We cannot say it’s never too late to find a last-minute holiday gift, though procrastinators can test the limits of express delivery like never before. With so many people working to get our packages to their destinations, we do not need very many days in advance in order to pull off a gifting success.

If you are still looking for presents at this late date, and you happen to be shopping for a pilot or aviation enthusiast, do not despair. There are still plenty of possibilities to make that person’s holiday a bit more memorable. Here are a few ideas for your last-minute shopping list.

Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset

Lightspeed understands that not everyone has time to spare when it comes to gift shopping, so the company is offering free standard overnight domestic shipping on any of its headsets until Wednesday, December 20. Lightspeed has long been a “go-to” for ANR headsets, and its flagship Delta Zulu won FLYING Magazine’s Gear of the Year Award for 2023.

Price: $1,199

Leatherman Wingman

No flight bag, tool bag, or car glove box is truly complete without the right multitool. I have been loyal to Leatherman tools for 30 years and although I haven’t needed mine for emergency in-flight repairs, I know people who have. Often the tool is just right for small adjustments and quick preflight tweaks. Early in my flight training my instructor whipped out a well-used Leatherman to tighten a radio connection and remedy a hot mic. And what pilot does not need a “Wingman” occasionally?

Price: $69.95

Flight Gear Survival Tool

Some emergencies require more than pliers, knives, and saws. The Flight Gear Survival Tool is a 13-in-1 multitool with features designed specifically for aviators. It includes an ax blade, wire cutter, pliers, knife, hex key, screwdrivers, and  hammer that can be used for a range of duties from setting tent stakes to breaking windows for emergency egress.

Price: $29.95

Stick and Rudder

This classic book about how aircraft fly and how to control them properly is a must-read for aspiring pilots as well as veteran aviators with thousands of hours in their logbooks, and every pilot in between. While author Wolfgang Langewiesche covers the fundamentals of flight, he also demonstrates how counterintuitive some of those fundamentals can seem, from the relationship between elevator and throttle to the nature of stalls. And do not let the 1944 copyright fool you. The book is as vital today as it was then.

Price: $23.08

Aviation Cuff Links

Having to wear cuff links on stage for a middle school production of The Sound of Music was a chore. Today, though, they are among my favorite fashion accessories. They are no longer so difficult to install, and wearing them is pure fun, especially when they express one of my special interests, like aviation. Cufflinks Depot has a broad range of airplanes, helicopters, and other aviation-themed examples worthy of consideration. I am partial to the Concorde.

Price: $34-$365

The post 5 Last-Minute Aviation Gift Ideas for Shoppers Battling Headwinds appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Headset manufacturer Lightspeed Aviation announced Monday that it is bringing Heider Lazzarini on board as the company’s new president.

Lazzarini succeeds Lightspeed founder Allan Schrader, who will remain with the company as its CEO and chairman of the board of directors. According to Lightspeed, Lazzarini will be responsible for day-to-day operations while Schrader will focus on “developing adjacent market opportunities utilizing existing and evolving technologies.”

“I’m excited to turn over our ongoing business operations to Heider,” said Schrader. “Heider’s experience, combined with his passion and energy, provide the perfect accelerant for our expanding business opportunities.”

Lazzarini comes to Lightspeed from a position as vice president of marketing for Axiometrix Solutions brands Audio Precision, GRAS Sound and Vibration, and Imc Test & Measurement. The company noted that he brings two decades of executive experience in general management, marketing and product sales in consumer, commercial, industrial, and military/government sectors. Lazzarini holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oregon.

“With decades of being first to market with audio and now piloting safety solutions, I believe that Lightspeed has a tremendous opportunity to deliver new value for its customers and partners,” said Lazzarini. “I am very excited to be joining this seasoned team as the company continues to evolve its latest technology platform to enhance the flying experience for the aviation market worldwide.” 

• READ MORE:  Lightspeed Aviation Releases Delta Zulu

Lightspeed launched its first headset in 1996 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In 2022, it unveiled its latest model, called Delta Zulu, which introduced features including a built-in carbon monoxide detector and app-controlled audio equalization system.

The post Lightspeed Aviation Names New President appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

I just replaced my push-to-talk switch—again I keep it and the portable intercom I bought many years ago in a special bag within  my flight bag. The portable intercom runs on 9-volt batteries or via a cable connected to the cigarette lighter. It and the PTT have saved many flights when the yoke-mounted PTT failed. If the learner can’t hear the CFI or vice-versa, the flight doesn’t happen.

Headsets are another item that can fail and create communication issues. After the mic on my David Clarks failed, I invested in a backup headset. Acquisition was easy. Hang around at a general aviation airport, and you will likely find someone or someone who knows someone who has an old pair of (insert brand here) that they are no longer using because they have upgraded or are hanging up their wings. The spare headset can become the one you provide to your passenger. They can often be acquired for low cost or no cost. It might need a little cleanup, such as new ear seals, but that is a relatively easy thing to do. Test the headset before you need it, either in the aircraft with the master on or take it to the avionics shop if there is one on the field. 

Make sure you put your name on your headset using a label maker or ink but never engrave it, as this can void a warranty. If you borrow a headset, or anything else from another pilot, make sure you know who it belongs to and that you have permission to use it. Warning (parent voice is being deployed): This is something you should have learned in kindergarten. Don’t be that person who keeps it until the owner of the object catches you with it and then tries to talk your way out of it. 

“They told me I could use it” translates to “I took it without permission” or “I found it and kept it even though I know it wasn’t mine” because there is no “they.”

When Borrowing Tools

I am uncomfortable doing this without express permission. Aviation mechanics I have worked with have told me stories about someone borrowing a tool and the awful feeling of discovering it is missing and wondering if you left it in an airplane. 

At a Part 141 school, only designated persons are permitted to work on an airplane—even tighten a screw—so don’t go borrowing a tool. Get an authorized maintenance person to do the adjustment. 

Under Part 61, talk to the individual mechanics. Some will tell you hands off, no matter what. Others will ask you to leave the tool on top of the box with a note stating you borrowed it and what it was used for.

Borrowing Teaching Supplies

The borrowing of teaching supplies happens a lot. When I was teaching my first ground school, I had to borrow the FAR/AIM from the chief ground instructor’s office. When I went to put it back after class, the door was locked and I didn’t have the key. I wrote him a note explaining I had borrowed the book and where I hid it in the classroom. I slid the note under the office door. I apologized for not asking permission first—this was before Google, so I could not look up the regulation online.

The chief sent me an email thanking me for the signed note, saying that apparently people saw “please take” signs all over his office. This, I learned, is part of the culture of some flight schools as it is not uncommon for CFIs to share a desk or for there to be communal briefing rooms, tables, and desks for the learners and renter pilots to use. 

If you find something in these communal spaces—a headset, a PTT, flashlight, yoke clip, etc.—it’s not yours to keep. Please turn it over to the front desk, let the CFIs know, or leave a note on the whiteboard in the classroom as to what you found and where, so the wayward object can find its way home. 

This goes for car keys too. One of my learners was two hours late for work—his wife had to come get him—because when his keys were found in a briefing room, the dispatch person put them in their desk and didn’t tell anyone she had found them. They weren’t discovered until the next morning when the morning desk person opened the draw to put her purse away.

If you misplace something and your name is on it, you have a better chance of getting it back. But it’s not a guarantee. I had the awkward experience of having a flight review candidate return a headset to me that I had lost 10 years prior. The flight review candidate told me the CFI he trained with at a now-defunct flight school had given him the headset. I had worked there as well, and the headset was the spare I kept in my desk. Apparently my former coworker borrowed it without telling me. I had been looking for it all these years. It still had my name on it. Most annoying is that he knew where to find me as our paths had crossed over the years.

