aviation 102

[Jake123]

I will be coming up to Grand Forks on June 4 for Avit 102. I need some help deciding what to buy for the course.

A) What headset would you reccomend?
B) Flight bag?
C) Flashlight and all the small things etc.

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by Jake123

I will be coming up to Grand Forks on June 4 for Avit 102. I need some help deciding what to buy for the course.

A) What headset would you reccomend?
B) Flight bag?
C) Flashlight and all the small things etc.

A) Do not buy the Avcomms that UND sells. They are overpriced. Get them elsewhere (if you want the Avcomms). Other people here will recommend some excellent headsets that are at a low price, I happen to own David Clark H13-10.4 that were free hand-me-downs from my dad. I like them a lot. You can find some nice headsets for $200-300. Try eBay for some good deals.

B) I have a Noral flight bag (click here for the one I have) and I like it. It stands a lot of abuse. BUT, all you really need is an inexpensive large camera bag or even a spare backpack.

C) Flashlight (mini-mag lite or some sort of LED light), kneeboard, E6B, and that's about it to get you started.

[TXaviator]

a) headset, dont spend more than 300 bucks. i personally have a DC 13.4 and they are tanks.

b) get a bag that isnt TOO LARGE. youll be carrying it a LOT so minimal weight/bulk is nice.

c) get a small cheapo LED light, red if you can find it/want it. a tri-fold kneeboard is nice, and the rest, wait till you get with your flight instructor here, theyll get with you to get all the other crap.

[AngelFuree]

A) I own a set of Lightspeed 20XLc headsets. They provide active noise reduction, I like them very much. To be honest, in my personal opinion, now that I own a set of ANR headsets, I would not go back.

B) Get something small like TXAviator mentioned. You really don't need huge amounts of space. You're flight training, not flying internationally. The big turnoff of big bags for me is not wanting to look like those 100lb kids w/ 100lb flight bags.

C) Nothing special here, just get a compact flashlight that works and you'd feel comfortable using inside the cockpit (e.g. small one). Consider getting one w/ a red filter, for night flying. Regarding kneeboards...I personally think they're a waste of money. A small one is convenient, but don't make the mistake of getting the large Jeppesen kneeboards. I have trouble w/ it. It's so large it gets in the way of the yoke.

[juxtapilot]

A) Get a cheap ANR...

B) Small duffle from Walmart for 15 dollars...

C) Completely agree about the kneeboards... I bought one, and it is annoying for most of the PPL training. I love it on X/C flights though. I think if you bought a really small clipboard that could just hold a flight plan and a pen, that would save you 40 dollars.

[UAL747400]

Originally Posted by juxtapilot

Completely agree about the kneeboards... I bought one, and it is annoying for most of the PPL training. I love it on X/C flights though. I think if you bought a really small clipboard that could hold a flight plan that would save you 40 dollars.

Honestly, that would work perfectly for me. Actually attaching the thing to my leg is the most annoying thing in the world and all I use is the clip board part of the thing anyway. Hell, I even use it to hold approach plates too. I used a yoke mounted plate holder in 222 but used the clip board in 325. SO much easier for me. It's a little bit annoying flipping up the chart all the time to write stuff and to look at stuff you wrote down, but overall I felt it was easier. I think it was mainly because the yoke clips suck hard in pipers since they hold the approace plate funny. Makes it next to impossible to read at night.

Yes, that post is a mess. It's late.

[UAL747400]

I'll do an A,B,C to be cool like everyone else.

A) agreed, if you're in this for a career, it wouldn't hurt to start right away with an ANR headset. I will never go back. If you're not sure, you could start with an el-cheapo PNR headset and the upgrade later.

B)I'd get one that has a compartment for your headset and books seperately at least. A couple outside pockets help too. I had the jepp duffle bag thing and that was the biggest pain in the butt ever.

C)Any small flashlight will work. Red or green colored lenses are best, but really, you're night vision is getting screwed over by so many other things I don't believe it even matters on the color. You don't want a hot white flashlight like the sun in your hand kind of thing obviously. My preference is to just crank up the blue light on the top of the cockpit, but you'd still want a flashlight for a backup, and for night pre-flighting purposes.

[JaceTheAce]

Also, for instrument training I would HIGHLY recommend getting a watch with a velcro band and stop watch. You can buy them at Wal-Mart for $5. They fit perfectly around the Piper yokes and are a huge convenience when holding. If you get a stop watch that goes around your neck it takes your eyes further away from the instrument panel.

