There is a lot of gear you could buy in aviation, and I won’t list all of it here. I want this page to be a short list of gear I can personally stand behind and recommend with a high degree of confidence. I hope it serves you in your aviation journey.
– Charlie Gasmire
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iPad Cockpit Mounts
I’ve used a lot of different mounts and have found that the best ones really accomplish three things: Case compatibility (taking the iPad in and out of the case creates a dropping hazard, and when you’re relying on your iPad for a trip that’s an unnecessary hazard), durability, and non-obstructive mount placement.
After trying several different types, ultimately I found and LOVE the PIVOT Case Mount by Flyboys. It’s a hardshell case that comes with an attachable cover, and is specifically built to attach to their mounting systems without ever taking it out of the case.
I use a suction mount to mount it on the side of the windscreen and really love it. I find that yoke mounts get in the way during landing and so I went for the side mount.
They also have a ball joint adapter where the mount and the case can attach to RAM mounts if you have one you like there (explained in the video below).
You can get 10% off your order by using this link or entering promo code “Charlie” (but clicking the link should automatically apply the discount to applicable products).
Here is a brief video I made reviewing the product:
As for where to mount your iPad, I did another review video trying it on my knee, the windshield (suction mount on the side), and on the yoke. Here’s my debrief:
One last handy gadget is an Apple pencil…. I was skeptical at first, but after flying with it some, I REALLY like using it. Here’s a video on that:
Aviation Headsets
Best Option: I’ve used a lot of headsets over the years and by FAR my favorite is the Bose A20 headset (link to check price on Amazon). They’re expensive but you get what you pay for. In general, I LOVE Bose products because the audio quality is always so high. And it’s no exception in their aviation headset. These are quiet, extremely comfortable, and the audio quality is great. It sounds notably more crisp than other headsets I’ve used. An overlooked feature that gives the A20’s a big edge over the Lightspeed Zulu’s for me is that the A20’s microphone stem is longer. I have a very round face and the A20’s microphone will still make it all of the way to the front of my mouth, while the Zulu’s microphone kind of hangs off the side of my mouth which really irritates me for some reason. I’m always trying to adjust the microphone stem on the Zulu’s thinking they would be longer but they are not.
I recommend getting the dual-plug version of this or any headset unless you know you will be using six-pin plugs regularly. If needed there are adapters among the various plug types, so this headset will still be versatile and usable in nearly any airplane.
As for bluetooth, it’s a “nice to have” but not totally critical in my mind. It is nice to pair it with your phone and make calls as needed right through your headset… getting an IFR clearance on the ground, telling your spouse you’re taking off, etc. but I haven’t used it a ton. However, I figured if I was spending that much on a headset, a little bit more to get the bluetooth wasn’t a meaningful price difference.
Good Option: My second favorite headset is the Lightspeed Zulu (link to check price on Amazon). It is a little less expensive than the Bose A20 and is still a great headset. Personally I like Bose a little better for three reasons: I think the Bose have a little sharper audio quality, they squeeze my head less, and have a longer microphone stem that feels a lot more comfortable. However, I know several pilots that strongly prefer the Zulu’s over the A20’s. I think it comes down to a bit of a personal preference on fit.
That being said, I do own three sets of Lightspeed Zulu’s. I purchased the A20’s for myself in the cockpit, and the other three seats of my Cessna 182 are equipped with the Zulu’s. I figure that my passengers won’t know or appreciate the difference enough for me to spend the extra money for three headsets that won’t get used each flight. But this was a good way for me to save a little money and still have great headsets on board.
If you’re buying a cheaper headset: Personally I wouldn’t “skimp” on a headset. If you’re going to be flying for any amount of time, having a great ANR (active noise reduction) headset is a must. Trying to communicate with your instructor, passengers, or ATC in a noisy cockpit with a poor headset is a really frustrating (and possibly hazardous) situation. If budget is a concern for you, I encourage you to ask your flight school if there are headsets you can rent or borrow to start your flight training. Don’t buy a cheap headset and think it’ll be “good enough”. Having a great headset is like buying a comfortable pair of running shoes. It will make every step more enjoyable, more comfortable, and safer.
In-Flight Data
It’s always fun to look at avionics upgrades and think about your dream panel. But it’s expensive. I’ve found that maybe the highest ROI (return on investment) biggest bang for your buck upgrade is to have an iPad in the cockpit. Seriously, I can’t explain how much of a game-changer this is. And it’s affordable, too.
