Top neat Gizmos
Northern Monkey
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Newcastle, England
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Top neat Gizmos
Hello all
Im quite new to flying, but I'm quite fond of cool gizmos, and im fairly sure that Flying is not an area which is short on these.
What is everyones top (non essential) gadget that you take flying with you.
NB
Im quite new to flying, but I'm quite fond of cool gizmos, and im fairly sure that Flying is not an area which is short on these.
What is everyones top (non essential) gadget that you take flying with you.
NB
Why do it if it's not fun?
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Bournemouth
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Mine is the aircraft. Amazing gizmos, all of them - I still don't understand how they manage to do what they do.
Second favourite, I agree with Kolibear. A passenger is the single gizmo which can enhance a flight more than any other.
FFF
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Second favourite, I agree with Kolibear. A passenger is the single gizmo which can enhance a flight more than any other.
FFF
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Join Date: Jun 2002
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'The Muse'
There is no end of gizmos being sold to gullible pilots! Handy-dandy cross-wind calculators, super plotters, 'aviation watches', etc. etc.
I do not own one of these portable music thingys, but it might be kinda neat to have.
I do not own one of these portable music thingys, but it might be kinda neat to have.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: surrey
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I've had my eye on the AnyWhereMap from Controlvision for a year or two. It is a PDA based moving map with lots of extra functionality built in e.g. HSI and terrain avoidance warnings. The catch (apart from price) is that the database is heavily US based. The other catch is that I actually quite enjoy navigating by more conventional means (see the 'A to B' thread)!
At the other end of the Gizmo scale, the most useful piece of 'equipment' I have procurred recently is the piece of string that is glued to my pencil and tied on to my kneeboard
. I think the idea came from pprune, but I cannot find the message now. No more scrabbling around underneath the seat for me!
TG
At the other end of the Gizmo scale, the most useful piece of 'equipment' I have procurred recently is the piece of string that is glued to my pencil and tied on to my kneeboard
. I think the idea came from pprune, but I cannot find the message now. No more scrabbling around underneath the seat for me!TG
Join Date: Sep 2002
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All you need to know is that these cool gizmos cost at least twice as much as the similar (if not exact) non-aviation gizmos usually available away from pilots shops. Where possible, buy the one without aviation, or pilot tags.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Around the world, at present in Indonesia & UK
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My favorite GIZMO is a beautiful woman who is impressed by your flying ability & greased landings, and, willing to reward you for it later.
Failing that, how about the ultimate GIZMO, a top DV tape digital camcorder that you can place at the front of the aeroplane filming your aviation exploits from start to finish. Then you can download them onto your computer & edit them with your film making software - adding music & naration.
Yes I am a sad b*****d & done it.
Don't forget to edit out the cockups!
If you're going to be boring with snaps, do it with style!
What's the difference between a boy & a man?
The price of his toys!
Enjoy the Flying & all the toys that go with it.
FB
I have amassed the following useful gizmos:
3 good torches, you must carry one by JAR law, even during the day. Surprised me too when I heard it.
A transceiver.
A GPS.
A waterproof strobe.
A life Jacket.
A First Aid Kit.
Other First-Aid tools.
A Radar reflective Kite, doubles as an inflatable splint.
A good watch.
A good kneeboard.
A Dave Clarke Headset.
A pack of 'brief relief', toilet bags.
Waterproofs.
A good large knife.
A Multi-tool.
Jeppessen Bottlang Manuals.
Plogs.
A selection of Maps.
The usual stationary.
Not forgetting warm clothing.
Enjoy the toys.
FB
Failing that, how about the ultimate GIZMO, a top DV tape digital camcorder that you can place at the front of the aeroplane filming your aviation exploits from start to finish. Then you can download them onto your computer & edit them with your film making software - adding music & naration.
Yes I am a sad b*****d & done it.
Don't forget to edit out the cockups!
If you're going to be boring with snaps, do it with style!
What's the difference between a boy & a man?
The price of his toys!
Enjoy the Flying & all the toys that go with it.
FB
I have amassed the following useful gizmos:
3 good torches, you must carry one by JAR law, even during the day. Surprised me too when I heard it.
A transceiver.
A GPS.
A waterproof strobe.
A life Jacket.
A First Aid Kit.
Other First-Aid tools.
A Radar reflective Kite, doubles as an inflatable splint.
A good watch.
A good kneeboard.
A Dave Clarke Headset.
A pack of 'brief relief', toilet bags.
Waterproofs.
A good large knife.
A Multi-tool.
Jeppessen Bottlang Manuals.
Plogs.
A selection of Maps.
The usual stationary.
Not forgetting warm clothing.
Enjoy the toys.
