying most GA aircraft but to then map the electric trim controls to the second hat switch if flying an aircraft that primarily uses electric trim controls—such as a Cirrus or any small, medium, or large jet—to better simulate how those controls would be moved in the real aircraft. It didn’t occur to me that the trim wheel could be set as a dial for other control uses, such as changing the settings of the autopilot or tuning radio frequencies. It was a reminder that the Yawman Arrow can be set to control nearly any function you need. Other buttons can serve as menu buttons that can be held so that the same button can have more than one function. Here’s where spending time with the default button layouts from the Yawman Arrow website and manual, watching a few how-to videos for tips, and really working through your own customized setup will pay dividends in terms of finding the correct controls at your fingertips when you need it. 

Since I mainly fly GA aircraft in my flight simulation adventures, I loaded up a few of the landing challenges in MSFS2020 that didn’t feature strong crosswinds, so I could better acquaint myself with the Yawman Arrow as a primary controller for jet aircraft. The Aspen, Colorado, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, landing challenges are favorites of mine and served as good test flight profiles as controlling airspeed is the primary objective once the aircraft is lined up correctly on short final. If flying jets will be your primary use for the Yawman, be sure to set controls for the landing gear, speed brakes, flaps, thrust reversers, and other key controls that you’ll need to execute your landings.

Final Impressions  

Overall, I believe the Yawman Arrow controller is a good value for the cost—especially if you’re the type of user who must have a minimalist cockpit setup based on your budget, or you’re someone who travels a lot and desires a portable sim solution. Like any new flight sim equipment, I continued becoming more comfortable as I flew with it, even though I wish I had spent a bit more time with button assignments. I never managed to get the takeoff behavior harmonized to my liking, but I recognize that we’re still in the early days of the Yawman Arrow, and I know that the team behind its development and the flight sim community will begin sharing their collective knowledge to help tune the sensitivity of the yoke and trim settings and make it a bit more intuitive right out of the box in MSFS2020. Note that I limited my testing to MSFS2020 as I currently don’t use X-Plane 11 or 12, so controller sensitivity and differences in the aircraft’s flight model behavior can vary widely between both flight sim software titles. 

Although this is just a nitpick, I would have preferred a grippier outer surface and potentially a larger form factor, like an “XL” size. Given Ostrower’s deliberate design choices, I am sure these factors were given considerable weight, and they amount to subjective personal impressions of my time flying with the Yawman Arrow. Also, I suspect that the controller would pair well with popular head tracking units, such as TrackIR or Tobii Eye Tracker, which would allow those small glances around the cockpit to check the trim and flaps settings. Using them compliments a minimalist setup and would increase immersion. I relied on my copy of Air Manager running on an adjacent screen to help me verify my trim wheel inputs. 

Although the Yawman Arrow won’t be my primary controller, it does offer even the most hardware-obsessed among us the chance to break it out for quick, casual sightseeing flights. It also provides a chance to use your flight simulator while you’re traveling and  to do more intense jet flying with it if you’re committed to learning the control bindings. It is priced at $199.99 and available at Sporty’s Pilot Shop. That price is $79 below that of a Honeycomb Alpha yoke and about in the middle of the cost range of popular joystick HOTAS options. 

Default settings for Yawman Arrow can be found here. 

Pros:

• Best feature is connected rudder controls.
• The Trim wheel is  a novel addition to the hand controller. 
• There are two options for throttles (vernier style or slider).
• Basic camera movement and autopilot controls worked effectively.

Cons: 

• Since there is no wireless function, it must be plugged into your PC or laptop.
• Yawman Arrow does not work with Xbox. 
• A grippier outer material and potentially larger form factor would be preferable.

The post Taking a Virtual Flight with the Yawman Arrow appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

It’s always a good idea to have at least two flashlights in your flight kit—one with a white light for preflight inspections, the other with a lens tinted red, green, amber, or blue for use in the dark because these colors do not destroy night vision.

Even brief exposure to white light can zap your night vision, and it can take 30 minutes (or more) for your eyes to readjust to low light. That’s an awfully long time to be flying blind, so choose cockpit light carefully. And since pilots tend to accidentally blind themselves when they reach for a flashlight—or their smartphone with the flashlight–in order to find the tinted flashlight they just dropped—use one designed to be clipped or strategically held to avoid that scenario.

