Harper's Ultimate Kneeboard
Call your product the "ultimate" anything, and there are bound to be a few raised eyebrows in the crowd. So it may be with Harper Aviation's Ultimate Kneeboard, a strap-to-the-leg affair that purports to hold both Jeppesen and NOS charts, as well as a bevy of at-hand flying necessities.
At first blush, the Ultimate Kneeboard seems to fit the description. It's made from heavy-duty Cordura nylon material and employs a robust seven-ring binder and industrial-strength hook-and-loop fasteners that connect the elasticized leg band. A stiff plastic insert helps the main portion of the board to retain it shape, while the secondary (right side) flap is unsupported, to allow for the contours of the user's leg.
Sewn into that secondary flap are elastic pockets that can hold writing devices, a small (very small) E6-B whiz wheel, and the obligatory AA-cell flashlight. A plastic strap laced between the ring binder and a strip of hook-and-loop material is intended to secure torn-out NOS plates; they are also held by the smallish clip at the head of the main kneeboard body.
We tried the Ultimate with both types of instrument approach plates and can report that it is a much more successful marriage with the Jeppesen product. Simply pick the plates you want in front of you and snap them into the ring binder. They stay put and in order, no matter how turbulent the flight. What's more, having the tissue-thin plates in the binder also helps keep them in better shape, even if you don't use Jeppesen's plastic plate protectors. With the NOS product, we found that the Ultimate Kneeboard worked well enough, although the binder tended to get in the way. Since it wasn't being used, this binder seemed much more obtrusive than it was when using the Jeppesen plates.
High marks go to the side-plate holders. We slid a number of pencils and a flashlight into the elastic pockets and were pleased to find they all fit, and quite comfortably, too. Some pilots — and let's be diplomatic and say those with thicker-than-average thighs — might find the range of adjustment on the leg strap a bit narrow, an observation complicated by the heavy-duty elastic itself. Ours stretched a bit and became more comfortable with age, however.
Not only is the Ultimate Kneeboard well built, it's reasonably inexpensive. For a suggested retail price of $29.95, it's an excellent value. The Ultimate Kneeboard should be available in your local pilot shop. For more information, contact Harper Aviation, Post Office Box 35, Eagle, Idaho 83616; telephone 208/939-1188.
Aviation Services Cockpit Utility Lights
There's nothing worse than flying at night with an inadequate light source. Whether your airplane has fancy and expensive post lights or that single, all-too-dim illuminator in the headliner, there always seem to be occasions when more light would be handy.
That's where the Aviation Services Cockpit Utility Lights come in. Intended to supplement the existing cockpit lights, the Aviation Services product is made up of a polycarbonate shell housing a 5-watt, 12- or 24- volt halogen light. A large knob on the rear of the light controls power, while a sliding dimmer switch manages intensity. Rather than electrically dimming the light, the AS models utilize a mechanical filter. This should result in excellent longevity and less heat than you would expect from a rheostat-controlled light.
We received each of the three styles that Aviation Services sells. First is the Model 1201 light, which is intended to be installed permanently into the aircraft. The 1201 mounts the light on a removable clip base so that it can be removed and used as a flashlight; it has a coiled cord connecting it to the aircraft's power. The Model 1202 has a fixed base. The company has also just started selling the clip-mount Model 1224 that plugs into the cigarette lighter. Both the models 1201 and 1202 must be installed according to the STC supplied with the lights; currently, Aviation Services supports most of the 12-volt Pipers (the PA- 28, PA-34, PA-32, and PA-44 series) and is in the process of gaining STC approval for 24-volt Cessnas. Other approvals are expected to follow soon.
We sampled the Utility Lights in two different airplanes and can report that they work quite well. The amber light (more of an Orange Crush than Aviation Red) is focused in a relatively narrow beam, compared to dedicated instrument-panel flood lights. That makes it ideal for shining on charts and center consoles but keeps it from being a replacement for the overall instrument floodlight.
The Utility Light's dimming feature works flawlessly and provides a useful range of settings. Better yet, the light experienced no appreciable temperature gain, even at the lowest setting. We aren't quite as enamored with the on-off switch, since it can be a bit difficult to find and actuate, depending upon how the light is mounted. For many of the times we wanted the light off, we simply turned the dimmer to minimum.
Overall, we found the quality of the Aviation Services lights quite high. Though we didn't back any pickup trucks over them, we think they'll survive the ravages of the cockpit well. Which is a good thing, since the Utility Lights aren't exactly cheap: Suggested retail price for the Model 1201 detachable light is $159.95, while the fixed Model 1202 goes for $149.95. The clip-mounted version sells for $129.95 Replacement halogen bulbs run $9.95. For more information, contact Aviation Services, Post Office Box 2811, North Babylon, New York 11703; telephone 800/439- 0963 or 516/221-0963.
