Gifts for Pilots They Will Actually Take Flying
Pilots are particular about their gear, and they should be. The gifts that land are the ones that go in the flight bag or the cockpit - a proper E6-B, a kneeboard for the iPad, a bag with a place for the headset, sunglasses that do not black out the screens - plus a few things for the ground, like the classic book every instructor recommends and a sim yoke for practice at home. Every pick suits student pilots as well as experienced ones, and each lists who it suits and when to skip it.
Mixed
Budget picked
For Pilots
Right fit
Handpicked
Curated with care
Updated
September 2026
We'll tell you when not to buy something. Every pick below lists its honest catch, and we say who should skip it. We'd rather talk you out of the wrong gift than push you toward a sale β how we choose.
Our 10 picks
Best overall
#1
A fleece-lined headset pocket, a padded iPad pocket and 14 inside pockets - the flight bag that gives every piece of gear its own place.
The catch: It holds one headset, not two, and a reviewer found it a little crowded when full - pilots who carry two headsets want Flight Outfitters' larger Lift XL.
Best for student pilots
#2
ASA's aluminum E6-B for wind, fuel and time-speed-distance math - the tool every student pilot learns on and many keep for good.
The catch: It takes practice to learn, and some reviewers say the plastic wind face is hard to mark finely with a pencil or can feel stiff when new - an app or electronic E6-B is quicker once the math is second nature.
Also worth a look
#3
A rotating iPad kneeboard with a phone holder and a writing platform - charts steady on the knee, even in bumps. Large size, not for iPad mini.
The catch: The large size is not for iPad mini - that needs the small iDeck - and fit with the newest iPad models is not listed by the maker. Some reviewers found the strap loose or tight, and one said the tablet bands tore after about a year.
Best splurge
#4
Non-polarized mineral glass lenses and bayonet temples that slide under a headset, from the maker of US military flight glasses.
The catch: It is expensive, glass lenses are heavier than nylon, and the warranty is limited - lifetime on solder joints only, three years on frame and lens-coating defects, and no cover for scratches or cracks.
Best book
#5
The 1944 classic on angle of attack, stalls and landings - still the book instructors hand to new students.
The catch: The prose is long-winded in places and some references are dated - the aerodynamics have not changed, but readers should expect a 1940s voice.
Best for practice at home
#6
A desk-mounted yoke and three-lever throttle for Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane - procedure practice at home between lessons.
The catch: It is plastic and has about 45 degrees of roll each way, there are no rudder pedals, and it is not Xbox compatible. Reviewers mention a dead zone on the elevator axis and a USB hub with no power supply.
Also worth a look
#7
ASA's compact hardcover log, laid out for FAA recordkeeping with endorsements in the back - where the first solo gets written down.
The catch: It is a basic logbook: advanced pilots say it has fewer columns and lines per page than they want for complex or instrument flying, and a protective cover is sold separately.
Also worth a look
#8
A 100-lumen aluminum penlight that clips in a pocket for dawn preflights and dropped pens. White light only.
The catch: It is white light only - there is no red-LED version of the Stylus Pro, and many pilots prefer red at night to protect their night vision.
Also worth a look
#9
A 99.75 Wh power bank, just under the 100 Wh airline limit, that keeps an iPad, phone or laptop charged through a long day of flying.
The catch: It's a brick β genuinely heavy, because that's where the capacity lives. Overkill if they only ever charge a phone.
Best small gift
#10
The red ramp streamer every pilot knows, as an embroidered keychain - a small nod to their world for the keys or the flight bag.
The catch: This listing is one tag, not a multi-pack, and the exact size is not stated - it is a token, not a gift on its own for a big occasion.
How to choose
Buy for the flight bag, not the wall. Pilots use gear on every flight - a kneeboard, a flashlight, a bag that keeps things organized. Decor and novelty items get a smile; gear gets used.
Know their tablet and aircraft before buying tech. Kneeboards are sized to specific iPads, sim yokes need a Windows PC, and a bag has to fit behind the seat of what they fly. A quick question beats a return.
Non-polarized for the cockpit. Polarized sunglasses can black out glass-cockpit screens and some instruments, so pilot sunglasses should be non-polarized with straight or bayonet temples that fit under a headset.
Match the gift to their stage. Student pilots need the basics - E6-B, logbook, bag, a good book. Certificated pilots appreciate upgrades like aviators or a sim setup, and a milestone like a first solo deserves something they will keep.
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