Renting Equipment from the Flight School

There are some flight schools that have headsets as well as intercoms and PTT for rent. If you rent one of these items, make sure it gets back to the school. If you accidentally walk off with it, let the school know you’ve got it and will be returning it. It will be most appreciative.

The post It’s Common Sense: If You Borrow It, Return It appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Learning to fly is a daunting challenge for many reasons. The prospect of departing the earth’s surface at the controls of a small aircraft, while thrilling, can also be a bit scary. There are regulations to learn, exams to pass, both academic and physical, and skills and techniques to develop.

And then there is the cost.

While paying for instruction, aircraft rentals and fuel will strain the budgets of many students, it is the price of gear that tends to surprise learners the most. There is a long list of things student pilots need all at once when getting started, from headsets and tools to manuals, charts, kneeboards, and flashlights. It all adds up.

• READ MORE: FLYING Launches Learn to Fly Kit

“That’s aviation,” some people will say, claiming everything related to airplanes is expensive. However, as seasoned pilots know, there are always opportunities to save money. You simply have to know where to look.

I divide the acquisition of pilot gear into three categories. These include items available through retail channels at significant discounts, equipment easily found on the used market, typically online, and the things you can find by word of mouth, often through your instructor and other members of your airport community.

Basic retail items, such as flashlights, protractors, multitools, and tablet cases, come in a range of prices, so you can shop around for the gear that fits your budget. Doing without brand names and special features can add up to big savings.

Things get interesting when you start perusing the classifieds. Whether you are searching on eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or regional and local sites, you might be surprised by how much of the stuff you need is available on the used market. I found a Bendix KX-99 handheld comm radio going for $50 on my local Craigslist.

Years ago, friends in Maine turned me on to a marketplace site called Uncle Henry’s, which, they said, was for people who think Craigslist has gotten too fancy. I found a range of aviation equipment there, including winter covers for aircraft and skis, which are popular up north. A student might pass on these items for now, but two “lightly used” David Clark H10 headsets with an asking price of $300 are worth a look.     

• READ MORE: When Is the Best Time To Take the Test?

Many pilots will tell you the aviation headset gave them their worst case of sticker shock as new students. When I took my first flying lessons in 1988, right after college, I did not have a headset and simply used the Cessna 152’s built-in speaker and microphone—money saved and hearing acuity lost, I suspect.

These days, I consider the headset a necessity. A good one with active noise reduction will cost more than you think it should, but they last a long time and boost a pilot’s quality of life. You can also get a good deal on a used set. In my case, I paid my instructor a couple hundred bucks for an older Lightspeed model with noise reduction. I remember thinking the price was too high but soon learned it was a great value. Today, 10 years later, the set still works fine and remains in use, though mostly as a spare for passengers.

I like to think I saved the best option for last. Airport communities can be wonderful resources for all sorts of supplies, and pilots generally love to recycle. They are also good sources of advice regarding what to buy and where. Over the years, I have received and given lots of airplane necessities, from spare nuts, bolts, and screws to quarts of engine oil, tools, and electronics.

Often fellow pilots will give you what you need for a fraction of the retail cost. More often they will say, “Oh, just take it.”

The post Where To Find Pilot Gear on a Budget appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Part of the job of the pilot in command is the recognition and reduction of risk in the cockpit. Lightspeed Aviation, makers of some of the most popular headsets on the market, are helping pilots recognize and reduce risks with the introduction of the Delta Zulu headset. This active noise reduction (ANR) Bluetooth-enabled headset gives the pilot the ability to customize its auditory acuity with the help of an app, and it also has a built-in carbon monoxide detector that provides an auditory warning if there is CO present in the cockpit.

The company—based in Oswego, Oregon—describes the Delta Zulu headset as a “safety wearable.”

An App Makes It Possible

Lightspeed Aviation has been producing ANR headsets since 1996. With each headset, the technology advances. In the case of the Delta Zulu, the device features Kanari smart alert technology that measures cabin carbon monoxide levels and provides an audible warning to help keep the pilot and passengers safe. The free Lightspeed app allows the pilot to also check the CO sensor data visually during flight and review it later if they want to.

The App also makes it possible for the user of the headset to fine-tune the device to meet the wearer’s hearing needs. Unfortunately, hearing loss is a common experience as pilots age, and very rarely is it uniform in both ears.

To adjust the headset, the app uses a built-in audio equalization system called HearingEQity. The user engages in an automated 12-frequency hearing test (similar to one given by an audiologist, where you are asked if you hear a tone) through the Lightspeed app. HearingEQity sets the level in each ear of the headset to address the individual hearing profile, thus compensating for any variations.

The Lightspeed app also has functions that will likely be useful in the training environment, such as the ability for the pilot to record radio conversations, playback transmissions, draw diagrams, and archive flight recordings for post-flight briefing. These recordings can be reviewed on your phone or mobile device.  

• READ MORE: Why the Hearing Protection ANR Delivers is So Important

Lightspeed adds that “Delta Zulu features Bluetooth wireless technology with A2DP technology enabled cell phone communications and stereo music streaming along with alerts from aviation apps,” so you can be entertained, yet maintain situational awareness on those long flights. Delta Zulu also comes equipped with ComPriority, which automatically lowers the volume of any auxiliary device when there is a radio or intercom transmission.

For the pilot who utilizes many electronic devices during flight, Delta Zulu has an Ultra Accessory Connection (UAC) plug, allowing the user to connect to other devices directly from the headset for charging, data communications, and auxiliary audio.

As high-tech and evolved as Delta Zulu is, the headset does not need to be paired with a smart device to work, says Eric Landry, the director of marketing for Lightspeed Aviation.

“But the app unlocks capabilities and personalization that helps you expand your flying freedom,” Landry says. “The headset will detect carbon monoxide without using the app. If the pilot does not have an iOS device, using a friend’s iOS device for a one-time HearingEQity test will save the pilot’s customized hearing profile in their own Delta Zulu, and the Lightspeed app is no longer needed.”

Carbon Monoxide Warning

Carbon monoxide—a by-product of internal combustion—is a silent killer of pilots. It can leak into the cockpit through cracks in firewalls, engine manifolds, or faulty door seals. Because it is odorless and tasteless, a pilot may not realize the danger until it is too late. Delta Zulu provides the pilot with an automatic auditory warning, letting the pilot know that CO is detected, and how much there is in relation to parts per million. As the carbon monoxide increases, the warnings become more frequent. Just an FYI, the reading of 10 to 50 parts per million will result in a warning caution level.

• READ MORE: NTSB to FAA: Make Interactive Carbon Monoxide Detectors Mandatory

We Test Fly Delta Zulu

I took Delta Zulu into the air over the last week to evaluate it. The first thing I noticed was the comfort factor. Over the years, I have tried several full-ear coverage headsets. Like many pilots, I started my career with the student-pilot-friendly David Clark headset and eventually upgraded to ANR designs. 

The first test for the Delta Zulu: “Would the stainless steel headband interface well with my baseball cap that still has the button on the top?” The answer was yes, it did. It was also one of the lightest aviation headsets I have ever worn. According to Lightspeed, Delta Zulu weighs in at 14.9 ounces and the headband was designed to follow the curve of the human head for “more comfortable distribution of weight and side pressure.”

The next step was to adjust the ear seals. They are smaller than the ones on the David Clark or Bose headsets I’ve worn, and tapered to hug the wearer’s face. I tried the headset with both sunglasses on and sunglasses off—because that can make a difference in headset fit—and in both cases, the ear seals covered my entire ear and stayed in place even when I chewed gum. They were also comfortable enough that I did not really feel them during the 2.3 hours I spent in the air.

