Friday, September 29, 2006

Flight Training Kits

At Touch & Go Pilot Supply, we strongly endorse continued education and flight training in all aspects of aviation. As a result, we carry the largest selection of aviation training materials at discount prices and offer free delivery on all flight training kits within the Continental USA.
Each flight training kit is designed for a specific licence or endorsement and contains the exact materials required to achieve the course objective at a fraction of the price. Pilot training kits contain all of the required ground school reading, course syllabus, plotters, flight maneuvers, flight exercises, logbooks and more. Most training kits even come with a professional flight bag.
The kits are arranged in the normal order of advancement through flight training. The selection includes:
Sport Pilot Training KitsPrivate Pilot Training KitsCommercial Pilot Training KitsInstrument Training KitsMulti-Engine Pilot Training KitsFlight Instructor Training Kits
In addition, we also carry Helicopter Training Kits as well as various A&P Technician / Maintenance Training Kits.
Flight training kits offer the most economical and simplest means of obtaining all of the materials needed to complete the desired flight training goals. The individual items in each kit may be purchased from Touch & Go Pilot Supply separately or in combination. The description of each kit clearly identifies the specific course and lists all of the items contained within each kit.
For customer who wish to identify and/or purchase items separately, we have provided a list and links to many of the flight training materials from each kit. Link on any item on the training material list and the link will display a selection of appropriate products.
Flight Bags
Pilot Test Prep Books
Logbooks
Aviation ChartsAviation MapsFlight ComputersAirport Directories
We wish you success in your flight training, in subsequent flying and in obtaining additional ratings and certificates.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Torgoen Aviation Watch Collection

TORGOEN was founded by a group of aviation enthusiasts to provide similar enthusiasts with aviation watches of uncompromising quality.

In the cockpit, things happen quickly... a pilot must always be thinking ahead of the airplane. Multi-tasking is part of survival. Reliable instruments. Rapid readings, dependant on precise and clear markings and indexes. Day and night. Ergonomically efficient controls. All of these same standards are part of another cluster of pilot's instruments: the Torgoen line of aviation watches.

Attainment of aviation standards comes as part of two major steps, Preparation and Production. Torgoen's commitment to the highest quality standards is uncompromised in every step of the manufacturing process. Each and every watch passes strict quality control procedures to ensure precision, water resistance and endurance. At Torgoen, preparation includes precision engineering, careful attention to details of every component, and the best choice of materials. During and after production, Torgoen pilot watches and components pass the most stringent quality control procedures. The watches are tested under various extreme conditions including temperature variation, dust, humidity, impact and vibration.

Torgoen Flight Computer Watches
Torgoen's line of Flight Computer Watches can be used to calculate time, distance and speed equations. It also can perform a variety of calculations from currency conversions to multiplication and division problems. With the watch you can calculate any conversion of linear nature with a constant ratio such as ounces to grams, kilograms to pounds, miles to kilometers etc. Currently Torgoen has 3 models with a flight computer: T1, T2 and T3.

Torgoen Zulu Time Watches
The world is divided into 24 time zones. For easy reference in communications, a letter of the alphabet has been assigned to each time zone (less the letter "I" and "O"). The "clock" at Greenwich, England is used as the standard clock for international reference of time in communications, military, maritime and other activities that cross time zones. The letter designation for this clock is Z, pronounced ZULU in the phonetic alphabet.
Zulu Time Watch Line has 2 distinct models. One uses a turning internal bezel to mark a different time zone (dual time) while the other uses an additional hand completing a full circle once every 24 hours that can also denote a different time zone including Zulu Time (i.e. GMT). Torgoen Zulu Watches are T4 and T5.

Touch & Go Pilot Supply also offers a selection of Torgoen T5 Ladies Zulu Time Watches.

Torgoen Zulu Time and E6B Combination WatchesTorgoen T6 aviation watch series has a Swiss Movement GMT type (additional time zone in 24 hour format, or ZULU time according to aviation radio lingo) and slide rule called flight computer or E6B. With it you can easily solve time, speed and distance problems as well as conversions of units once you know the ratio. Currency conversions are especially easy to perform. You can also multiply or divide any two numbers (detailed instruction manual booklet in 4 languages with many examples is included).

Experience the confidence that comes with using a fine instrument - a TORGOEN aviation watch.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Choosing the Right Headset For You

Choosing the right headset for your aviation needs may be one of the most important and long lasting pilot decisions you make. Owning your own headset is somewhat of a milestone for every pilot. There is certain prestige of having your own personal equipment which also reinforces your dedication to finishing the training becoming more involved in flying.

With so many manufacturers and styles available on the market, how can you select a headset that fits your current and future requirements? At Touch and Go Pilot Supply, years of experience in the headset industry has enabled our staff to effectively narrow your selction to one or two models that we know will meet your current and future requirements.

Unfortunately the website does not always allow us to speak directly with each and every customer. We have therefore put together some general information on aviation headsets and have provided some guidelines we recommend using when selecting your headset.

