AOPA staff pilots' favorite flying finds
Active pilots, aircraft owners, a designated pilot examiner, and a rusty pilot share their favorite finds of the year that help them with their everyday flying and aviation daydreaming.
iPad mini. We have an old Garmin 430 with a wonky screen, but the combo of an iPad mini and a docked Garmin aera 660 [gives] me the capability to shoot flight plans back and forth, making the old 430 something of a backup. —AOPA Senior Content Producer Ian Twombly
Digital luggage scale. Having a scale on hand takes the guesswork out of weight-and-balance calculations, and it also reminds me that I really don’t need all of that extra junk in my flight bag! It is easy to use, and the backlit display and flashlight make it great for night ops too. —AOPA Manager of Flying Clubs Drew Myers
AOPA Pilot Protection Services (Basic). Things have changed quite a bit since I was flying GA and having the peace of mind of PPS is really great. —AOPA Digital Marketing Coordinator Bob Orris
ForeFlight Sentry Plus ADS-B Receiver. As a designated examiner, I’m in and out of all sorts of airplanes with wildly varying equipment. I bought the latest Sentry and love it. Between the carbon monoxide detector, built-in AHRS, long battery life, and other features, it gives me an increased sense of security as I watch for traffic during checkrides. —AOPA You Can Fly Ambassador Pat Brown
Aviation-themed office gear. This year I got all my aviation pictures and artwork framed and hung in my home office. For the finishing touch, I added a Piper Cub switch plate. —AOPA Technical Editor Jill Tallman
MyGoFlight Universal Mini Leather Folio C EFB Pilot Kneeboard and Clipboard. This kneeboard has a professional look, is made of durable leather, rotates, is multi-purpose, and straps easily to my thigh. —AOPA Northwest Mountain Regional Manager Brad Schuster.
Related Articles