Navpro Flite-Rule
In this time of GPS navigation and one-tenth-mile accuracy, who needs something as simple and low-tech as the Flite-Rule? You might be surprised. Navpro's Flite-Rule is simply a metal ruler marked for a range of ground speeds, which, when read against a sectional chart, will quickly give you time to the landmark. Conversely, if you know how long it took you to travel a certain distance over the map, you can get an estimate of your groundspeed from the Flite-Rule. A sliding marker helps you read the rule more accurately, but doing a thumbnail check usually proves accurate enough.
How can this possibly be useful in the era of high-tech area navigation? Put simply, there are times when you'd like to know how long it'll take to reach a certain landmark; sometimes that landmark isn't in any GPS's or loran's database. You can always estimate from some known point in the database, but it's a fair likelihood that such a calculation will take you longer than whipping out the Flite-Rule and reading the numbers.
For its part, the $16.95 (plus $2 shipping) Flite-Rule is handsome and well made. It fits, somewhat awkwardly, in a large shirt pocket, but will pose no difficulties in finding a home in most cockpits. Three models are available, covering ground speeds from 60 to 140 knots, 80 to 180 knots, and 110 to 210 knots.
For more information, contact Navpro, Post Office Box 140506, Dallas, Texas 75214; telephone 214/827-4845.
Briefly Noted
As pilot watches add more gadgets like altimeters, whiz-wheels, and magnetic compasses, the weight can be cumbersome for those who don't like to drag their knuckles on the ramp. The Glycine GMT-2000 is a 24-hour pilot watch wrapped in a light, slim package that performs many functions that the big watches do — without the aid of four whiz wheels and multiple displays.
If the GMT-2000 is set to display Zulu time on the hands, the single outer bezel can be rotated to show the local time wherever you may travel. Falcon Watch Company claims the GMT-2000 is accurate within one minute per year. The watch comes in either stainless steel and gold ($395) or all stainless steel ($370) and has glow-in-the-dark hands and dial for night visibility. For information and orders, contact Falcon Watch Company, c/o Glycine Sales and Service, 2510 Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 203, St. Louis, Missouri 63144; telephone 800/506-8222. — Peter A. Bedell
Handheld radios can be great backups to airplane-bound devices, but there's always the question of where to put them. Now Sporty's Pilot Shop has introduced a suction-cup holder for handheld radios. According to Sporty's, the device will capture most of the popular handheld communications radios. Padded arms grip the handheld, and a hefty suction cup attaches to the side window or any other smooth surface. Sporty's sells the holder for $26.95. Sporty's Pilot Shop, Clermont County Airport, Batavia, Ohio; telephone 800/SPORTYS. — MEC
Owners of many Continental-powered airplanes work hard to keep the belly clean and the engine compartment spotless. But Continentals by design don't always cooperate. The low-mounted cam and pushrods provide a well- known path for oil leaks. That's why Real Gaskets has come up with a new pushrod-seal kit for large Continental engines. Available in three kits, the improved pushrod seals are available for the 360-, 470-, 520-, and 550-series engines. For the 360s and 550-G engines, the $62 kit includes a dozen seals, crown washers, and top-end O-rings; single-cylinder kits run $11. For the 470, 520, and some 550 engines, the kit runs $57, but does not include the outboard O-ring; individual cylinder kits run $10.50. For more information, contact Real Gasket Corporation, Post Office Box 2048, Corvallis, Oregon 97339; telephone 800/635-REAL or 503/754-3622. — MEC
Sigtronics Corporation has introduced its new Model S-45 professional headset. A claimed weight of 12.3 ounces combines with "Soft-Gel" ear seals and an "Ultra Soft Air/Foam" headpad. Sigtronics says the noise canceling electret M-80 microphone is immune to radio-frequency interference and works superbly in the noisiest of aircraft. A monaural version of the S-45 carries a list price of $259, while the stereo model lists for $305. A helicopter model, the S-45, lists for $269. For more information, contact Sigtronics Corporation, 822 North Dodsworth Avenue, Covina, California 91724; telephone 818/915-1993. — MEC
Unless otherwise stated, products listed herein have not been evaluated by AOPA Pilot editors. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors. However, members unable to get satisfaction regarding products listed should advise AOPA. To submit products for evaluation, contact: New Products Editor, AOPA Pilot, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701; telephone 301/695-2350.
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