The first design from Flight Gear to be tested was the Bite Light, which, as the name implies, is designed to be held in the pilot’s jaws to position the beam. There is a silicon ring on the base of the flashlight that provides a better grip and is more comfortable and less damaging to teeth than a metal flashlight. I must admit when I read this I had a flashback to the dumpster-diving scene in the 1978 movie Animal House, the John Landis-directed college parody movie that finds a member of the titular fraternity holding a flashlight in his teeth as he scours carbon copies of tests pulled from the trash looking for the psychology course midterm.

A Greener Flashlight

For those who hate the idea of the trash created by spent batteries, this flashlight can be recharged with a USB type-C rechargeable battery. As someone who probably could finance a type rating on what I have spent on batteries over the years, I have become increasingly appreciative of flashlights with the USB recharge feature.

Both Red and White Lights

The Bite Light boasts a bright white light to be used for preflight inspection and finding things dropped on the dark ramp. The button is labeled with a “W.” The white light’s intensity is controlled by how many times you press the button—three times creates maximum illumination; one more time turns it off.

Pressing the button with the power symbol and “red” underneath it activates the red light. One press activates the light, a second press brings it up to maximum intensity, and a third press turns it off.

The lights are independent of one another—you are either using red or white. Turning one color of light on automatically turns the other off.

The Bite Light is made of aviation-grade aluminum and, according to the manufacturer, can withstand drops. We inadvertently tested this twice from the top of a Cessna 172 wing and found the manufacturer assertion to be accurate. The flashlight is also supposed to be water resistant. It doesn’t weigh much, as it is light to the point that you wonder if it has a battery in it and are pleasantly surprised to find it does. 

• READ MORE: How Many Flashlights Do You Carry in Your Flight Bag?

Flight Gear Universal Aviators Light

Headlamp flashlights allow you to focus the beam wherever you look. They are held in place with a headband or clip that attaches to your headset or ball cap. The Flight Gear Universal Aviator’s Light provides both options.

It features a dual rotating axis and clip to help secure it. It is light enough that you don’t feel like you are wearing it even when employing the headband. It also clips to a kneeboard without unbalancing it.

Like the Bite Lite, it has both white and red lenses. The light is powered by two AAA batteries.

A single press of the “W” button will turn on the white light at max brightness. To dim the light, press the “W” button again within the first five seconds of turning on the light. This will bring the white light to medium intensity. Another press of the white button within five seconds will reduce the intensity of the light to low. Using low intensity will provide the maximum runtime on one set of batteries. While in the low setting, or after the level of light has been on for more than five seconds, the next press of the “W” button will turn it off. 

The red lights are activated in the same fashion by pressing the “R3” button.

I liked the versatility of the Universal Aviator’s Light. I could wear it as a headband or attach it to my ball cap or collar for best position in the cockpit. 

If you are a pilot who prefers a flashlight that can double as a blunt-force weapon, both of these are probably too little. You barely notice them in your pocket. Both flashlights feel as though they were designed for the space program, where weight saving is everything. 

The Bite Light sells for $49.95, the Universal Aviators Light sells for $29.95.

Both are available from Sporty’s Pilot Shop. 

The post Hands-Free Flashlights in the Cockpit appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

In fact, iPads have caused a kneeboard evolution. The mission of the kneeboard hasn’t changed much since its introduction in the 1930s: Provide the pilot with a flat space to write on. The Apple iPad was introduced in 2010 and quickly found its way into the cockpit as aviation apps such as ForeFlight flourished. Pilots who sought to go paperless quickly learned their kneeboards were not designed to hold the devices. The manufacturers of kneeboards took note and began to design with that in mind. Some work better than others. Often it is a matter of preference. To get to the heart of the matter, FLYING put several to the test and came away with few we particularly liked.

Some Things to Consider

Kneeboards can be made from plastic, aluminum, or wood. Each has its own characteristics of weight and durability with a price tag that matches. It can be a challenge to find a kneeboard that works with your iPad or tablet because dimensions vary model to model and year to year. Make sure to know the manufacturer’s return policy before you purchase so you are not stuck with a kneeboard you cannot use because it doesn’t fit the device or shape of your leg.

Aviation Supplies & Academics for iPad Mini 

If you are looking for an economy of design, check out the kneeboard for the iPad Mini from Aviation Supplies & Academics. Shaped like a book, you put the iPad inside. Soft, gray microfiber protects the screen. There is a binder style clip for paper or a checklist and two loops on one side for writing implements.

