Accessories

If you live where the weather rarely falls to 20 degrees, you probably cant justify an expensive installed preheater of the type we reviewed in the March 2007 issue of Aviation Consumer. But if you still need an occasional preheat, where does that leave you? A heated hangar is one option and portable preheaters are another. Assuming the hangar is out, for this article, were examining two portable options: the old standby Red Dragon from Flame Engineering and a new gadget called AeroTherm, an electric preheater.

The electronic age is here, but not everyone is embracing it yet, especially when it comes choosing between paper and electronic IFR charts and plates. Four out of every five pilots still prefer paper for aeronautical charting, even though paper charts are heavy and tablet computers and other viewing devices have simplified electronic chart viewing.

For $100 or so, they make an aircraft door all but pick-proof. Theyre easy and quick to install, but keys have to be special ordered.

The lighter and the simpler the better. We like JKs throttle lock, the compact, well-made Prop Club and Aircraft Spruces Chok-Lok.

We think the electric go-ped models are practical for a short ride to and from the airport. Theyre smaller than bicycles, although heavier.

The $270 (ulp!) Surefire U2 is the worlds uber flashlight but the UK Zoom 4AA does the job at one- fifth the price on cheaper batteries.

One owners trek through the EFB jungle reveals three winners: a tablet PC, NavAir software and a pocket printer for printing plates on the fly.

The Avidyne/Ryan merger has dropped the price of active traffic systems to $10,000. Flexible display options sweeten the deal.

One owners trek through the EFB jungle reveals three winners: a tablet PC, NavAir software and a pocket printer for printing plates on the fly.

The Avidyne/Ryan merger has dropped the price of active traffic systems to $10,000. Flexible display options sweeten the deal.

And so is the Pocket CO from TTI. SafeTest 90 portable is the best of the best, if budget is no factor. We like the panel-mount Guardians but they lack low-level sensing.

Nonins FlightStat is easier to use and read, but it costs $100 more and we were put off by the companys high repair costs.