I use an iPad mini (I used to have a full-sized iPad but it was too big and not necessary) with Foreflight. But the kicker is to get live ADS-B data (weather, traffic, etc.) through either a Stratus or Sentry. The Stratus has a few more features like flight data recording (really helpful in training), the ability to use LTE data on your iPad for other internet uses while still paired with the Stratus, and it will work with apps other than Foreflight.
Honestly, if you get these three things (iPad, Foreflight, and a Stratus) you’ll have so much data at your finger tips for a tiny fraction of what it would cost to upgrade your actual avionics panel. I LOVE it when flying IFR because you can have geo-referenced approach plates overlaid onto the sectional map. In other words, you have incredible situational awareness because you will see exactly where you are on the approach at all times. For someone who got their instrument rating on steam gauges (me), this couldn’t be cooler.
Filming Gear
Gear for Filming Your Flying
I put together a short video here that talks about some of my filming gear:
Here is a link to the Nflightcam cockpit video kit that I use. The WingIt Mount can be found here.
Sunglasses
There are lots of aviation sunglasses out there. The two biggest things to keep in mind:
- Non-polarized lenses. While polarized lenses are great for fishing and other activities as they can remove a lot of glare, they have a tendency to make certain glass avionics difficult (or impossible) to see.
- Comfort. Long trips with sunglasses that hurt your ears or squeeze your nose are a beating.
There is something to be said about how thick the sunglasses are and how much that breaks the seal between your headset and your head. Technically the thicker your sunglasses are, the noisier it will be. I have tried some thin-rimmed glasses to see if this makes a meaningful difference and while it helps a little, I would also consider the overall comfort and features of your glasses too. I wouldn’t use a pair of thin-rimmed sunglasses that I didn’t like just for the sake of having a tighter seal with my headset.
Aircraft Tug
This is a bit of a niche recommendation, but I LOVE the tug for my Cessna 182. There is a slight uphill slope back into my hangar, and if the airplane is full of fuel it takes about all I have to push it by hand with a tow bar. So I bought this motorized tug and it’s been a game-changer. It wasn’t cheap but it’s been so worth the money over the last 5 years. It also runs on avgas so I just use the fuel I sump from the tanks in pre-flight and put it into the tug.
Aircraft Cleaning
I’ve always used Wash Wax All. It’s super convenient (you don’t need a hose… just the spray bottle and a rag), travels well, and smells great. They sell a good bundle here (link to Amazon) with a spray bottle, extra solution, and high-quality hand towels. I buy this set about every year to get more inventory and refresh my rags. As of this writing I actually ordered this exact bundle about a month ago. Highly recommend!
Aviation Books
There are many out there, but here are a few of my favorites:
- The Wright Brothers by David McCullough – an inspiring historical biography every aviator should read.
- Engines by Mike Busch – so helpful for a non-mechanic like me to understand the in’s and out’s of aircraft engines, their maintenance, and their issues.
- Wager With the Wind: The Don Sheldon Story by James Greiner – unreal stories about a legendary pilot in Alaska who pioneered glacier landings and so much more.
- Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying by Wolfgang Langewiesche- a timeless and still highly relevant discussion on the technique of flying an airplane.
- Logbooks: Life in Aviation by Richard Collins – a fascinating autobiography from one of the great aviation contributors of our time. Super interesting stories about all kinds of interesting planes Collins flew, and lessons he learned along the way. I read it in two sittings.
- Work Energy by Jim Harmer – though not specifically aviation-related, I’ve learned a lot about my own career and work through this book. He provides an excellent discussion on following your career passions not based on the topic of one’s work but rather the nature of one’s work. Highly applicable. This has helped me realize that I don’t wish to be a professional pilot due to the nature of the job, but I rather love flying for flying’s sake and wish to do it for my own enjoyment.
Reserving a Tail Number (US-Only)
Okay, this isn’t a piece of “gear” per se, but it’s something unique you can buy (I have). Did you know that you can reserve an N-Number with the FAA? It’s about $10 per year and as long as it is currently available, you can reserve a tail number for your use one day. I have “N1125G” reserved so that if I ever buy a new airplane one day, or want to re-paint and re-register one, I’ve got that tail number on reserve that I can use. Granted, I might have to hold that for a while before I can use it, but it’s a fun goal to be working towards and neat to know I’ve got the rights to that N-Number if I want it. Here’s the link for the N-Number reservation.