Living on the third rock from the Sun, that flaming orange ball is essential for our life, growing food, providing clean energy, and giving us something to lie under at the beach. But with all the good the Sun gives us, the side effects while flying are hours of exposure to harmful Ultraviolet rays, and when parked, it can cook our airplane’s cabin and avionics on a hot ramp. Lucky for us, though, we can mitigate all of this with a set of Jet Shades, an ingenious invention from company founder and Cessna 510 Mustang pilot Kevin Duggan.
Jet Shades are not just a temporary “automotive-style” shade that blocks the sun’s rays, instead, they are made of optical-quality polycarbonate material that are fitted to many aircraft and helicopter models. Virtually unbreakable and shatterproof, Jet Shades block 99.9 percent of cancer-causing UV radiation, over 44 percent of solar energy, and can reduce 70 percent of glare by shielding cabin occupants with side window protection plus in most installations, the top seven inches of the windscreen. Jet Shades are not designed for night flying and can be temporarily put behind a seat or stored in the included high-quality microfiber storage case when not in use.
Since Jet Shades do not attach to the airframe, no STC is needed, as the patented design simply presses into place without any attaching screws or fasteners. Each set is secured to the interior trim of the window and not the window itself, and owner installation is about five minutes without tools. The high quality of materials and ease of installation and removal earned Jet Shades the title of “Best New Aircraft Accessory” in the July 2019 issue of Aviation Consumer magazine.
Jet Shades are available for many popular makes and models of airplanes, including a foldable set for the Boeing 737 designed to attach to the professional pilot’s luggage so they can easily bring them onto the flight deck of each airplane they fly. Other sets include Jet Shades for Cessna Citation Jet 500/501/550/560, Cessna Citation Jet 525/M2 Series, Cessna Citation Mustang 510, Eclipse 500/550 Jet, King Air 90, 100, 200, 250, 300 and 350, Pilatus PC12, Piper M500/M600, M350, PA-32, Malibu, Matrix, Mirage and Meridian, Socata TBM 700/850 and 900 Series, Beechcraft Baron & Bonanza, Cessna 172, 182, 335, 340, 421 and TTx, Cirrus SR-20/22/22T, Columbia 300/350/400, Diamond DA 62 and DA40, and Robinson R66 Helicopter. If your airplane is not listed here, Duggan said a custom-designed set of Jet Shades can be fabricated for just about any make and model of airplane through the company’s dealerships.
A set of highly-functional Jet Shades will be a welcomed gift for any airplane owner this holiday season, and with gift certificates available at jet-shades.com, the pilot on your list will thank you any time they fly on a bright, sunny day or park on a blistering hot ramp.
To learn more and shop visit: jet-shades.com
