Pilot Products

Glider pilots aren't afraid of engine-out landings, because every landing they make is an engine-out. And gliding-or soaring-is an economical method to get yourself up in the air. You're not paying for fuel, after all. A glider add-on rating is a great way to enhance your aviation skills, and it counts as a flight review.

As you undertake any new rating or certificate, a little research up front can save you time and money in the air. Transition to Gliders: A Flight Training Handbook for Power Pilots was written expressly for those who have spent some time in the left seat of a powered airplane, as opposed to the FAA's Glider Flying Handbook, which is directed at those who are new to any type of flying. Thus, there's no history of the sailplane and protracted discussion of the pilot decision-making process. Instead, author Thomas L. Knauff gets down to business with a perfunctory discussion of the federal aviation regulations and a basic explanation of aerodynamics, as well as the instruments that you can expect to find in the typical sailplane.

When he moves into ground handling, it's as if Knauff and the reader are at a gliderport getting ready to take a flight. From the preflight to the aerotow to landings and beyond, the discussion is straightforward and authoritative. There's a lot of information in a condensed format, and you'll want to be sure to read the sections on advanced soaring, particularly the chapter on off-field landings. There are many takeaways here for the powered-aircraft pilot.

The text is sprinkled with simple, helpful black-and-white illustrations and diagrams. The black-and-white photographs at the beginning of each chapter don't reproduce well, however, and may leave the purist wishing for higher-quality images. Still, they don't get in the way of what is a solid text written by an experienced pilot and instructor. Knauff holds several glider world records (you can read his thoughts on setting and achieving goals in the June 1995 AOPA Flight Training article, "8 Steps to World History").

Price: $29.95; quantity discounts available for flight schools and clubs

Contact:www.eglider.org; 814-355-2413

Aerous VX3 by JH Audio

For most of us, a headset means two tuna-can-sized ear cups attached to a wide head band fitted with a boom microphone. Set aside those expectations when you view the Aerous VX3 from JH Audio, an in-ear headset with custom-molded earpieces.

In-ear headsets have gained traction over the past few years as pilots look for relief from clamping pressure. The Aerous VX3 is priced to compete with the best circumaural headsets, and it fits well in that category. Each headset is handmade to customer specifications and fully supported.

When you first receive the headset, you know there's something different about this product and this company. The case is carbon fiber and features the customer's name. The microphone resembles a stage mic, and is available in black or silver. But this headset, which was designed by long-time music engineer Jerry Harvey, really performs. Harvey clearly knows how to bring sound perfectly through this earpiece, which is no surprise considering that he invented in-ear monitors used by serious musicians around the world. The microphone is also crystal clear. Numerous flight tests with the Aerous were a joy, with crisp and clear ATC communications.

The Aerous is a passive earpiece, providing between 28dB and 34dB of attenuation. Since it is a closed piece, the user needs to tweak it slightly on climbs or descents to clear his or her ears. The company will make an earpiece with the proper filters so no manual clearing is necessary, but a minor amount of attenuation will be lost. -Ian J. Twombly

Price: $999; Less expensive models are available

Contact: www.jhaudio.com; 866-485-9111

Quick hits

Hilton Software, maker of the WingX portable preflight preparation software, now offers PIC Brief, a free Web-based service that provides current METARs, terminal aeronautical forecasts, animated radar, NACO approach charts, VFR sectionals, and IFR en route charts to your mobile device or computer. The service includes airport information such as runways, fixed-base operators, communications frequencies, and more. PIC Brief is compatible with all browsers, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and iPhone.

Contact: www.hiltonsoftware.com; 866-429-4649

New books on integrated private/instrument training and effective cockpit routines are now available from Aviation Supplies & Academics. Access to Flight ($74.95), the newest entry in ASA's "The Pilot's Manual" series, presents a training curriculum that integrates the private with the instrument rating so as to provide students with the greatest utility in their flying. Cockpit Procedures ($19.95), written by Chris Burger, describes the underlying principles for and detailed descriptions of checklists and routines used in many flight schools, touching on good habits to develop, effective workload management, and even what you should carry in your flight bag.

Contact: www.asa2fly.com; 800-ASA2FLY

Alphavictor, maker of AVLogbook, has released version 2.0 of its Web-based logbook. The new version is designed to be faster and includes a new 23,000-airport database, said company CEO Bruce Micek. Other features include pull-down menus for maneuvers completed during flight, and autofill of flight times.

Price: $125 after free 30-day trial

Contact: www.avlogbook.com; 877-JET-1994