’Tis the season to splurge on your aviator friends and family members. This year’s guide features gear and gadgets from Garmin, Bose, Breitling and much more.
Scroll through for some fun gift ideas that can be found at your favorite aviation shops, such as Sporty’s, Aircraft Spruce and Pilot Mall.
Garmin D2 Bravo Aviation Watch
Garmin’s vast aviation product line can provide a bundle of joy for the holidays. If you’re searching for a watch for your favorite aviator, Garmin’s D2 Bravo will provide a lot more than time and an aviation slide rule. The watch has a built-in GPS, provides TAFs and metars, controls the Virb action camera, and much more. The watch comes in two versions, standard and Titanium, which also provides fitness functions such as activity tracking and heart rate.
$599 standard Buy It Now
$899 Titanium Buy It Now
Garmin VIRB Ultra 30
Garmin recently rolled out its latest version of the Virb, the Ultra 30, with features that could blow the mind of your gift recipient. There is no need to mess around with buttons on the video camera itself or your iPhone. Simply tell the Virb Ultra 30 what to do and it will comply. If you prefer, there is also a touchscreen on the back. The mic provides improved sound quality, and new three-axis image stabilization makes for better videos too.
$399 | Buy It Now
Garmin Aera 660
A pocket-size navigator with a 5-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen and built-in GPS/Glonass receivers, the Aera 660 is a great addition to any flight bag. It provides nav features, a crisp moving map display, 3-D views of surrounding terrain, and more. The unit can be wirelessly connected to compatible ADS-B systems for traffic, weather and database updates.
$849 | Buy It Now
WWII Fighter Spotter Mug Set
Here’s a perfect gift for someone on your list who loves warbirds. This four-mug set includes the P-40 Warhawk, P-51 Mustang, P-38 Lightning and F4U Corsair. Each 13-ounce mug includes details about the featured airplane. The mugs are made of scratch-resistant porcelain and are dishwasher- and microwave-safe.
$26.99 set of four | Visit Sportys.com
Living in the Age of Airplanes
Narrated by acclaimed actor and aviation enthusiast Harrison Ford, Living in the Age of Airplanes is the latest masterpiece from producer and director Brian Terwilliger, the creator of One Six Right. Terwilliger worked with National Geographic for this most recent documentary, which was just released on Blu-ray and DVD this fall. The movie highlights the importance of aviation through the history of transportation using stunning visuals from 18 countries.
$29.95 Blu-ray or $24.95 DVD | Buy It Now
Breitling Navitimer GMT Aurora Blue
Channeling the crisp blue hues of the clear skies and wide horizons aviators often call home, Breitling’s Navitimer GMT Aurora Blue is a stunning limited-edition timepiece. Designed specifically for pilots, the Navitimer has an aviation slide-rule bezel and a dual-time-zone system.
The watch features a transparent sapphire crystal caseback that provides insight into its superior movement, certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute. The matching plastic strap can be switched out for leather, crocodile leather or steel.
Each Navitimer GMT Aurora Blue is numbered from one to 1,000.
$9,290 | Visit Breitling.com
Bose A20 Aviation Headset
While your grandfather might have survived just fine without any ear protection, pilots today agree that the only way to fly is with a well-designed active noise-reduction (ANR) headset. Bose’s latest offering, the A20, is an improved version of the company’s highly successful headsets. With the ability to connect via Bluetooth to your portable jukebox (read, tablet or smartphone), you will get exceptionally clear sound quality whether you’re listening to music or making a phone call through the headset. At only 12 ounces in total, the headset doesn’t weigh you down, and the soft padding eliminates any pressure on the apex of your head.
$1,095 | Buy It Now
X-naut Active Cooling Mount
Give your flying friends peace of mind with this unique cooling mount that prevents iPads from overheating in direct sunlight. Its small, targeted cooling fans keep the iPad cool while maintaining a sleek profile. The iPad mount can be worn as a kneeboard or secured to RAM or MyGoFlight mounts.
$199.99 iPad or $179.99 iPad mini
Visit x-naut.com
Scheyden Liberators
A titanium version of classic aviator sunglasses, these shades never go out of style. Scheyden’s ultralight frames are designed to fit perfectly beneath a headset so you can fly in comfort and style. $289 | Visit schedyden.com
Unusual Attitudes
Regular Flying magazine readers are sure to be familiar with Martha Lunken and her monthly Unusual Attitudes column. Lunken has collected her favorite work from throughout her years writing for Flying in one book, perfect for the pilot who appreciates her sometimes irreverent humor and unique insight into the world of aviation. Unusual Attitudes is available on Amazon $19.95 (Paperback).
URB-E Black Label Electric Folding Scooter
For the pilot on the move, the URB-E provides portable transportation that can be stowed in a small aircraft. Folded up, the 35-pound portable electric scooter is 37 inches by 17 inches. Designed for ease of use, the URB-E folds and unfolds in a single motion. Its sleek design features a breathable seat with a low center of gravity and an integrated shock-absorption system, making it comfortable to ride. Unfolded, the URB-E measures 34 inches in length, 19.5 inches in width and 35 inches in height. The electric scooter travels up to 15 mph with a 20-mile range. A fully charged battery lasts up to four hours.
$1,699 | Buy It Now
Flight Outfitters Bush Pilot Bag
For gift recipients who are tough on their gear, Flight Outfitters’ Bush pilot bag is made of rugged canvas and leather that stand up to the elements. Inside, the pockets are lined with soft orange felt that prevents scratching and makes it easy to find anything from pens to tablets. The Bush pilot bag has two padded side compartments dedicated to headsets, a front organizer section with pen holders and pockets of various sizes, and one large main compartment.
$139.95 | Buy It Now
