In this article I’m going to share some of the best gifts for pilots I can find (and some I’ve even gifted).
For someone outside of aviation, shopping for the pilot in your life might seem like a bit of a challenge. But here’s a secret—they like flying machines! So most of the gift ideas for pilots on our list are centered on those and the pilot lifestyle.
So while most gift buyers aren’t whipping out the latest edition of Trade-a-Plane to shop for their loved ones, there are all sorts of fabulous aviation gifts available online that feature aircraft of every description.
You can roughly break down pilot gifts into a few categories. For one, there are technology items and gadgets that they can use in the cockpit and crew lounge.
These gifts for pilots range from the most expensive high-end aviation headsets to simple things like battery chargers.
Then there are things that make their home life more aeronautically themed. Bar sets, wall art, and even airplane ties if your aviation bud is inclined to dress well.
Here are 40+ aviation gifts that any pilot will love, including the best picks for tech lovers, pilot home decor, and lifestyle gadgets they can’t live without.
And if you’re looking for flight school graduation gift ideas, this list has some great recommendations as well.
10 High-Tech Aviation Gifts Pilots Will Love
Very few pilots aren’t gadget nerds at heart. But shopping for tech presents for a pilot requires knowing your pilot’s cockpit habits well.
Many pilots buy what they need to fill their flight bags, so it’s possible that these things may already be in there!
If you want gifts for a pilot in training, these tech gifts are easily some of your best options.
Device Backup Battery
One of the handiest things a pilot can carry in their flight bag these days is a backup battery for their devices. It’s one of the most practical aviator gifts for him. You can use these small power packs to recharge any small device.
They’re convenient for pilots since many older aircraft are not equipped with accessory outlets like cars are. They also make great gifts for flight attendants.
These batteries come in any shape and size you can imagine.
A few cool features that might interest your pilot friends are those units that feature built-in power adapters for any device, like this tiny 12,000mAh model. Or, there are rugged models like this one with a built-in solar panel and waterproof case (that one also has a nice 20% off coupon). But if your pilot likes to keep it simple, this high-capacity slim-line model has no frills and gets the job done.
Apple AirPods
AirPods probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when trying to find aviation gifts for pilots. But professional pilots spend a lot of time waiting. So a good set of wireless earbuds can come in handy when you want to listen to a book or just drown out the sound of people talking and babies crying.
Some small plane pilots might be tempted to use AirPods under their headsets on long cross-country flights, but it’s the exception rather than the rule.
More accurately, pilots simply love the functionality of these AirPods for use during their downtime, hanging out in pilot lounges waiting for passengers to arrive or weather to clear up!
Foreflight – Top Gift for Pilots
One of the most popular apps among pilots is Foreflight. This is the go-to app for flight planning and weather. As a pilot in training they’ll probably open this app every single day.
If you’re looking for the most useful gifts for pilots, this is it.
You can purchase either a Foreflight Basic Plus plan or Pro Plus plan. Most of the students at our school go with the Pro Plus plan but the Basic plan will work as well.
iPad
If you’re buying for a brand-new student pilot an iPad is an excellent gift. They’ll use it extensively throughout their flight training.
There are countless helpful apps for flying (one mentioned below) as well as study aids that are all used best on the iPad.
The two biggest things to consider when purchasing an iPad for a pilot in training is the size of the iPad and cellular connection. The vast majority of pilots prefer the iPad Mini because it’s easier to use in the cockpit. We’ve surveyed our students and about 70% of them use the Mini.
The other thing to remember is that they’ll need the cellular-equipped iPad. You don’t need to have a cellular plan for the iPad, you just need to be cellular equipped to work with the apps they’ll use in training.
If you’re considering an iPad as a gift, be sure to read through our guide on the best iPad for pilots.
Icom Handheld NAV/COM
Ok, enough of the generic tech toys—let’s talk cool gifts for pilots! This is seriously a fantastic gift for pilots, but especially a new pilot. Every pilot should have a handheld aviation radio in their pilot bag. They are relatively inexpensive and can be used in critical situations when things on the plane start failing.
But they’re great for day-to-day pilot life, too. Instructors love to use these so they can listen in on their students during those stressful solo flights.
In addition, they can usually receive the ATIS and weather broadcast a few miles from the airport, so pilots can tune into local conditions on the way to work.
Garmin D2 Air or Delta Smartwatch
Smartwatches are still catching on, but there are certainly some activities in life where these wearables are super handy. Of course, we’re all pretty familiar with how they’ve improved health and fitness. But some brands are making great strides in things like aviation, too.
This Garmin is the perfect example. These GPS-enabled watches have a host of great aviation apps that will make any pilot swoon.
