AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2014 - 36

PILOT BRIEFING
|

PILOT PRODUCTS

New tools for basic needs
An iPad application, headphones, and flight bag are reviewed
B Y I A N J. T W O M B LY

Bose QC20 in-ear headphones
If you're like most pilots who own
a Bose aviation headset, you swear
by its performance. Sometimes
there are cases when we don't want
a full headset, though. Maybe it's a
son or daughter who refuses to be
clamped, or you have an airline trip
when wearing a headset would seem
a bit strange.
In these cases you can keep it in
the Bose family with the QC20 in-ear
headphones. These are eerily quiet,
incredibly comfortable in-ear headphones with active noise canceling.
The company won't say how much
ambient noise is reduced, but it's
safe to say they are worthy alternative for your non-headset-wearing
passengers.
Other than the price, which is
characteristically steep, and the fact
they must be recharged through
a USB port, they are pretty close
to perfect. That they double as a
cellphone earpiece with microphone
and great music player is just gravy.
Price: $299.95
Contact: www.bose.com

Gyronimo performance
applications
It's hard to get excited about weight
and balance and performance iPad
applications, but Gyronimo has created a series of beautiful, interactive
apps centered on the basic tasks of
computing weight and balance and
calculating performance data.
We tested the Robinson R22 and
R44 applications, which the company co-authored with longtime Robinson pilot Tim Tucker. Users interact
with the app simply by sliding a bar
left or right to increase or decrease
the parameter. It might be weight,
temperature, fuel, or whatever else it
is you're trying to compute. Anytime
a limit is exceeded, the screen turns
red, making it very obvious you can't
do what you're trying to do. As the
slider moves, so too does the bullseye in the center of gravity envelope
or on the performance chart. Simply
put, you can calculate a weight and
balance and all your performance
data in fewer than two minutes.
Given how fun it is to use, pilots will
be hoping to fly just to be able to use
the application.

Sporty's Flight Gear collection
Reflecting an evolving user, Sporty's
has redesigned its Flight Gear bag
collection. Materials remain of high
standard, but the design and configuration are all new.
We tested the Navigator bag,
and we remain impressed with the
durability and construction. Some
of the madness from the flight bag
pocket race is gone, and in its place
is a more sane approach that focuses
on quality over quantity. There are
three separate and distinct areas to
store headsets, a file folder pocket
for charts, a padded iPad pocket,
and pockets dedicated for cords and
accessories. There's also a large open
middle section that can be used for a
variety of other items. Given its good
construction and thoughtful design,
the bag is also a pretty good bargain.
Price: $99
Contact: www.sportys.com

Price: Varies depending on aircraft
model
Contact: www.gyronimo.com

THIS MONTH ON THE AOPA JAY
Glacier Landing

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a glacier pilot in Alaska? Find out for yourself in this
breathtaking simulation scenario for the AOPA Jay desktop training device. You'll fly a Maule 260-C skiplane from Talkeetna up the Ruth Glacier to the Don Sheldon Amphitheater. You'll land on the glacier
below the historic Mountain House, pick up two ski mountaineers, and fly them back down to Talkeetna.
Along the way you'll see why this area has been called "One of the 10 most incredible places on Earth."

36 | AOPA PILOT March 2014

EXTRA

Learn more about the
AOPA Jay online (www.
aopa.org/Products-andServices/About-the-Jay).

http://www.sportys.com http://www.bose.com http://www.gyronimo.com http://www.aopa.org/Products-and-Services/About-the-Jay

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2014