Pilot gear
The tools we fly with and recommend. Money can be tight while you're getting your ratings, so we list budget options wherever we can.
iPads are the best choice here: more stable, more predictable. A high-end Android will get you there too. A standard iPad is the sweet spot; the mini is fine if you have great eyes; the Pro if you want to splash like Jan. Write on paper while you're getting your ratings, then move to the iPad once you're a pilot. On a budget? A refurbished iPad works, but nothing older than one generation back or modern EFBs get sluggish.
Best choice is a pivot case. Yes, it takes about 10° of outside visibility (easily fixed by moving your head), but it adds a huge amount of situational awareness and safety. An iPad on your lap when things get busy is dangerous. To mount it, Jan uses a RAM Twist-Lock suction cup on the side window with PIVOT's 1" ball adapter: it works in any airplane, side-stick or yoke.
Charts, plates, weather and more, always current. The two big players are ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot: try both (free for 30 days) and pick one. ForeFlight is more advanced but harder to learn and Apple-only; Garmin Pilot also runs on Android. Always have a backup: if your iPad fails, your phone is the backup, so an Android phone makes Garmin the logical choice. Jan's choice: Garmin Pilot.
If you can afford it, buy active noise cancelling. They're expensive but last 20 years if you treat them well. Be careful buying used online (lots of scams), and new comes with a warranty: Bose repaired Jan's microphone twice for free. All three offer 30-day trials, so why not try them all?
Essential for paper checklists and notes, especially during training and checkrides.
Optional but highly recommended. Stratux is the most affordable; Sentry is compact and includes a CO detector; the Garmin GDL 50 is the most reliable we have found.
Some schools provide them, not all. Your instructor will have one if the plane doesn't. Before going solo, get one for the plane you fly; they're specific to the airplane.
Same as above, but fuel testers are generic, so you only need one.
Flying from home trains process, comms and airport familiarity. X-Plane is the simulator of choice and runs equally well on PC and Mac. Splash more on bigger screens and better controls if you like.
On long days you will run out of battery on iPad, phone and ADS-B. Anker makes a great one.
Start with your favorite backpack; as you fly more, a bag that always has your gear ready to go helps.
White light for inspections, red light for flying: many rental planes have poor panel lighting. This one is affordable and runs on AAA batteries, so you can carry spares.
Charge it once a month. A great backup for comms, VOR and GPS, and comes with a headset adapter. Use it to get weather before engine start and it pays for itself in Hobbs savings in the first year.
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