Aviators Gift Guide

#1 Bose A20 Aviation Headset

“You wanted the best your going to get the best”

  • 30% greater active noise reduction than conventional aviation headsets. Connectivity Technology: Wired/Wireless
  • 30% less clamping force than conventional aviation headsets. The ergonomic control module includes an auxiliary audio input with intercom/AUX priority switching, ideal for dedicated GPS and traffic warning systems
  • Clear audio with active equalization. Simple, intuitive headset operation—plug it in, turn it on, go flying
  • Now with Bluetooth audio and communications interface for connectivity with your communications and navigation devices
  • Customizable audio prioritization control lets you mute an audio signal when receiving a communication, or mix the two together

 

#2 Corkology Aviation Set Flight instruments Coasters

A must have for any bar in a pilot man cave

  • Made in the USA
  • Flight instruments cluster Illustrations
  • Interesting story of each illustration on back.
  • Made of natural cork
  • Hand printed on letterpress
  • Each coaster measures approx. 3.75″ dia.

#3 Mike Busch on Airplane Ownership

Some light reading if you want to take the plunge into aircraft ownership

Mike Busch on Airplane Ownership is the much-awaited sequel to his previous books Manifesto and Engines. In this two-volume set, Busch distills his wisdom from his more than 50 years as an aircraft owner. He brings his refreshingly commonsense and often outside-the-box approach to every aspect of owning and operating a general aviation aircraft.

Volume 1 covers selecting, purchasing, insuring, and maintaining an aircraft. Busch emphasizes that it is the aircraft owner—not his mechanics—who bears the regulatory responsibility for airworthiness. He discusses how to choose the right mechanic or shop and how to manage the maintenance they perform. Busch dissects the much-dreaded annual inspection, and how owners can keep it from spiraling out of control. He offers guidance about the all-important post-maintenance test flight, and how to deal with an owner’s worst nightmare: a mechanical breakdown far from home.

#4 Hudson Baby Aviation Onesie

The perfect gift for future aviators

  • 100% Cotton
  • Imported
  • Snap closure
  • Machine Wash
  • Set includes coordinating long-sleeve bodysuits
  • Made with 100% cotton
  • Soft, gentle and comfortable on baby’s skin

#5 2021 General Aviation Calendar

Kiss 2020 goodbye with this 2021 Calendar

A must for the General Aviation enthusiast! Month after month, you ll enjoy seeing the top dogs of general aviation, from single-engines to corporate jets. This calendar s sure to be a big hit! Size: 15.5 x 20 (open)

#6 Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 Action Cam Bundle

Record & Share 2021’s crazy aviation adventures with this 4K Camera 

  • Ultra HD 4K/30fps footage with 1.75-inch touchscreen display that lets you see what is being recorded
  • 3-axis image stabilization captures smooth and steady video in unsteady flight conditions
  • Includes headset audio cable overlay of the cockpit conversation/ATC audio on the video and a prop filter to remove propeller from the video
  • Capture your position, attitude, speed and much more and overlay them onto your video; then easily create and share your video using a smart device and VIRB app
  • Wirelessly record HD audio in flight from Bluetooth-compatible headsets and audio panels

#7 I make airplanes fly Mug

Yet another perfect addition to the aviation man cave

  • IT’S THE PERFECT GIFT IDEA – We know that its really hard to find a cool and unique gift on a budget. That’s why your mom, dad, girlfriend, boyfriend, friend, or work colleague is going to LOVE this ceramic coffee mugs! Buy Now!
  • 100% Total & Complete Satisfaction, No Questions Asked, Money Back Guarantee. Shop with Absolute & Complete Confidence that you’re making a very smart decision! Buy Now!
  • The Coffee and Motivation Mug can be used for coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soup or any liquid of your choice. It’s specially designed with a large handle to provide you with a comfortable grip while preventing you from burning your hand
  • HIGH QUALITY – The imprinted design is printed on both sides of the mug and guaranteed to last. Treat yourself or give as a gift to someone special.
  • This great mug is sure to be a hit among your friends, colleagues or family. Just a great way to start a conversation. The text on the mug reads: Pediatrician – Making a big difference to little people.

#8 Airplane Clock

 

  • Metal airplane desk clock featuring a large display designed as an altimeter.
  • Great gifts for pilots and the aviation industry.
  • Product Size: 2-3/8“ x 3” x 3-38”

#9 Josh Bach Men’s WWII Fighter Planes Silk Necktie

 

Show up in style in your next formal meeting

  • Silk
  • Made in USA
  • Mustangs, Warhawks, Wildcats, Thunderbolts, and Lightnings all on one great silk necktie. Perfect for the history buff, the WWII enthusiast or the aviator.
  • Length of 57.5″, Width of 3 1/8″
  • Understated, whimsical, design. Hand finished in New York City.
  • Comes in cool tin can, ready to gift.