Delta Zulu comes in silver with copper badges on the ear cups—and that is your only color option. The color of the headset is probably not going to be an issue for most pilots—it certainly isn’t for me—since aviation headsets are about hearing protection and situational awareness.

Talk to Me, Delta Zulu

The activation and volume control on Delta Zulu are user friendly. I appreciated the annunciation on startup, telling us we didn’t have a CO leak in the cockpit. The volume on the headset is adjusted with slider switches.

The microphone was easy to adjust, and according to my copilot—as well as ATC—my transmissions were easy to understand. I did not have to make too much of an adjustment to get the microphone in “just the right spot,” as can happen with other headsets.

I was impressed by the clarity of sound coming through the headset. The transmissions were very crisp.

The unit also gives you an auditory update on battery level. The headset can be powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries or AA batteries in an easy-to-replace battery pack.

If you have ever accidentally left a battery powered device on and found the batteries dead when you returned, you will appreciate this: Delta Zulu has Lightspeed’s proprietary auto shutoff feature that saves battery life by automatically shutting down the headset power when the unit is not in use.

Plays Well With Others

Sometimes headsets do not work well with other brands—for example, a few years ago I had the experience of trying a new-to-the-market headset from another company that did not play well with David Clarks, which, at the time, was the headset of choice at the flight school where I worked. When I wore the new headset and the client wore DCs, there was an annoying, distracting high-pitched whine in the background. I was wary that there would be interference between the Delta Zulu and my copilot’s headset but there was no such issue.

Delta Zulu comes with a seven-year warranty, which is longer than other headsets on the market, and Lightspeed notes, “The unit is almost entirely made of stainless steel and magnesium with durable cables built around a Kevlar core.”

The only challenge I had with the Delta Zulu is that I would like to have a clip on the battery case/headset interface. The unit came with a piece of velcro for a cord clip, but I am not a pilot who likes to have anything loose in the cockpit. I like relatively heavy things—such as my flashlights, survival tool, and the battery compartment of my headset—to be secured. For the flight, I rigged a strap using a piece of parachute cord I carry for just such an occasion.

Accessories and Price Tag

Delta Zulu comes with accessories, including a hard-shell carrying case, which will be greatly appreciated if your headset was ever damaged because of poor protection from a soft-sided case and hostile gravity. Also included: a single-port wall charger, lithium-ion battery cartridge, AA battery cartridge, UAC to USB-A cable, a Velcro cord shirt clip, and a set of personalized icon chips so you can distinguish multiple headsets.

Delta Zulu carries a price tag of $1,099 and comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

“If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase for any reason, return the product for a full and prompt refund,” says Lightspeed. Delta Zulu is available in different plug configurations: Dual GA, LEMO panel power, and U-174.

Shop Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Built-in carbon monoxide detector, bluetooth, and its own app, the Delta Zulu packs a punch.

Shop Now

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The post Lightspeed Aviation Releases Delta Zulu appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

This year’s series of free aviation webinars offered by Sporty’s Pilot Shop is expanding.

Hosted by Sporty’s team of subject-matter experts and training partners, these interactive, multimedia, educational webinars cover a wide range of topics, including tips on pilot proficiency, avionics, and updates on new products and services.

Recent webinars have been hosted by experts such as aerobatic legend Patty Wagstaff, air traffic controller RJ Ratliff, and FLYING contributor and retired American Airlines pilot Capt. Les Abend. 

To join, all you have to do is register for free. 

Although they’re later posted on Sporty’s YouTube channel for on-demand viewing, watching these events in real time offers the key advantage of being able to ask questions. 

The remaining 2022 Sporty’s webinars are:

• iPad Proficiency Check
  Wednesday, September 21, 3 p.m. ET

• A Pilot’s Guide to Headsets
  Wednesday, October 12, 3 p.m. ET

• Advanced Flight Simulator Tips
  Wednesday, November 16, 3 p.m. ET

To register for free and to see the updated schedule, go to Sporty’s webinar page.

The post Sporty’s Expands 2022 Live Aviation Webinar Series appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

In this week’s installment of “V1 Rotate,” I give the David Clark One-X ANR headset an in-depth, long-term review based on 18 months of both professional and recreational usage. 

I run down the One-X’s list of features and rate its sound, microphone, noise cancellation, and even its build quality. You’ll also get my thoughts on how the One-X compares to several competing headsets. 

Prospective and current professional pilots looking for a good headset for both light piston aircraft and noisier turboprops and jets will be sure to find valuable insights.

The post It’s a Headset Thing appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

As an airplane taxis in, onlookers spot the distinct “green domes” on the pilot and passenger’s heads, and even before the engine is shut down, everyone knows this is a pilot who demands quality when it comes to their choice of headsets.

Since the mid-1970s, David Clark Company has been designing headsets for high-noise environments, beginning with the introduction of the H10-13.4 passive noise reduction headset. Over the years, this legendary headset model has undergone many significant improvements and remains one of the best-selling headsets in aviation, having logged millions of flight hours for thousands of pilots.

The H10-13.4 is a smart choice as an introductory headset for those learning to fly, based on the model’s well-earned reputation for comfort, performance, and unmatched durability, all at a price that fits a student pilot’s budget. The model is so well-designed, many student pilots that learn to fly with the H10-13.4 continue flying with it for years after receiving their pilot’s license.

Available in standard mono, stereo, and helicopter models, the H10-13.4 has double foam head pads, universal flex boom for perfect microphone placement, and ‘Comfort Gel’ ear seals, providing hours of comfort. For those Young Eagles in your family who may want to fly someday, a smaller youth model of the H10-13.4 is upgradeable to the full-sized version when needed.

Building on the long history of quality, comfort, and performance of the H10-13.4, the DC ONE-X headset features Hybrid Electronic Noise Canceling ANR technology that utilizes two microphones to provide state-of-the-art Active Noise Reduction for crisp, clear audio. The DC ONE-X weighs just 12.3 ounces and is engineered for long flights with a rugged yet lightweight alloy headband and suspension system, Outlast® vented fabric head pad and plush, leatherette ear seals with premium ‘slow recovery’ foam cradle the ears for comfort and a snug, secure seal.

The DC ONE-X has the features quality-minded pilots want from a premium ANR headset such as Bluetooth® wireless technology, backlit, compact, in-line user interface control module for night use, and up to 50 hours of use from two (2) AA batteries. An auto-shutoff feature prevents accidental battery drain if the control is inadvertently left “ON”.

Many pilots shopping for headsets may not know that David Clark company has been manufacturing air and space crew protective equipment since 1941, such as Anti-G Suits for fighter pilots during World War II, X-1 rocket plane pressure suits, the G-4C space suit for Ed White’s first U.S. spacewalk, full-pressure suits for U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird pilots, and NASA Space Shuttle Crew Escape suits.

The design of a David Clark Company space suit is literally a matter of life and death, so you know their quality control has to be right. This decades-long dedication to delivering a superior product shines through in their aviation headsets, which is why it is not uncommon to see seasoned pilots pass their cherished green domes down to their sons or daughters as they pursue their own dream to fly.

The post David Clark Brings a Legacy of Aviation and Space Innovation to Every Headset appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

If there’s one thing that will get a pilot’s attention immediately, it’s when ATC says something like: “Traffic alert! Your traffic is a P-51 at your 12 o’clock, same altitude, opposite direction, closing fast.” At that very moment, the last thing you need is to be using a cheap, substandard headset and have to struggle to hear this important transmission from ATC.

When you absolutely need to hear and understand ATC instructions, you need the superb sound quality and noise-cancellation technology of the Bose A20 headset. With 30 percent greater noise reduction than conventional aviation headsets, this top-of-the-line ergonomic headset sets the standard for aviation headsets with features and performance that will serve owners for many years.

