Top 10 Gifts for Student Pilots

1. An airplane

Okay, so an actual airplane might be a little expensive, but you can be sure it’s on every pilot’s wish list. If you can’t afford a real airplane, maybe you can opt for an aircraft model.  A model of the airplane he flies is a great gift for any student pilot.

2. Money

We all know that money isn’t the most creative gift, and for this reason, many gift-givers refuse to gift cash. But money is still at the top of the list when it comes to pilot wish list. Really, all a student pilot wants to do is fly airplanes, and it takes money to fly, so student pilots just want more money.

3. Food

This is a joke (but not really). It’s no secret that pilots are usually in need of a good meal.  Many student pilots are just barely able to feed themselves. And even if they can afford to eat well, they’d rather be flying than cooking. A gift card to a restaurant, a basket full of snacks or a homemade dinner is always welcome in a student pilot’s world.

4. Coffee

Whether a late-night study-sessions or long cross-country flight, coffee is a necessary part of flight training for some students. Espresso machines, gift cards to coffee shops, or just a huge bag of coffee would suffice.

5. An iPad

If the budget allows it, an iPad is a perfect gift for the student pilot that doesn’t already have one. Flying with an iPad is beginning to become the standard way of flying, and every pilot should have one.  Load it with pilot apps like ForeFlight and Sporty’s E6B and it’ll turn into a pilot’s best friend.

6. A kneeboard

Kneeboards are still all the rage, even for an iPad-carrying student pilot. Without an iPad, student pilots need a place to write, stash their notes and carry their sectionals. And pilots with an iPad could use a kneeboard for the iPad, which keeps it in place and allows for extra storage for things like pencils and paper, in case the battery dies.

7. A headset

A good headset is one of the most important and necessary investments for a student pilot. They’ll use it every day that they fly and it should be comfortable and well-made. Bose headsets are known to be some of the best in the industry, but they come with a hefty price tag. If the budget is limited, opt for the David Clark H10-13.4 headset.

8. A flight bag

Student pilots have a lot of items they need to carry with them when they fly. They must have pens, pencils, paper, maps, flashlights, calculators, timers and their logbook, to name a few. So obviously, they need a place to put it all. A proper flight bag will last years and carry a lot. Make sure it comes with a padded headset pocket to protect their headset.

9. An electronic logbook

There’s nothing wrong with keeping a paper flight log, but an electronic one makes it easy to search, share and back up the data. It’s just easier.

10. Books/Videos/Software about flying

If all of the items above seem a little costly, don’t worry. There are a few other things on a student pilot’s wish list that don’t cost so much. Remember that a student pilot is always learning, so the more aviation-related things they can consume, the better. Books and videos about airplanes are always a success, since pilots like to read and watch all things aviation. A computer simulator is also a great gift idea, as it allows a student pilot to have fun while learning.