FB
High Flying Bird
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Veritcally Advantaged C152 Person - I think that may have been me. I've always tied my pencil to my knee board, having dropped it during my very early lessons and suffered the indignity of my instructor trying to find it... 
Best Gizmo not mentioned?
Head torch.
Invaluable when returning just before dark (or after if you're night rated) and having to put the covers on.
Best Gizmo not mentioned?
Head torch.
Invaluable when returning just before dark (or after if you're night rated) and having to put the covers on.
A head torch 
I will refrain from making any comments on a head torch.
A wing torch would be handy, it would help stop me banging my head on wing trailing edges after turning the lights off in the hangar and then trying to do bat impersonations when finding the door.......What genius put the light switch at the opposite end of the hangar to the door
The string on the pencil is a good idea.
Flying Boat, does a cigarette lighter count as a torch under JAR rules
What do you do with a torch in daylight? Unless it's a head torch of course 
Sorry Ab, couldn't resist it
I will refrain from making any comments on a head torch. A wing torch would be handy, it would help stop me banging my head on wing trailing edges after turning the lights off in the hangar and then trying to do bat impersonations when finding the door.......What genius put the light switch at the opposite end of the hangar to the door
The string on the pencil is a good idea.
Flying Boat, does a cigarette lighter count as a torch under JAR rules
What do you do with a torch in daylight? Unless it's a head torch of course Sorry Ab, couldn't resist it
Join Date: May 2001
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1. Fuel Tester with screwdriver on the end (and it was FREE!!)
2. Wizplot plotter (£11.50)
3. Excel spreadsheet that produces A5 VFR Flight Log (Free - Thanks Eva!)
4. Laminator machine - Used for laminating my own little check cards etc.
5. A very understanding wife.
2. Wizplot plotter (£11.50)
3. Excel spreadsheet that produces A5 VFR Flight Log (Free - Thanks Eva!)
4. Laminator machine - Used for laminating my own little check cards etc.
5. A very understanding wife.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Around the world, at present in Indonesia & UK
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WBSATCO, I forgot my fuel tester with screwdriver.
LNS
I use a torch for looking into dark scary places even in daylight and, I don't bang my head.
Happy Landings..
FB
LNS
I use a torch for looking into dark scary places even in daylight and, I don't bang my head.
Happy Landings..
FB
1. LED torches, about the size of a 10p piece but thicker, of course. I have two, one with a red LED and the other with a blue/white LED.
Red for cockpit work, blue/white for checking things eg pre-flight or seeing whether the ice on the wings is thick enough to switch the boots on.
2. Jepp. CR5 whiz wheel. Only 3.75" diameter & fits in almost any pocket. None of this clunky slide type computers for me.
3. A watch with world timezones, analogue face & whiz wheel. The bezel is great for currency conversions. Set & leave the rate when I arrive then no more calculations to work out what I'm paying.
Red for cockpit work, blue/white for checking things eg pre-flight or seeing whether the ice on the wings is thick enough to switch the boots on.
2. Jepp. CR5 whiz wheel. Only 3.75" diameter & fits in almost any pocket. None of this clunky slide type computers for me.
3. A watch with world timezones, analogue face & whiz wheel. The bezel is great for currency conversions. Set & leave the rate when I arrive then no more calculations to work out what I'm paying.
Join Date: May 2001
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Me and my mate did a cross channel checkout a couple of years ago. The instructor couldn't believe it when we pulled out the laptop, hooked it up to the GPS and had our moving map software running on the back seat. I think he was pretty amazed, spent the whole trip staring at it.
Cheers
EA
Cheers
EA
Join Date: Sep 2002
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An iPAQ with a wireless GPS makes a pretty good moving map, with both 1/4 and 1/2mil genuine CAA charts. AnywhereMap is good on the iPAQ in the US but the database is U/S in the UK, if you see what I mean. Being wireless is nice because you can hand it to whoever wants to look at it.
Join Date: Mar 2003
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drauk
How do you get the CAA charts into the iPAQ? Do you scan them yourself or is there a package available commercially?
'Been looking out for something like that.
The problem with most commercial systems seems to be the cost of keeping the database up-to-date.
Cheers,
TG.
'Been looking out for something like that.
The problem with most commercial systems seems to be the cost of keeping the database up-to-date.
Cheers,
TG.
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I know that this is a bit sad, but my best gizmo, in terms of usage and practicality, is a "Third Hand" chart clip. It is a piece of spring metal, attached to a length of broad elastic with a clip on it. You simply attach it round your thigh (Ohh err missis!) and stuff your quarter-mil into it. Stops it falling off the pax seat. Only cost me $3.50! Otherwise, my other gizmo is a hand held GPS.
Blue skies!
Blue skies!