Bose was the first company to introduce commercially available, active-noise-reduction headsets to the market and has over 30 years of experience providing headsets for critical communications globally. Along with their line of aviation headsets, Bose is known worldwide for a wide range of audio equipment, all delivering the high standard of quality that comes from the company’s long history of innovation.

The A20 stands out as a great value for students and CFIs, with a durable, comfortable design that offers 30 percent less clamping force than conventional aviation headsets. On short hops or long hauls, at just 12 ounces, both pilot and passenger will appreciate using one of the lightest and most comfortable around-ear headsets available, with that comfort enhanced by soft ear cushions.

Bose engineers have succeeded in designing comfort into the A20, but even that effort is surpassed by the features and performance built into the headset. Leading that feature set is of course the Bose active noise reduction technology, which automatically shapes and equalizes incoming signals for enhanced clarity and intelligibility. The ergonomic control module includes an auxiliary audio input with intercom/AUX priority switching, ideal for hand-held GPS devices and electronics flight bags. The A20 has flexible power circuitry with auto-on that switches to and from battery power and aircraft power, and Bluetooth connectivity allows users to wirelessly connect to their Bluetooth-enabled devices.

The A20 is fully certified to FAA Technical Standard Orders and E/TSO-C139 standards and meets or exceeds the standards set for the product category of aviation headsets. Before the A20 received TSO certification, the model was tested in extreme heat and subzero temperatures for multiple hours and endured numerous drop tests. As if that was not enough testing abuse, the A20 design also had to withstand tens of thousands of flexes, tugs and pulls; survive crush testing to prove durability; and be able to function when subjected to a multitude of environmental factors including sand, humidity, condensation, blowing rain, thermal cycles, salt fog and more.

The Bose A20 delivers everything a pilot needs in an aviation headset, including comfort and durability, from a company that has always set the standard for audio performance.

The post Bose A20 Aviation Headset Offers Clarity When You Need it Most appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

As you work toward your goal of becoming a pilot, one thing’s for sure: You’ll collect certain key tools that you’ll want in the airplane and on the ground, and you’ll need a way to carry them around with you. Flight kits, starting with the bag itself, take on as many shapes and sizes as there are pilots. With some aviators, that kit is like an extra-large diaper bag, containing supplies and equipment—and backups—for every contingency. Other pilots take a minimalist approach, with a slimmed-down tote that fits only a headset, an iPad, batteries and a snack. While you settle upon your style, here are a few elements to consider for your flight kit.

Flight bag

Start off with the bag itself. If you pick the right size bag for your mission, you’ll never lack space for what you need—nor will you be fishing around in a too-big bag for the one thing that always falls to the bottom. There are a number of great student-optimized flight bags on the market, but check out the new Sporty’s Pilot Shop’s Flight Gear iPad bag. It has key features you should look for in every flight bag, such as padding in the right places and lots of pockets and slots to keep loose items in check.

Headset

You can protect your hearing even before you climb into the airplane for your first flight by scoping out a good headset. For use in most training aircraft, you’ll typically want one that covers your ears, and you can pick the one that best matches your budget. If you have the funds, invest in active noise reduction, which is the same technology you may have used in a pair of headphones to reduce ambient noise as a passenger on a commercial flight. Here are four pilot-specific headsets (standard and ANR) we can recommend:

Under $200: Kore Aviation KA-1

Between $200 and $500: David Clark H10-13.4

Between $500 and $900: Lightspeed Sierra ANR

More than $900: Bose A20

Mobile Device

One of the MVPs of the cockpit, your mobile device (whether an iPad, other tablet or a decent-size smartphone) comes in handy in such a variety of ways that it’s tough to list them all here. Though you will want to learn how to perform critical calculations manually in order to understand the underlying concepts, later on you’ll find that many apps save you time and brain space on the flight deck. Your choice of mobile-device operating system (iOS or Android) determines the apps available. You’ll want an extra battery pack to back up your device for long cross-country flights, or a cord to plug into a USB outlet if your training airplane has one installed.

Kneeboard

While you may do a lot on a tablet or smartphone, pilots also find various paper references useful in the cockpit as well—and it helps to have a specialized clipboard, which pilots refer to as a “kneeboard,” to strap onto your leg for easy access during flight. What kind of kneeboard suits you best depends on whether you want one to use for your device (such as a strap to secure the unit to your leg) or a more robust one for taking notes and holding charts. Many have critical information printed on them that can be helpful in both normal and emergency situations. These selections show the options available:

Aviation Supplies & Academics’ VFR kneeboard ASA-KB-1-A or VFR trifold kneeboard ASA-KB-3-A

MyClip multitablet kneeboard from Sporty’s

Charts, Flight Computers and Logs

Speaking of paper charts, you will need a few traditional tools to both help you learn the basics and serve as a primary reference or backup—depending on your course of instruction and how your training aircraft is equipped. You can also access charts online through a variety of vendors, including SkyVector and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. In addition to the sectional and terminal area charts that show where you fly, you will also want to invest in a flight computer or manual E6B and paper flight-planning logs to help you pencil out your first flight plans. You might add these to your kit:

Sporty’s E6B flight computer

ASA flight-planning logs

Fuel Tester

One of the most critical preflight actions you’ll take is to check the quantity, quality and grade of the fuel on board your airplane prior to flight. In order to do this, you need a fuel tester. You’ll also need a special dipstick to gauge visually the amount of fuel in many tanks (especially on high-wing airplanes). While most schools have fuel testers and the proper dipstick in the seat-back pocket in each airplane ready for you to use, it pays to carry your own fuel tester so you’re never caught out. Sporty’s makes one called the Gats Jar that allows you to strain the fuel back into the tanks so you need not dispose of it incorrectly. There are also other slimmer options from Jeppesen, ASA and Pilot Mall.

Read More: Learn to Fly

Sunglasses

While your own favorite sunglasses make you look cool—or just block the sun adequately for most of what you do on the ground—your needs in flight change, and you might consider equipping your eyes accordingly. You’ll also want to be aware that polarizing lenses can change colors and distort your view in the cockpit. Here are a couple of aviation-specific shades to try:

Flying Eyes Kestrel series

Scheyden C-130 Titanium

Ray-Ban RB3136 Caravan

Hat, Gloves and Layers

The climate changes rapidly as you ascend into the sky, or you could fly to a destination where the weather is decidedly different from your departure airport. Yes, flying takes you places, and it pays to be prepared. For the most comfort in the cockpit, dress in layers, and be sure to pack adequate clothing (including hats and gloves as needed) for where you’re going—or if you happen to land somewhere you didn’t plan to.

Food and Hydration

Finally, you need to ensure that you’re physically fit for flight, and that includes properly nourishing yourself before the flight and making sure you have enough energy to maintain yourself during. This goes double for hydration: Drinking enough water or other healthy fluids before and during your flight will help keep your mind sharp and your flying at its peak. Think of yourself as an athlete preparing for an event, and you have the right idea. We like various protein or granola bars for quick, easily digestible energy during the flight, as well as snacks such as nuts and dried fruit. A refillable water bottle can be topped off at stops along the way.

This story appeared in the 2021 Learn to Fly Special Issue of Flying Magazine

The post Building Out Your Flight Gear Bag appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Both new and experienced pilots wonder how they’ll know for sure when they’ve identified the best headset. Matt Ruwe, a senior product manager at Bose, has a rather simple answer. “A great headset is the one you don’t even notice you’re wearing,” he says. “There are a few things in aviation that can really influence how much you enjoy what you’re doing, and a headset is one of them.”