Aviation Headset General Information
Aircraft headsets exploded onto the market in the early 1980's. The system afforded the pilot clear unrestricted communication with both air traffic control and other passengers or crew. They also helped reduce the background engine noice which over long periods can have negative effects on hearing.

Aviation headsets can be divided into two broad categories: Passive Noise Reduction (PNR) and Active Noise Reduction (ANR) Headsets.

Passive Noise Reduction Headsets rely on the insulation properties of the headset ear cup to limit background noise. The ability of the headset cup to seal over the ear and the nature of materials used to manufacture the padding in the cup become the determining factors of how well the headset will perform in limiting background noise.

Active Noise Reduction Headsets generate electrical signals to effectively cancel out background noise. The system superimposes sound waves that neutralize the low frequency background noise typically associated with general aviation aircraft. In order to support this system, ANR headsets do require a power source from either a battery pack or panel fed supply. The technology involved in ANR headsets makes them more expensive than PNR headsets and generally more prone to operating problems.

How to Pick an Aviation Headset That is Right for You

At Touch And Go Pilot Supply, we always try to recommend a headset that will not only meet your current flight requirements, but also perform well as you progress through your flight training. Over the years, we have identified five main factors that determine which model of headset pilots select.

1. Price
As with all purchases, the overall cost of the item is an important consideration and, in some cases, is the dominant deciding factor. It is important to realize that higher price models does not always imply better performance. We offer some economically priced headsets that provide fantastic reception and comfort allowing budget-minded pilots to own their own aviation headset.
In order to help you make a selection when price is a driving factor, we have categorized headsets into 3 separate groups. Entry Level Headsets ($99 - $250)Intermediate Headsets ($215 -$320)Advanced Headsets ($359 - $750)

2. Flight Experience
What stage are you in your flight training or career? If you are just starting your training, we recommend borrowing or renting a headset from your training facility. This will allow you to better understand how the system works and some of the features that distinguish different models. Chances are that the headset you will be handed will be a budget headset that has been through it's own battle. All rental units tend to have endured extreme wear and tear, and perform well below the products capabilities, however it will still allow you to experience the benefits of individual aircraft communication. Once you have used and tested a few headsets, come back to us and let us know what you liked and disliked about each model. We will then recommend a headset that meets all of your requirements and use your feedback to help educate other pilots.

3. Future Flying/ Pilot Goals
Do you have a long term aviation carear goal? Or are your piloting goals limited to more of a casual hobby? If you plan to make flying a hobby, we recommend selecting one of the entry level headsets. These products will serve you well during your training and personal flights. The headsets tend to be easier to resell should you decide to upgrade your headset. If you anticipate making aviation a long lasting passion or career, we recommend you consider one of the Intermediate or Advanced Headsets. The higher priced headsets tend to outlast the entry level products and in general resist wear & tear.

4. Headset Options
Many headsets feature options such as stereo/mono speakers or individualized speaker controls on each headset ear cup. The idea behind these features is to allow the pilot to independently adjust the audio quantity and volume for each ear. In reality, many intercoms installed in aircraft do not support stereo outputs. In practice, most pilots adjust the headset to fit comfortably on their head and select a volume level to mid range and seldom readjust the settings. Having the stereo feature on the set is a great option to have but one that is sometimes oversold.

5. Comfort & Convenience
The question of how the headset feels is an important consideration and one question that is often overlooked or lost in the discussion. Most retailers tend to promote the features and performance of a headset and forget ensure that the headset actually feels comfortable on the pilots head. All headsets have some type of adjustment to permit expansion or tightening of the ear cups. The level of padding on the ear cups and head strap give a direct indication of how comfortable each headset will be - especially on a long flight.

We also recommend taking note of the weight of the headset. Although headsets generally all weigh within 1/2 lb of each other, the extra weight over a long period can induce neck strains and headaches. We have listed the weight of each individual headset on the site to allow you to take this into consideration in your selection process. The final comment is regarding the microphone and it's assembly. The ability to position the microphone and swivel the boom to the other side of the headset is not only a convenience but critical in making strong and clear transmissions. After operating with many headsets over the years, a flexible boom microphone is beneficial. In our experience the clip assembly microphones tend to loosen with wear and positioning becomes frustrating.

There are obviously many other less significant factors and personal needs, however we hope that the recommendations above give you a feel for how to best select an aviation headset that meets your requirements.

At Touch And Go Pilot Supply, we take great care to offer only headsets we have tried and tested and feel confident will provide the best quality and performance for the price. We also recommend when purchasing a new headset that you order a headset case or flight bag to protect and store the headset. The number one cause of headset failures is dropping them while boarding or exiting the aircraft.

At Touch & Go Pilot Supply, we offer a wide selection of aviation headset protective bags and flight bags. We would very much like any of our customers to provide feedback on the headsets they order.

Along with our extensive selection of General Aviation headsets, we also offer Helicopter Headsets, Children's Headsets, Hearing Protectors, Headset Bags and Aviation Headset Accessories.