Black Friday, Aviation Style

Here are some gift ideas and holiday deals compiled by the FLYING crew:

This holiday, Sporty's Pilot Shop is knocking $80 off the ForeFlight Sentry Plus ADS-B Receiver, as well as offering a $50 discount on its Leather Original Flight Gear Bag. Those in the market for Sporty's Multiengine Training Course can also snag a $20 discount. Other discounts are also available for Garmin watches, Flight Gear LED flashlights and more. 

Pilot Institute is offering up to 50 percent off its airplane and drone courses. Some of the course offerings include Private Pilot Made Easy Online Ground School for $175, Instrument Rating Made Easy for $175 and Checkride Made Easy for $49. More information may be found here.

If it can be worn, displayed, flown in the backyard, used for interior decorating or carrying pilot gear and making you look like a fighter pilot or astronaut while you do it, you can probably find it in the Wright Brothers Catalog from Sporty's Pilot Shop. The WBC specializes in 'giftables' for aviation enthusiasts. One of the more popular items is the inflatable 8-foot Santa in an airplane. Put it on the front lawn and let the neighbors know a pilot lives there. Find WBC's Black Friday deals here.

Seattle Avionics FlyQ EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) pretty much covers every informational need a pilot has in the cockpit, from weather procurement to flight planning. Load the app and you have digital maps on your iPad or iPhone and away you go.

Aviation books are always a good choice. For the World War II buff, you might try a recent release from the U.K.: Bomb Group: The Eighth Air Force's 381st and The Allied Air Offensive Over Europe, by Paul Bingley and Mike Peters.

The book tells the story of the men of the 381st Bombardment Group, based in England, who flew dangerous bomber missions over Europe during World War II. The book was written by Paul Bingley, the chairman of the 381st Ridgewell Airfield Museum Bingley and aviation historian Mike Peters.

"The book took about two years to write (due to full-time jobs and COVID)," Bingley told FLYING. "However, it is the culmination of almost two decades of research on my side. It is a narrative history of the 381st, from establishment to deactivation. It is told largely through the stories of several individuals, including the group’s chaplain, James Good Brown."

The book is available from Amazon or through Casemate Publishers.

READ MORE: Remembering the Mighty Men of the 381st Bomb Group

If you haven't subscribed to FLYING yet, now is an ideal time. FLYING is offering Black Friday deal that will save you up to $50. Find more information here.

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out our guide to the Best Gifts for Pilots under $100

Do you know of a special aviation deal or gift idea for this holiday season? Drop up a line at editorial@flying.media and tell us about it!