Some of the defining elements of a headset include its weight, comfort, ease of use, clamping strength, noise reduction and price. Often shoppers focus first on price, which can be a mistake in the long run; The least-expensive headset often has earned a reputation as “the cheapest” because the manufacturer left something out, such as good noise reduction. Headsets can always be replaced, but repairing your hearing later in life because you chose a cheap headset early on, well, that’s not so easy.

Thirty years ago, when I began flying turboprops for a living, I bought a slightly worn David Clark H10 for a hundred dollars and used it for years. In fact, that headset’s still sitting in my flight bag as a backup. Its passive noise reduction works great, but, of course, this was before active-noise-reduction technology existed, so the best the DC could offer was soft, liquid-filled ear cushions clamped close to my head to block the noise. A version of that headset is still made today.

You can shop and compare various headsets at Sporty’s Pilot Shop and Aircraft Spruce & Specialty.

That vintage headset weighed in at about a pound, perhaps a bit more if you included the heavy-duty cables that came with. Today, the lightest headsets, such as the Bose ProFlight Series 2, weigh just a shade over 4 ounces. The lightest Bose product comes with earpieces that pilots must push slightly into their ears, which some pilots might not prefer. There are plenty of around-the-ear cushions on other headsets to choose from, however.

With the introduction of active noise reduction (see sidebar), headset technology has moved light-years ahead of my first David Clarks thanks to years of research on the part of headset manufacturers. That often translates into a loftier price. I once tried to replace the David Clarks with a $450 headset built by an unknown company, something that looked good and would record ATC audio, but it turned out to be a real pain. A year later, the headset was a piece of junk that began squealing when I tried to record with it. By then, the manufacturer was out of business, and I was out about $500 when you include the tax. I began the search all over again. So what did I save?

Try asking other pilots, such as your flight instructor, which headset they chose and why, as well as which ones they’d prefer not to own. Some of the top manufacturers building headsets today include David Clark, Faro, Bose, Aloft Technologies, Telex, Sigtronics and Lightspeed, so there are quite a few to choose from.

Every pilot can offer an opinion about some of these important issues—clamping force, for instance. The tighter the headband squeezes the earcups to your ear, the better the passive noise reduction, but too much force can create a headache after a long day in the cockpit. Cheap headsets also contribute to pilot fatigue. Today, Bluetooth is available on most midrange and higher headsets because customers want to listen to music on long cross-country flights. The best ones prioritize radio communications and cut off the music when the frequency becomes active. Another checklist item is the headset frame. The lightest, strongest headset frames use magnesium, so check before you buy. Most ANR headsets also demand a power source that can be tapped a couple of different ways. Many of the newer ANRs will operate with a couple of small batteries placed somewhere along the cord between the headset and where the cables plug in.

Many headsets come standard with twin plugs called PJs, the most common plug for aircraft today. There are also Lemo plugs that allow the headset to draw the power it needs from the aircraft itself, so the headset won’t die at an important moment. Choose wisely when ordering, because the plug can limit your flexibility to bring it into another aircraft.

In the end though, the only person who can choose the best headset for you is you. No matter where you buy your headset, I’d suggest purchasing it with a credit card so you can return it if you’re buying online with no opportunity to try it first. Always choose a retailer that offers a money-back guarantee if you’re not happy. Sporty’s Pilot Shop, for instance, offers a 30-day guarantee.

Don’t forget used headsets are also a possibility. Check out eBay, or try posting a note at your flight school telling people you’re interested in a headset in case someone’s planning on selling what they currently use.

How It Works: Active Noise Reduction

In the early days of airborne communications, earphones were created to make deciphering radio conversations for pilots easier above the roar of the engines and wind. Some of the first earphones crafted from hard Bakelite used no padding and were extremely uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. Advances in acoustical research improved the wearing comfort of headsets by adding flexible cups that totally covered the ears—although they only muted some of flying’s more-annoying noises.

While experts claimed our sense of hearing was nearly as critical to flying as a keen sense of sight, it wasn’t until about 30 years ago that engineers realized the importance of blending comfort with advances in hearing protection. Research, in fact, shows unprotected exposure to noise levels greater than 90 dB—equivalent to what a human would encounter standing near a running lawn mower for long periods of time—can cause permanent hearing loss, initially in the lower frequencies outside the conversational range. Early earcup headphones blocked high-frequency noise rather effectively but did a poor job on low-frequency sounds, such as droning propellers. Engineers learned that simply pressing the earcups more tightly to the person’s head did little to solve the problem.

Enter active-noise-reduction technology in the mid-1980s, which is available today in several high-end aviation headsets from companies such as Bose, Lightspeed, David Clark and others. Bose created the first successful ANR aviation headset in 1989 and debuted its popular A20 model in 2010.

Rather than simply attempting to block annoying cockpit noise, the heart of the ANR system creates an alternate electronic signal that’s fed back into the headset’s electronics to actually cancel out the unwanted sounds. ANR headphones accomplish this using acoustical building blocks such as feedback and the feed-forward loop system, digital or analog processing, and a full-feature driver/speaker.

ANR systems operate by using one or more microphones placed near the pilot’s ears either inside or outside the headphones to accurately hear what the pilot does. In a sound-feedback system, for example, that output is compared to the sound the pilot wants to hear, usually radio communications or possibly music. The cancellation signal created though amplification and filtering then builds the signal fed to the driver. With just the right amount of filtering, the result is noise cancellation that effectively reduces sound pressure on the ear. Audio engineers say noise canceling “destructively interferes” with unwanted noise.

Pilots simply call it near-perfect quiet, until an important sound is detected and crisply delivered to the ears.

The best ANR units focus on more than just the electronics of quietness, and they employ headbands designed with soft contoured foam pads to minimize pressures on the head—because ANR headsets are a one-size-fits-all creation. The best ANR headsets also offer adjustment of the feedback level to customize the near-perfect blend of control over what the pilot eventually hears.

This story appeared in the Learn to Fly Special Issue of Flying Magazine

The post What Makes a Good Pilot Headset? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Bose, already famous for creating the first commercially available active noise-reduction headset in 1989 and the highly successful A20 ANR unit in 2010, just announced its ProFlight headset, aimed at professional pilots in the airline and corporate jet aircraft sector. The ProFlight is a radical change to ANR headsets since Bose’s newest product does not use conventional ear cups and weighs in at just 4.9 ounces, less than half the weight of the A20. The ProFlight is also configurable with three different ANR settings to match a variety of cockpit noise challenges.

The more cumbersome — to some critics — ear cups on conventional headsets have been replaced on the ProFlight with earbuds similar to those found in Bose consumer products like the SoundSport. The new headset uses a stable headband to bring all the elements together in a system pilots might almost not even notice they’re wearing. We tested the new ProFlight at Bose headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts, and found that earbuds for aviation have improved significantly, no longer demanding the pilot jam the buds into their ears to make them effective. One reason the new earbuds wore comfortably is Bose’s StayHear silicone tips, which keep the buds in just the right location for maximum effectiveness.

The crown jewel in the ProFlight headset is, of course, that it’s a fully functioning ANR device, despite its tiny size, something the company believes will offer pilots the audio clarity they expect, with user-configurable ANR performance. Pilots will no longer need to remove one ear cup in flight to clarify what the person next to them just said thanks to ProFlight’s headset tap control, which allows pilots to select just the right strength of Bose’s acoustic noise-canceling technology. ProFlight also includes fully functional Bluetooth connectivity.