#10 Yaesu FTA550L Handheld VHF Transceiver w/Li-Ion Battery

  • Aviation Airband Transceiver NAV/COM with ILS and VOR Navigation
  • Li-Ion Battery
  • AA Battery Tray
  • Comes with Antenna
  • Comes with Headset Adapter

 

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LoPresti Spectra – Aircraft of the Month

I’ve known about the Spectra since I got started in RC aircraft in the early 90’s, I would all ways look through the RCM plans catalog, searching for the next scratch build and this aircraft was a real stand out.

LeRoy LoPresti a former Grumman engineer started the the Island Aircraft Corporation based in Florida. He developed and flew the aircraft in the late 60’s

This aircraft pioneered the engine mounted in a T tail nacelle concept a full 13 years before the Seawind

Photos & Videos of the actual aircraft are rare, Roy LoPresti posted this unique video on his YouTube Channel.

Of course the RCM Plan that I noticed all those years ago can now be downloaded for free on Outerzone

This one is from 1971, 2 years after the 1st flight of the Prototype, has 73″ wing span and was designed by Don Haines & Paul Rhe.

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=9154

New Battery Tech – Video Share

A great video showing 5 new battery technologies for electric powered vehicles.

And what better way to put that electric technology to work than in a DMC-12. This video has all kinds of links to some of the components used in the conversion build.

One of the interesting new services I learned about is Big Battery https://bigbattery.com/ They can provide high power batteries to many kinds of custom built electric vehicles.

Another service of note in the last video is Send-Cut-Send https://sendcutsend.com/ This is a made in the USA (Reno NV) option Laser cut metal, it could be worth checking out for your next project.

Starr Bumble Bee II – Aircraft of the month

 

Here is a fun aircraft of the month, the Starr Bumble Bee was designed with the whole intent at beating the title of the worlds smallest maned aircraft. It was designed by Robert Starr from Arizona, and first flew in 1984, he followed this up with the Bumble Bee 2 that was even smaller and lighter that first flew in 1988. On May 8th of the same year the bumble bee 2 had a down wind engine failure resulting in a crash, Robert was injured but made a recovery.

If your in the Tucson area they have the surviving Bumble Bee 1 aircraft on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum

6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85756

 

with its compact simple form its a popular RC model.

For those interested in RC scratch building Outerzone has one designed by Ken Willard who has several RC plans on the web site.

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=6743

 

TICARVE Cleaning Gel – Product of the month

Needing to clean up all the hard to reach dust in your Car or Aircraft interior?

Look no further than Cleaning Gel from Ticarve.

Unlike dusting and wipes, Gel can grab much of the stubborn dust and grime from hard to reach places

  • 🚕【Perfect Car Detailing Putty】Cleaning gel for car is perfect for cleaning the nooks and crannies in your auto. Car gel cleaner is super great to get into the vents and little crevices on the car air vents, steering wheels, console panel, storage bins, cup holder, door handles, dashboards to pick up the dirt
  • 🚗【Easy to Use】Just press the car vent cleaner slightly on the dust surface and pull out the car cleaning gel slowly the dirt would gone. Push car detailing tools into any little cracks and the crud sticks and pulls back out! You can also press the laptop cleaner on the keyboard surface and then pull out the car gel cleaner slowly, the dust would be carried away with the dust cleaner
  • 🚘【Reusable】Gel for cleaning car could be used for several times till the color of the air vent cleaning kit turn to dark. When cleaning finished, just put the keyboard cleaning gel back in box and keep in cool place
  • 🌿【High-tech Cleaning Material】Auto cleaning gel is made of high-tech cleaning material, smells sweet with lavender fragrance. Cleaning glue for car sticky dust but not sticky to hands. Auto interior cleaner pick up all dust and debris and leaves no residue
  • 🚖【Multiple Uses】Automotive putty is also useful for home and office, PC computer keyboard cleaner and other rugged surface cleaning such as printer, cell phone, calculator, TV remote and furniture. The suitable surface must be no water and the dust cleaner for car would stick to it

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A Spooky Video Share

A tri copter makes a great FPV platform but it also has utility as a flying ghost.

This video comes from the Motoshane YouTube Channel, he has some interesting videos on the channel.

Here is my MK1 Tri Copter setup (circa 2014) based on David Windestal’s pioneering work on the tri copter platform. Check out more on David’s work on his web site & YouTube Channel

Happy Halloween

SB7L-360A Seeker – Aircraft of the Month

Similar to last months aircraft the Optica, the Seeker is another observation Aircraft with a Helicopter style fuselage.

Originally developed in Australia by Seeker Aviation. Many government agencies use it as an observation platform.

The main web site for the seeker is: https://www.seekeraircraft.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabird_Seeker

No options that I can find for RC in Outerzone or as a kit. With modern 3D printers, printing a fuselage would be a viable option.

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Omni Calculator – Engineering Resource

The other day at work looking up air density conversions I came across a great resource called the Omni Calculator, it can convert and calculate all kinds of stuff. https://www.omnicalculator.com

Click on the 3 lines to access the different options on the desk top version, mobile has a search bar and topics on the home page

For the air density conversion here is the exact page https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/air-density