| |
Cool Stuff | PRODUCTS THAT MATTER
 Weighty Matters
After years of trying to balance a suitcase on the bathroom scale, we finally ran across a tool that would accurately weigh all of the oddly shaped items we stick in the airplane for cross-country trips. Sporty’s hanging Luggage Scale can accurately measure objects weighing up to 55 pounds by simply hanging them from the scale. The readings are accurate and the scale can be hung almost anywhere. What’s more, because it’s portable, you can take it with you and make sure you’re still under gross, even with all the souvenirs you bought on your trip. The scale costs $19.95 and can be purchased from Sporty’s at www.sportys.com
 Weather On Your Cell
If you really want to get current weather information without being tied to the FBO or the Internet, use your cell phone. No, not to call flight service. Use your cell phone to download a graphical weather cast from Digital Cyclone. Now available for Java-enabled AT&T and NEXTEL cell phone users, Pilot My-Cast provides up-to-the-minute weather data, including personalized radar, weather along your planned route of flight and access to graphical TAF and METAR data right through the phone. There is a $9.95 setup charge for the service, and a $9.95 monthly fee in addition to your normal cell phone fee. For more information, visit www.my-cast.com/pilot/.
Dandy Doggie Digss
Some hotels treat pets almost as well as paying guests. At the Peninsula hotel in Chicago and The Mayfair House in Miami, visiting pets feast on treats like raw-hide, beef bones and even steak tartare. Your four-legged friends can enjoy a 45-minute “Rover Relaxation Massage” on special pet pillows to reduce their stress after hours in a cramped airplane. The Mayfair House takes pet pampering one step further, offering a special doggie room service menu with goose liver pate, spring water, “Doggie Burgers,” and six types of dog food. The Inn of Anasazi in Santa Fe even arranges pet sitters to keep your beast company while you are out site-seeing or enjoying a nice meal. What a life these pets have! For reservations, visit www.preferredhotels.com. For more over 25,000 pet-friendly hotels and resorts that welcome pets, visit www.petswelcome.com.
 Secure Your Airplane At Home And On The Road
A Southern California company has introduced a portable, wireless alarm system that not only notifies you by cell phone if someone breaks into your hangar, you can take it with you to stand guard over your airplane when you are away from home. The Navguard EEE777AB requires no wires or telephone hookup, and has a 40-hour stand-by battery that can be used in the event of a power failure or in your airplane while you are traveling. The unit normally mounts on the hangar wall and has a wide-area motion detector that will alert a dispatcher by built-in cell phone if movement is detected inside the hangar. But what makes this model truly remarkable is that you can unplug it from the hangar and take it with you. Once at your destination, simply place the unit in the front or rear seat of the airplane and arm it. If someone climbs in your airplane, an audible alarm will go off and you’ll be alerted by cell phone. Talk about being able to take it with you! The unit costs $999, and can be purchased directly from E & E Aviation Products at www.eeelectronic.com/aviation/products/products.htm.
 Budding Aviators Take To The Internet
If your child seems destined to become a pilot, you’ll want to visit web sites set up by the National Business Aviation Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association that are both designed to help youngsters learn about more aviation. AvKids.com is an NBAA site that features online and downloadable games designed to peak a child’s interest in aviation. There’s also a “Teacher’s Lounge” with aviation-related resources for teachers, and a speaker’s resource center, to help those who plan to give presentations to children learn how to better describe aviation and the careers the field can offer. The EAA site, youngeagles.org, is built around the organization’s “Young Eagles” program and features an interactive virtual checklist game, an online logbook, activities, pictures, and other resources designed to get children flying.
|
|
|
|