At $995.95, the ProFlight sells for the same price as the A20. The new ProFlight headset might not be everyone’s cup of tea, however, since it doesn’t offer quite as much noise reduction as the A20. Certainly, jet drivers will love the ProFlight, but whether a Cirrus or Meridian pilot will opt for a much lighter headset if it also means slightly less ANR, only time will tell. Bose began taking orders for the ProFlight at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo, with first deliveries expected in the last week of May. Flying will soon test the ProFlight in action, so watch for an upcoming report.

The post Bose’s ProFlight Aviation Headset is a Radical Change to ANR Headsets appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Bose Corporation has announced that the updated version of its ProFlight Series headset for jet cockpit environments will be available in September. The headset features a lighter 4.5-ounce “on-the-head” weight, and a thin, flexible cable. The same features as the previous version include Bose’s digital active noise cancellation, with three user-selected modes of cancellation for a more personalized experience.

Also updated: the tap control for talk-through communication. Both Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth variations are available, and the headset is FAA TSO and E/TSO-C139A certified.

Because the headsets are not available yet, the company is not running a special promotion on the product during EAA AirVenture 2019, according to Matt Ruwe, company spokesman. However, Ruwe mentioned its long-standing trade-in credit policy continues to apply.

The post Bose Introduces ProFlight Series 2 Headset appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

As the gates opened for the annual Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, Florida, Bose announced a new aviation headset, its first aviation product introduction since its popular active noise-cancelling A20 was launched in 2010.

The Bose ProFlight Aviation Headset is targeted to the professional pilot community. Bose claims the new headset is the industry’s smallest, quietest and most comfortable ANR headset, though it does not provide quite as much noise cancellation as the A20. Unlike the ear cups that are used for most aviation headsets, the ProFlight headset uses a headband with earbuds, which makes the whole system less than half the weight of the A20. ProFlight weighs only 4.9 ounces. Bose’s StayHear silicone tips promise better comfort than some other earbud-style headsets.

One great addition is the tap control, which allows the user to manipulate the ANR feature for more or less noise cancellation (there are three levels). So rather than having to remove an earbud when communicating with a passenger who is not using a headset, the pilot can reduce the noise cancellation level. The ProFlight Aviation Headset also includes Bluetooth connectivity.

The price for the ProFlight Aviation headset is $995.95 and it will be available at the end of May.

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For a great holiday gift that will ensure your loved one who flies will not have to ask ATC to “say again,” the Bose A20 active noise reduction headset could be the most important box they unwrap from under the tree this holiday season. After the initial elation of being given such a well-engineered headset–backed by more than 30 years of legendary Bose research and development–imagine their face when they open a second box to unveil a pair of Bose Frames, the super cool Bluetooth sunglasses with exclusive Open Ear Audio technology that will let them discreetly listen to music or take phone calls without having anything inside or over their ears.

Right now, Bose is offering a smoking hot deal with any Bose A20 or ProFlight Series 2 Aviation Headset purchase by throwing in a free set of Bose Frames (Alto or Rondo models) – an up to $199.95 value. Plus, Bose is offering 10 percent off each additional A20 or ProFlight Series 2 headset purchased. A20 and ProFlight Series 2 headset orders received between November 22 and January 9 are eligible to receive a free set of Bose Alto or Rondo Frames. For additional information and promotion rules, please visit Bose.com/aviation.

The Bose A20 has been a leader in the headset market for many years, due to the long list of desirable features that make it a popular choice of pilots who want to limit external cabin and engine noise to better understand ATC and radio traffic. The A20 headset gives pilots 30 percent greater noise reduction and 30 percent less “clamping force” than conventional aviation headsets, while a weight of just 12 ounces and soft ear cushions provide ultimate comfort. Add technology such as Bluetooth connectivity, 45 hours of battery life from just two AA batteries, auxiliary audio input with intercom/AUX priority switching for dedicated GPS and traffic warning systems, and flexible power circuitry with auto-on that switches to and from battery power and aircraft power, and you can see why this headset will be welcomed as 2020′s top holiday gift for any pilot.

The Bose Frames sunglasses are equally engineered to deliver the renowned Bose sound quality while looking good doing it. The Alto design has a classic angular shape–one of the most iconic sunglass silhouettes–while the Rondo design offers a distinct rounded shape first popularized by artists and musicians who need to just look great in their shades.

With a patented acoustic chamber that delivers sound without penetrating the ear and premium lenses in various popular shades and styles, Bose Alto and Rondo Frames weigh in at a comfortable 45 grams and have a Bluetooth range of 30 feet. After a fast charging time of just up to two hours, they will stream music or make phone calls for up to 3.5 hours. The Bose Connect app gives you easy access to personalize your Bose Frames settings to unlock new product features such as “Press & Turn gesture control” to change the volume of your phone while it stays in your pocket or bag.

To learn more and shop visit: Bose.com/aviation

The post Gift the Bose A20 Headset and Receive Free Bose Frames Bluetooth Sunglasses appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s pilots have many options when it comes to aviation headsets. But when pilots are looking to invest in an active noise cancelling headset, the Bose name usually comes to mind. And it’s not just because Bose was the company that pioneered active noise cancelling headsets for pilots.

Bose aviation headsets are born out of a rigorous research and development process that has been refined and improved upon over many decades of product development. Ultimately, this process yields the best combination of noise cancellation, comfort and clarity – a difference pilots notice and appreciate in their aviation headsets.

Aviation Roots That Run Deep

Bose has been a household name in consumer electronics for a long time, but some might not know that the company’s roots in active noise cancellation technology actually began on an airplane more than four decades ago. On a long international flight in 1978, Dr. Amar Bose tried on a set of airline-provided headphones, only to experience increased noise from the aircraft. He immediately began designing a solution in his notebook. It was during this flight from Europe to the U.S. that Dr. Bose developed his concept for noise cancellation technology.

After years of research and development, the first prototype Bose active noise cancelling headset debuted on Voyager’s record-breaking nonstop flight around the world in late 1986. That historic flight provided a valuable test platform and proved that Bose active noise cancellation technology in aviation headsets would benefit pilots. In 1989, Bose introduced its first active noise cancelling headset to the broader market – the Series 1. And for over 40 years, Bose has been hard at work improving aviation headset technology.

Innovation Led by Pilots

Since Bose developed its first noise cancellation headset, the company’s relentless commitment to innovation and engineering excellence can be seen with each headset introduction. This has made Bose a trusted provider for U.S. military transport pilots, airlines, corporate flight departments, and many of the largest aircraft OEMs in the world. Bose has earned this trust because it has proven time and time again that its active noise cancelling headsets will provide clear, reliable communication, and a comfortable experience for pilots.

All Bose headset features and functionality are created with purpose, and pilot input is a valuable part of the process. In fact, many of the engineers, salespeople and product developers on the Bose Aviation team are pilots themselves. Because when it comes to developing a new aviation headset, there’s no better resource for gathering feedback than those who wear the headset every day.

Bose also looks to its valued partners for insights that drive product development and offerings. Through strong relationships with airlines, corporate flight departments, flight schools and leading avionics manufacturers, Bose keeps a pulse on changes to cockpit and flight deck environments and to the evolving needs of pilots.

Using these insights, Bose has designed headsets that help prepare pilots for unknown challenges. Even a pandemic. Bose’s move toward compact, lightweight headsets has made it easier for pilots to carry their own personal headsets from flight to flight, limiting the sharing of headsets between pilots.

Engineered for the Toughest Conditions

When it comes to piloting an aircraft, whether it’s a general aviation airplane, a commercial airliner or a helicopter, aviation headsets must be able to withstand the challenges of any cockpit environment. For this reason, Bose headsets are tested beyond the toughest conditions that most pilots will ever experience to ensure long-term product durability and reliability.

