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Holiday Gift Guide
by Sean Fulton
 ICOM A24 SPORT HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER
This powerful new handheld features a number of ease-of-use features that are sure to make it required equipment in every flight bag. Duplex operation means you can use the VOR CDI capabilities for navigation while communicating on the COM channel, a must-have for instrument flying with an on-board radio failure. Other neat features include a big, easy-to-read back-lit display, and a back-lit number keypad that stays lit until you shut it off, ideal for use at night. The A24 also features a "flip-flop" last channel recall, allowing you to scroll forward and backward through up to 10 channels for easy, one-hand operation while flying. Available for about $300 from pilotmart.net. 
 LOWRANCE AIRMAP 600C
This new, hand-held color GPS+WAAS receiver can run for up to 12 hours on two AA batteries, and is viewable even in the most brilliantly lit cockpits. Its 2.83-inch screen uses a TFT display that has advanced back-lighting for excellent viewing in all conditions. The 600c is compatible with other glass-cockpit tools, and includes readouts for ground speed, altitude, vertical speed and a HSI or MAP with CDI. Available for about $500 from pilotmart.net. 
 CLARITY ALOFT HEADSET
Good aviation hearing protection doesn't mess up your hair. This holiday season, give what is without a doubt the lightest, most versatile aviation headset available. Made of two specialized, viscoelastic foam ear tips that are combined with a light-weight, noise-canceling microphone, the Clarity Aloft headset was designed for the military and already boasts thousands of hours in the air. But best of all, because the headband fits behind the head, rather than across the top of the head, you can spend hours in the cockpit with this headset and not have a hair out of place. Reasonably priced at $550 from clarityaloft.com.
 FOLDING MOBIKY
This clever get-around gadget will make you the talk of tie-downs at your next air show. This high-tech collapsable bike is a 29-pound, three-speed powerhouse that can be "walked" as well as ridden. It's ingenius design allows the bike to stand upright while partially collapsed, so you can walk along side it when you're not riding. It comes in five slick colors, and there is an optional carrying bag that will keep your Genius scratch-free on every trip. Priced at $700,
but well worth it from mobikyusa.com.
 DURABOOK RUGGED NOTEBOOK COMPUTER
This rugged notebook is surprisingly light and powerful, yet can withstand as much abuse as even the most active road warrior can throw at it. Thanks to
a magnesium-alloy case, shock-resistant internal mountings and a spill-proof shield that protects the keyboard from liquids, these powerful notebooks from Twinhead let you take your office on the road no matter how much you travel. All models feature a patented optical disk drive lock that prevents unintentional tray and disc ejection. Priced at $1,000 to $1,500, each Durabook comes packed with all of the power and features you'd want from an office computer, yet it's less than 1.5 inches thick and weighs less than six pounds! The Durabook series now comes with a 2-Year standard warranty. Find a local retailer or and
e-tailer at durabook.com.
 ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT
Keep back-seat passengers happy this holiday season with a handy, ceiling-mounted TV/DVD player with a 6.8-inch flip-down color display. The unit includes two IR and two wired headphones so that those in the back can enjoy their entertainment without interfering with radio communications. A remote controller and integrated TV tuner are also included. Available in black, grey or tan, for $1,495 from gulf-coast-avionics.com.
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