Four plastic hooks about as thick as a toothpick ( for minimal screen disruption) hold the iPad in place. Nonskid strips on the underside of the unit and a 1.5-inch-wide strap with  Velcro keep the board secure to your leg, even during abrupt attitude changes and turbulence. This was the lightest board we tested, so light you almost stop feeling it.

Price: $45.95 to $54.95 – Buy it now

FlightOutfitters KB4 & Centerline

FlightOutfitters has several designs for iPad Mini users. According to FlightOutfitters founder Mark Glassmeyer, the KB4 is the latest evolution. Originally, it had plastic hooks to hold the iPad, but those wore out too quickly, so the company came up with a silicon rectangle with bands that secure the device by the corners. The kneeboard has a small pocket for writing implements. We liked the traditional Velcro strap along with friction fabric and two contour rolls mounted to the underside of the board to keep it from moving on your leg. It was comfortable even after two hours on a hot day.

The FlightOutfitters Centerline kneeboard comes in large and small sizes. The small earned our vote because of the fold-down platform with a smaller, molded case. This zippered compartment is the perfect size to hold your sunglasses or smartphone. If you’ve ever smashed your sunglasses in a kneeboard pouch, you will appreciate this. The bezel that holds the iPad uses the silicone straps and it rotates, so if you prefer your information in landscape as opposed to portrait, you are covered. This feature made one of my learners very happy, as he is a lateral presentation pilot. This kneeboard has a wide, elastic strap with Velcro closure, but this one feeds through a buckle for extra stability.

Price: $69.95 – Shop now

Battle Board Tech Edition

For the other kneeboards we tested, black was the only color choice. One of the things that sets apart the kneeboards made by Battle Board is you have options—sooooo many options—when it comes to color. In addition to black, you’ll find red, orange, green, brown, and gray along with several camouflage patterns. The color is not about fashion. Any color but black can help you locate your kneeboard more easily in a darkened gear bag or the back seat of a car.

The Battle Board Tech Edition—the iPad Mini stabilized board—is described as “turbulence-proof tablet integration,” which is military speak for “keeping the tablet on the board and the board on your leg.”

The board features a padded underside with wedges of nonslip material that can be positioned on your leg for better balance. Mesh provides breathability, so you don’t get that hot-book-on-your-thigh feeling. The elastic leg strap is one of the wider ones on the market and fastens with a metal G-hook that withstood turbulence and unusual attitudes. The company notes it makes the G-hook from recycled 81 millimeter mortar ammo cans.

The Battle Board Tech Edition kneeboard comes with easy-to-understand instructions, a necessity for setup to get the most out of the unit. It was also one of the most compact and lighter designs we tried. On the downside, the Battle Board unit was also the most expensive of the ones we tested.

Price: $109.95

• READ MORE: Three Things to Consider When Buying a Kneeboard

Sporty’s Flight Gear Bi-Fold

Sporty’s Flight Gear Bi-Fold kneeboard was the least expensive one we tested, coming in under $30. The elastic straps at the corners hold an iPad, and the clipboard is reversible so you can wear it on either leg.

The kneeboard also has a VFR/IFR cheat sheet with phonetic aviation alphabet hemispheric rule, basic VFR weather minimum, mandatory IFR reports, flight plan sequence, and transponder codes, just in case you forget these things.

Price: $29.95

Flight Gear iPad Bi-Fold

For the pilot prepared to spend a little more, Sporty’s also offers the Flight Gear iPad Bi-Fold kneeboard with two movable, vinyl-coated brackets held in place by a hook-and-loop fastener that it claims can be configured to hold just about any iPad or tablet on the market. The backside of the mounting surface has an integrated kickstand that allows you to place the iPad at an angle that cuts down on sunlight glare. If you’ve ever done what feels like an advanced yoga pose trying to read the computer screen in a sun-drenched cockpit, you will appreciate this.

This kneeboard boasts a plethora of pockets, including one that closes with a zipper for those really important items you don’t want to lose. The front face of the kneeboard has an ID holder that’s perfect for a business card. You will probably want to use this because most of the kneeboards on the market are black, so they all look alike.

Price: $39.95

This column first appeared in the October 2023/Issue 942 of FLYING’s print edition.

The post Who Wins the Battle of the Aviation Kneeboards? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.