Click through the photo gallery below to learn about new products and gear for pilots and aviation enthusiasts. The items featured all appeared in the April 2019 issue of Plane & Pilot, subscribe today to learn about more new products.
This fire containment bag is used throughout the airlines and other aircraft to prevent or contain in-flight emergencies caused by overheated electronic devices. If a device powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery catches fire mid-flight, an event that is increasingly common given their widespread use, the fire can be contained by adding two litres of water to the AvSax bag and then inserting the device. The water causes the bagâs polymer gel to expand quickly, which encases the device and provides an instant reduction in heat.
The polymer can also absorb the force of a battery explosion should the device continue to vent.
The AvSax bag is priced at $499 and comes with a set of protective gloves for managing overheating devices.
Learn more at Sportys: sportys.com.For airline history buffs, this bottle opener is a great conversation starter. The product is made of metal taken from the fuselage of a Pan Am Boeing 707, the worldâs first jet airliner, which revolutionized mass air travel beginning in the late 1950s. The product features the bodyâs original rivets and is hand-polished for a clean finish.
The opener is handmade in northern California. The product comes with a certificate explaining the origin of its materials as well as a box featuring the Pan Am logo.
It is priced at $125.00.
Learn more at Uncommon Goods: uncommongoods.comThis USB charger ensures that both pilots and passengers have easy access to recharge their electronics throughout any given flight. The product features a total of five USB ports, including two Fast Charge ports that can bring compatible devices from zero to a 50 percent charge in just half an hour. The chargerâs cord measures six feet long, making it easy to extend the product into the backseat of an aircraft.
The product features short-circuit and over-voltage protection, as well as temperature resistance.
The charger costs $39.99.
Learn more at Sportys: sportys.com.GoTenna Mesh is a lightweight portable that allows users to send text messages and GPS locations directly from their phones in areas without cell phone service. The product works by generating its own radio signal using UHF frequencies, enabling users to send messages up to 4 miles away in open areas or half a mile away in dense areas. This range can also be increased through mesh networking, in which messages relay off of other devices to go farther.
The product offers both 1:1 and group messaging. All private messages are end-to-end encrypted, and the company does not conduct any central data storage.
The compact unit weighs just 9 ounces and can be easily clipped to a backpack or pocket. The battery life of the Mesh is 24 hours.
A GoTenna Mesh two-pack is priced at $179, with introductory service plans starting at $9.99 per year.
Learn more at GoTenna: gotenna.com.
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