SnickersNWA flew with me and saw the $5 watch idea in action!

[UAL747400]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

Also, for instrument training I would HIGHLY recommend getting a watch with a velcro band and stop watch. You can buy them at Wal-Mart for $5. They fit perfectly around the Piper yokes and are a huge convenience when holding. If you get a stop watch that goes around your neck it takes your eyes further away from the instrument panel.

SnickersNWA flew with me and saw the $5 watch idea in action!

You know what I've always wanted to do? I've always wanted to bring one of those egg timers and just stick it up on the glare shield, now THAT would be hilarious.

[Screaming_Emu]

dont bother with an ANR headset at this point in time. Wait till you find out for sure that flying is for you and that you're going to be doing it professionally. Not to be a pecimist, but there are a lot of people who start 102 and find out that flying isn't at all how they picture it and quit. ANR headsets are nice but you wont really benefit from it much unless you fly for like 5+ hours per day.

[TXaviator]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

Also, for instrument training I would HIGHLY recommend getting a watch with a velcro band and stop watch. You can buy them at Wal-Mart for $5. They fit perfectly around the Piper yokes and are a huge convenience when holding. If you get a stop watch that goes around your neck it takes your eyes further away from the instrument panel.

SnickersNWA flew with me and saw the $5 watch idea in action!

whats wrong with using the clock on the MFD?

[Micaoct]

What headset does UND sell (model I mean) and how much is it sold for? I think I'm looking in the $200-$300 range but I'd like to get an idea on how much the UND headset is.

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by TXaviator

whats wrong with using the clock on the MFD?

I did 221/222 in the steam gauge Warriors before they required you to fly the glass... so no MFD. In 325 I never once flew the glass Seminole. I wanted to stick to steam gauges and not have to rely on the limited availability of the glass Seminoles.

[TXaviator]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

I did 221/222 in the steam gauge Warriors before they required you to fly the glass... so no MFD. In 325 I never once flew the glass Seminole. I wanted to stick to steam gauges and not have to rely on the limited availability of the glass Seminoles.

whats wrong with using the round clock?

[Dugie8]

Originally Posted by TXaviator

whats wrong with using the round clock?

It always amazed me how people could not keep track of a few minutes using just the clock. The amount of "gadgetry" used for timers would make Magyver blush.

[Stinger]

On my stage 30 check, I used the timer within the GPS. After we finished the cross-country part, the stage pilot told me to not use a thousand dollar piece of equipment just for a timer. I figured since there were two GPS screens, it didn't really matter.

[UAL747400]

Originally Posted by Dugie8

It always amazed me how people could not keep track of a few minutes using just the clock. The amount of "gadgetry" used for timers would make Magyver blush.

I used to always use the clock, but after countless scoldings on not to use it, I don't anymore.

[MrLeisure757]

Originally Posted by Stinger

On my stage 30 check, I used the timer within the GPS. After we finished the cross-country part, the stage pilot told me to not use a thousand dollar piece of equipment just for a timer. I figured since there were two GPS screens, it didn't really matter.

I don't see why that would matter. It's there for a reason. I see it as, thousands of dollars were paid for that piece of equipment. Utilize it.

[airplanerik]

Originally Posted by TXaviator

whats wrong with using the round clock?

That's the only way to go! I've never used anything except for that little clock

[airplanerik]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

In 325 I never once flew the glass Seminole.

You should have at least a couple times. I took a glass Seminole down to STP and it was a great time. When I did 325, it seemed like the glass Seminoles were more available than the regular Seminoles!

[TheShocker]

No need to spend money when you have a perfectly good clock in the airplane. I prefer analog clocks though, its much easier scan wise.

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by TXaviator

whats wrong with using the round clock?

It's easy to lose track of when you started holding time.

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by Stinger

On my stage 30 check, I used the timer within the GPS. After we finished the cross-country part, the stage pilot told me to not use a thousand dollar piece of equipment just for a timer. I figured since there were two GPS screens, it didn't really matter.

A GNS 430 is actually slightly below $10,000 each... not $1,000

[TXaviator]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

It's easy to lose track of when you started holding time.

thats what the little red line is for!

come on, jace!

[TheShocker]

Originally Posted by TXaviator

thats what the little red line is for!

come on, jace!

For all the time I have been flying I have never used that thing. Never knew it had a purpose or never really thought about it. Airspeed, altitude, and tracking the correct course seems more of a must in a hold rather than being +- 1 nano second off.