One measure of excellence is meeting and exceeding a TSO, which is an important step in the life of every Bose aviation headset. TSO – or Technical Standard Orders – come from the FAA. Like pilot licenses and equipment inspections, TSO certifications help the FAA ensure safety for the entirety of every mission.

Below is a partial list of the rigorous tests required for TSO certification:

• Extreme heat. The Bose ProFlight Series 2 and the Bose A20 must withstand temperatures at or above 55C/131F for several hours, followed immediately with drop tests from 6 feet (1.83 meters) onto a concrete floor along with cable flex tests. During those tests, they must continue to perform properly at those temperatures for two hours.
• Subzero temperatures. The Bose ProFlight Series 2 and the Bose A20 are stored at or below -25C/-13F and immediately subjected to drop tests from 6 feet (1.83 meters) onto a concrete floor along with cable flex tests. They must continue to perform properly at those temperatures after three hours in the cold.
• Electricity. The Bose ProFlight Series 2 and the Bose A20 are tested for electrostatic discharge immunity. Tested across dozens of contact points, each headset is subjected to between 4,000 and 12,000 volts of static electricity.
• Explosive atmosphere testing. The Bose A20 is tested in operational mode within an explosive atmosphere and is not a source of ignition.
• Extended wear. TSO requires that headset cables and components withstand tens of thousands of flexes and tugs and pulls – the equivalent of many years of use. The Bose standard is even more demanding than the TSO requirement to ensure each cable and assembly is durable and robust.
• Crush testing. While inside their cases, headsets are weight tested to make sure they can withstand the direct effect of weight applied to all surfaces of the case. The headsets also have to endure compression tests and mechanical shocks, surviving both with normal functionality.
• Decompression testing. Headsets must operate correctly after a decompression to service ceiling altitudes, which they are subjected to for at least 10 minutes.
• Vibration table testing. Headsets are subjected to vibratory forces across frequency ranges to ensure they survive without loss of functionality.
• Electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing. Products are tested for immunity to interference from magnetism, cell phone signals and radio frequency (RF) signal interference from various sources. Then we run conformity tests to ensure the product meets global regulatory requirements for radiated emissions and interference.
• UV. Accelerated solar radiation tests are performed to ensure components are durable and will not degrade in integrity or appearance, providing a consistent experience over the lifetime of the products.
• Chemical resistance. All surfaces, coatings and markings are tested for resistance to abrasion, cleaning, perspiration and other wear activities.
• Dozens of additional tests. In all, 145 separate tests are run to ensure the headset functions within regulatory limits under environmental and mechanical extremes, all while maintaining an acceptable appearance and user experience.

In addition to FAA and EASA E/TSO standards, Bose performs its own tests to ensure all aviation headsets are reliable and durable. Bose’s significant investment in the engineering, manufacturing and testing process validates your own investment in a Bose aviation headset.

The Bose Difference

Combine Bose’s 30 years of aviation headset research and development with its commitment to TSO certification, and it’s clear why Bose aviation headsets perform to a high standard. But the best way to understand that difference is by experiencing the A20 or the ProFlight Series 2 for yourself. You can do that risk-free with Bose’s 60-day test flight opportunity. Learn more here.

The post The Bose Difference appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

As is the case in aviation, each coming year brings technological advances and ­innovations that translate into aircraft and products that can do things we never before thought possible. This was just such a year, bringing to the fore an impressive array of new aircraft that can go faster, fly more smoothly and better engage fliers than ever before, along with new pilot gear that helps us overcome complicated challenges to fly more efficiently while making the journey more comfortable and fun.

As we usually find, the process of selecting Flying‘s 2014 Editors’ Choice Award winners was a trying one, since the worthy candidates were too many to count. In the end we selected four winners that have brought remarkable new capabilities to the field of general aviation and raised the bar for tomorrow’s aircraft and gear designers. As we have done in years past, we also took this opportunity to recognize one of the many amazing charities using flying as a means of positive change. With that said, we are proud to announce Flying‘s 2014 Editors’ Choice Award winners. Congrats, all.

TBM 900 Faster than Ever

It’s been more than 25 years since the original TBM 700 emerged on the scene and revolutionized general aviation with its ultrafast and ultraefficient design. Since then the single-engine turboprop has only continued to get better as it has evolved throughout the years. Daher-Socata’s latest iteration, the TBM 900, takes the airplane to its fullest realization yet, thanks to the recent use of computational fluid dynamics to seek out and eliminate inefficiencies in the design.

Major changes include a redesigned cowling, the addition of winglets, a specifically designed five-blade composite prop from Hartzell and improved engine operation, among others. All of them add up to enhanced performance and a smoother flying experience in an airplane whose reputation for such was already tough to beat. The end product boasts a cruise speed of 330 knots, a figure that makes the TBM 900 competitive with light jets while offering something they can’t — the economy of a 60 gph fuel burn as opposed to a heavy load of jet fuel. Not only is the newest TBM incredibly fast, but it also has better range and short field performance, making for a remarkable airplane well worthy of earning Daher-Socata a Flying 2014 Editors’ Choice Award.

Lightspeed Zulu PFX A New Kind of Quiet

Lightspeed’s new flagship headset, the Zulu PFX, has been years in the making, and the effort shows. The end product is the quietest headset we’ve used — ever. The secret is new technology designed by Lightspeed engineers that they call acoustic response mapping, which adapts audio to your unique ear shape and analyzes the environment to ­eliminate any ambient noise. The result is an incredible quiet that sets the landscape for the ultimate in crisp and clear audio communications.

On top of that, the Lightspeed Zulu PFX’s large ear cups and soft seals make for a very comfortable fit, and at a weight of just 14 ounces, the headset’s light feel makes it easy to wear on short and long hauls alike. Despite that lightweight construction, the Zulu PFX is made to last, and Lightspeed’s five-year warranty backs that up. Ultimately, when it comes to a cockpit staple like the headset, it simply gets too much use to warrant anything short of the best. In that regard, Lightspeed’s Zulu PFX, which is second to none, delivers the goods.

Embraer Legacy 500 A Fly-by-Wire Marvel

Embraer’s new Legacy 500, first launched in 2007, achieved FAA certification this past October, and in the process set a whole new bar for midsize jets. The most revolutionary aspect of the jet is of course its full fly-by-wire technology, something that has never before been implemented in the midsize class. The smart system reads pilot inputs and in turn ­maneuvers the aircraft in the smoothest and most efficient way possible, making for an incredibly serene ride.

As innovative as that is, that’s just the beginning for the Legacy 500. The jet also features a flat-floor, 6-foot-tall cabin with seating for eight and four fully berthable positions. Unlike other midsize jets, the Legacy 500 actually has the muscle to fill all eight seats and take those passengers on city-pair journeys such as New York to Los Angeles nonstop. The cabin is the longest and widest of any midsize jet on the market, and the interior — which Embraer took on wholly in-house to up the ante on quality — exudes luxury and comfort. Look for a full pilot report on the Legacy 500 in an upcoming issue of Flying.

Able Flight Helping Others Reach New Heights

There is no shortage of organizations using general aviation to effect positive change in the world, and the many that do so on an everyday basis in places near and far serve as a continual testament to the power and generosity of this great community of fliers and flying enthusiasts. While there are countless aviation charities that deserve recognition, we are proud to award Flying‘s 2014 Editors’ Choice Award to Able Flight, an organization that helps disabled individuals pursue aviation training and in the process enjoy the life-changing challenges and fulfillment that come along with it.

