Aircraft Spruce featured product deep dive

Garmin D2 Air X10 Aviator Smartwatch—a dedicated flight system on your wrist

Brand new for 2022, the D2 Air X10 provides pilots with preflight, in-flight, and postflight features and tools to assist in navigation and enhance situational awareness.

In-flight functions include Direct-to and Nearest navigation functions; an instrument-like horizontal situation indicator (HSI) course needle; a barometric altimeter that alerts the wearer when they’ve reached their desired altitude; and other aviation alerts like time, distance, altitude, and fuel timer.

The watch will automatically track then transfer your flight data (date, duration, total flight time, and route) for users utilizing the flyGarmin.com logbook.

New for this year, the watch allows wearers to make and take phone calls from the watch and features voice assistant control.

The D2 Air X10 also provides everyday essentials like built-in music; Garmin Pay contactless payments; and smart notifications for calls, texts, calendar, and social media alerts, as well as health monitoring and customized fitness features.

Rope Chocks lightweight aircraft chock

These lightweight, travel-friendly Rope Chocks are easy to store and handle—weighing in at 1.5 pounds—and won’t damage the inside of your aircraft when traveling. The chocks are designed to prevent vehicles, aircraft, or anything with small to medium-size tires/wheels from moving or rolling on uneven tarmac and sloping backcountry.

Honeycomb Alpha Yoke and Bravo Throttle Quadrant flight simulation bundle

For pilots, it’s important to maintain proficiency in the cockpit, but when going up to fly isn’t an option, staying in and chair flying can be the next best thing. This bundle combines an Alpha Flight Controls Yoke & Switch Panel with the Bravo Throttle Quadrant, providing users with six commercial levers including flaps, spoilers, and functional thrust reversers for two- and four-engine aircraft and six general aviation levers featuring a functional go-around button for multiple aircraft and engine configurations.

AmSafe Restraint System (SOARS)

Reduce your risk of head and torso injuries in aircraft crash conditions with this universally adjustable lap belt airbag restraint. AmSafe states that the system protects the pilot and co-pilot from injury caused by impact with glareshields, instrument panels, and control yokes during a significant impact. The system is STC eligible for more than 600 Part 23 aircraft as well as experimental aircraft. Each kit comes with a complete system for both pilot and co-pilot seats.

Whelen Parmetheus G3 PAR 36 landing and taxi light

LED lighting has become the leader in GA lighting as pilots and aircraft owners ditch their old incandescent bulbs with brighter, lighter, and more reliable LED options. With a 10,000-hour operating life, these landing and taxi lights are a direct replacement for outdated PAR 36 halogen and high-intensity discharge lamps. Both versions are designed to be easy to install and weigh virtually the same as previous PAR 36 lamps.

Sensorcon AV8 Inspector Pro portable carbon monoxide monitor

For pilots, it’s important to always be aware of the potential for carbon monoxide (CO) and the safety hazards that come with being exposed. CO exposure has been linked to 31 accidents over the past 39 years, and now the NTSB is calling on the FAA to require installation of CO detectors in GA aircraft. The AV8 Inspector monitor is designed to provide an accurate reading of CO concentrations before it becomes a problem. Reviews say it’s “a good safety purchase at a good price point.”

Flight Outfitters iPad Flight Desk

App-based flight tools are quickly taking over the aviation flight planning landscape, making iPads a must-have tool for many pilots. This two-in-one design combines a universal kneeboard design and organizer case and comes with three sizes of silicone holders for 9- to 11-inch iPads, iPad Minis, and most phones. The flight desk features three elastic pockets, two loops for a stylus or pens, and a clipboard.

HangarBot engine preheating solution—smart hangar monitoring and management

Winter pilots in colder climates know the importance of preheating the engine before starting. This can often lead to longer waits and earlier arrivals at the airport. The HangarBot allows pilots and aircraft owners to preheat their aircraft’s engine from their smartphone. The system allows users to turn the heater on and off, create schedules, or set up triggers based on events.

White Lightning M1435 14V Mini GPU for certified aircraft

Designed to preserve on-board battery power during cockpit database and EFIS updates, flight planning, powered preflight, procedures training, and general maintenance, the White Lightning M1435 14V mini ground power unit (GPU) is great for aerial photographers and surveyors to run camera equipment and on-board computers. The mini-GPU provides airframe power for 12/14-volt aircraft. It’s compact and lightweight and comes with a digital voltmeter/ammeter and operational status LED plus a USB 5V accessory outlet.

Stadia AGL lidar landing altimeter

With an operating range of 130 feet, this AGL altimeter landing aid uses lidar to measure the aircraft’s height above the ground. Stadia connects to a pilot’s smartphone via Bluetooth and uses audible cues to alert the pilot of their altitude. The manufacturer reports Stadia is considered a temporary attachment and does not require FAA approval.