GPS
Anotherthing,
Couldn't agree with you more, and I must admit I feel that rather than getting in a huff because they / we didn't invent it first, the European version of GPS seems an extremely expensive case of re-inventing the wheel.
As a civvy user of GPS crossing the English Channel, well I did it a lot a while ago by traditional methods ( am still a good boy and do them for backup ) but in the days of 'Karwe' RDF with a 30 degree null ( or no signal at all ), GPS was an unimaginable dream.
It would be jolly handy, ideally tied in with the camera, ( coming into fashion now ) for aerial photography too - it was not uncommon in a later life for me & young CPL to ' arrive ' over a target town, when I had to say ' I know X quite well, and wherever we are isn't there '!
Before anyone says it, yes I should have been more help with the navigation, but young pilots who've paid a lot for their training don't take kindly to suggestions - this is maybe worth noting as a general thing, not aimed at any individual.