Founded in 2006, Able Flight has helped dozens of people with physical disabilities receive their pilot’s certificate. This past year was a particularly exceptional one for Able Flight, which awarded nine new scholarships to a group that included five veterans wounded in action, a woman born with a congenital spinal condition, two men paralyzed during auto accidents and one man with cerebral palsy. Four of those recipients received their wings during a ceremony at AirVenture’s Boeing Plaza after completing pilot training at Purdue University earlier in the year. All now join the ranks of scholarship recipients who have had the chance to enjoy the power and rewards of aviation thanks to the great work of Able Flight.

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Bose Corporation released the original ProFlight headset in 2018, and reactions from professional aviators flying turbine equipment weren’t quite what the company was expecting from people willing to pay $1,000 each. Many gave up their trusty A20s on a promise that the new lightweight headset at 4.9 ounces would represent a radical upgrade from what some saw as the brain-numbing 12 ounces the older over-ear units weighed. The ProFlights were also ­fully Bluetooth capable.

When cockpit crews ­began using them—such as the ­people at Flying who ­evaluated the ProFlight—they found the headset awkward to put on each flight, as well as keep in place as the person turned their head as they must during flying activities. The unit Flying tested regularly fell off the pilot’s head almost completely. Additionally, many pilots scoffed at the poor audio quality when they tried pumping in music from their iPhones. On the plus side for this tiny headset, many pilots reported the active noise canceling worked as well as on the much larger A20s.

At AirVenture, Bose said that it’s a new day for their lightest-weight headset when they announced the ­ProFlight Series 2. The company says they listened to the feedback of cockpit crews to ­develop this successor headset. An important start is that Bose managed to shave more weight from the Series 2, which now weighs in at only 4.4 ounces. The new ProFlight 2 includes a new thinner, lighter, and more flexible cable to provide pilots improved freedom of movement and allow easy unpacking and storage. The ProFlight 2 still incorporates the side-tap feature to allow pilots to easily adjust the amount of noise ­canceling on the unit to, for instance, easily allow for ­conversation between pilots in the air. The ProFlight 2 automatically shuts itself down when not in use, although the ­batteries should last about 45 hours when the unit is on. The ProFlight series of headsets are designed for the lower overall cockpit noise environment of a turbine airplane—not, say, the cockpit of a piston ­single. Time will tell if Bose has solved the problems inherent with the original ProFlight.

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Part of preparing for your flight training means making sure you have the right tools with you—whether your day’s learning session involves time in the sim, ground lessons, or a flight. Here, we assemble a representative kit that will outfit you for training, with a selection of ideas from products we’ve tested over the long term for their suitability, reliability, and durability.

Flight Bag

Pick the right sized bag for your mission, and you’ll never lack room for what you need—nor will you be fishing around in a too-big bag for the one thing that always falls to the bottom. There are a number of great student-optimized flight bags on the market, but check out the Jeppesen Student Book Bag. With exterior pockets plus a double-zipper opening, you can use it for ground training or to take out to the airplane.

Headset

Your hearing protection begins before you get into the airplane for your first flight—by scoping out a good headset. You’ll typically want one that covers your ears for most training aircraft, and you can pick the one that matches your budget best. If you have the funds, invest in active-noise reduction (ANR), like the technology you may have used to reduce ambient noise as a passenger on a commercial flight. Here are three headsets (normal and ANR) we can recommend:

Under $200: Kore Aviation KA-1

Between $200 and $500: David Clark H10-13.4 Aviation Headset

Between $500 and $900: Lightspeed Sierra ANR Aviation Headset

Mobile Device

One of the MVPs of the cockpit, your mobile device (whether a tablet or a decent-sized smart phone) comes in handy in such a variety of ways it’s tough to list here. Though you will want to learn how to perform critical calculations manually in order to understand the underlying concepts, later on you’ll find many apps save you time and brain space. You will find apps for flight planning, weight and balance, performance, reference, and studying for exams. Your choice of mobile device operating system (iOS or Android) determines the apps available. You’ll want an extra battery pack to back up your device for long cross-country flights.

Kneeboard

While you may do a lot on a tablet or smartphone, pilots also find various paper references useful in the cockpit as well—and it helps to have a specialized clipboard (which pilots refer to as a kneeboard) to strap onto your leg for easy access during flight. What kind of kneeboard suits you best depends on whether you want to use it for your device or just taking notes and holding charts. But many have useful information printed on them that can be helpful in normal and emergency situations. These two from ASA made for visual flight rules (VFR) show the options available:

ASA Visual Flight (VFR) Kneeboard ASA-KB-1

ASA KB-3 VFR Trifold Kneeboard

Charts/Flight Computer/Logs

Speaking of paper charts, you will need a few traditional tools to both help you learn the basics, and to serve as a primary reference or backup, depending on your course of instruction and how your training aircraft is equipped. In addition to the sectional and terminal area charts that show where you fly, you will also want to invest in a flight computer or E6B, and paper flight planning logs to help you pencil out your first flight plans.

Fuel Tester

One of the most critical preflight actions you’ll take is to check the quantity, quality, and grade of the fuel on board your airplane prior to flight. In order to do this, you need a fuel tester. You’ll also need a special dipstick to gauge visually the amount of fuel in many tanks (especially on high-wing airplanes). While most schools have fuel testers and the proper dipstick in the seat-back pocket in each airplane ready for you to use, it pays to carry your own fuel tester so that you’re never caught out. Sporty’s makes one called the Gats Jar that allows you to strain the fuel back into the tanks so that you need not dispose of it incorrectly.

Sunglasses

While your own favorite sunglasses make you look cool—or just block the sun adequately for most of what you do on the ground—your needs in flight change, and you may consider equipping your eyes accordingly. You’ll also want to be aware that polarizing lenses can change colors and distort your view in the cockpit. Here are a couple of aviation-specific shades to try:

Scheyden C-130 Titanium sunglasses

Ray-Ban RB3136 Caravan sunglasses

Hat/Gloves/Layers

The climate changes rapidly as you ascend into the sky—or you could fly to a destination where the weather is decidedly different from your departure airport. Yes, flying takes you places, and it pays to be prepared. For the most comfort in the cockpit, dress in layers, and be sure to pack adequate clothing (including hats and gloves as needed) for where you’re going—or if you happen to land somewhere you didn’t plan to.

Food/Hydration

Finally, you need to ensure that you’re physically fit for flight and that includes properly nourishing yourself before the flight, and making sure you have enough energy to maintain yourself during a flight. This goes double for hydration—drinking enough water or other healthy fluids before and during your flight will help keep your mind sharp and your flying at its peak. Think of yourself as an athlete preparing for an event, and you have the right idea. We like various protein or granola bars for quick, easily digestible energy during the flight—or snacks like nuts and dried fruit. A refillable water bottle can be topped off at stops along the way.

The post So You’ve Started Flight Training: Flight Tools appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

We fell in love with David Clark‘s lightweight DC Pro X headset when it arrived on the scene in 2013, so we were interested to see what improvements make the newly introduced DC Pro X2 headset better. David Clark has long been known for producing ­quality headsets, and both models in the Pro series meet this standard. New in the DC Pro X2 is automatic gain control for improved active noise reduction performance in high-noise environments, enhanced auto shut-off that virtually eliminates accidental battery-power drain and a slightly redesigned profile with an oblong-shaped dome that provides exceptional rest-on-ear stability.

Retained in the DC Pro X2 is the 7.5-ounce weight and leatherette ear seals that are perfect for long flights. This headset ­provides ­excellent active noise reduction with “feed-forward,” “feed-back” and digital signal processing technology, in which an external ­microphone on the dome picks up noise from the outside before it reaches the pilot’s ear canal to provide superior noise attenuation. Bluetooth ­connectivity is standard and the DC Pro X2 comes with a five-year warranty.

For more information, visit: davidclark.com

The post David Clark DC Pro X2 Headset Debuts appeared first on FLYING Magazine.