The pulse oxygen sensor and barometric altimeter are especially welcome features on such a device. One word of warning, though—Garmin watches work best for pilots who already use Garmin products and the Garmin Pilot app on their mobile devices.
Garmin sells two aviation-themed smartwatches. The D2 Air is smaller and slightly less expensive while still having GPS and great tools for flight planning. The D2 Delta is their feature-loaded high-end model. It can pair with appropriately networked Garmin flight decks.
A New Headset (The Ultimate Present for a Pilot)
If you’re looking for a great pilot gift, upgrade their headset. Many pilots start out their training with a fairly basic, low-budget headset. So if you want to give them an extra special gift you could get them one of these high-end headsets. The Bose A20 is one of the most coveted headsets at our flight school. It works incredibly well and Bose’s warranty and service is top-notch.
A more affordable option that’s incredibly popular with students is the David Clark H10 headset. It’s basically the Honda Civic of the pilot headset world. This headset has been tested extensively and simply works. There’s nothing complicated about it. It’s just a dependable headset that will handle the abuse a student pilot will probably put it through.
If you want more headsets to choose from be sure to read our article on the best pilot headsets.
Light-up Aeronautical Chart Wall Art
DIY Metar has an amazing and unique gift for any aviation lover.
They make custom posters out of sectional charts and give you a kit that you can rig up to make each airport light up green for VFR, blue for MVFR, and red for IFR. The lights also indicate high winds or lightning.
You can select the size poster you want and include the airports you want the zone to cover. You can also purchase the posters fully assembled and ready to go.
The set includes a Wi-Fi dongle that connects to aviationweather.gov and works without a subscription.
New Flight Bag
If your buying a gift for a pilot who has been flying for a long time a new flight bag can make a fantastic gift. The Flight Outfitters Lift bag is a fantastic option for the pilot who just wants to carry their headset, iPad, and a few other small items. It’s a good, basic bag that can also work well for a student pilot.
If they need a more robust flight bag, take a look at this Flight Outfitters Bush Pilot bag that can carry quite a bit more gear and could even function as a small overnight bag.
If you’re looking for a flight bag for an airline pilot, you may want to look at this Brightline B7 flight bag that has enough pockets to keep every item they have organized.
For more flight bag ideas check out our post on the best flight bags for pilots.
Kindle Paperwhite
Long layovers and downtime between flights can be made enjoyable with a Kindle Paperwhite.
I’ve long been a fan of the Kindle and have several of them. They’re lightweight, have a glare-free screen, and it’s perfect for reading under any lighting condition with a wide range of brightness settings.
The latest Kindle Paperwhite has up to 10 weeks of battery life which makes it easy to toss into their luggage and not worry about charging it for a while. In addition to the Kindle you can toss in one or two of your favorite books for them to read as well.
They make a smaller, 8 GB version and a larger 32 GB version. If you’re trying to find great gifts for airline pilots be sure to add this one to your list.
6 Presents for a Pilot Crashpad
While those tech gadgets are all useful and cool, they lack the whim of a heartfelt gift for the home. Something is reassuring about receiving a gift that isn’t just about your job but is instead about making your life more fun and more comfortable.
Airplane Spotter Print
Help them decorate their hanger or home with these one-of-a-kind vintage airplane spotter prints. These posters are designed to look like the cards passed out during WWII to help people identify what airplanes were flying overhead. They’re popular gifts for pilots and make for a great gallery wall. Check out all of the prints here.
Personalized Airplane Hangar Sign
Help the pilot in your life decorate their hangar (or home) with a personalized hangar sign.
This 4″ x 18″ metal sign is a wonderful customized gift that can hang inside or outside.
Model of “Their” Plane
Aircraft models are excellent gifts for pilots, but many people fail to realize that a very thoughtful gesture can be made with a simple mode.
Maybe it’s the Cessna they soloed in or the Airbus they dream of driving one day; the plane you pick says a lot.
Pilots love model airplanes, so the challenges lie in figuring out 1) the right type of airplane and 2) the right type of model. Finding the plane depends on your pilot — what’s most special to them?
When picking the actual model, remember that models range from small die-cast toys for a few dollars to hand-carved artworks for hundreds.
Some are fun and artsy, capturing the spirit of the artists or making them toy-like, while others are hyper-accurate depictions suitable for museums. It comes down to what you think your pilot will like most and (of course) how much you want to spend.
A good place to start looking for gifts for a pilot is an online store that sells collectible aircraft models like this one.
Whiskey Decanter
Here’s a gift with a grown-up twist. This liquor decanter is beautiful, classy, and undoubtedly aeronautical. So if your pilot friend keeps a bar at home, this will look smashing on it.
Some are available with matching glasses, and there are multiple aircraft available inside the globe.
Replica Wood Prop
Go into any pilot’s home and you’re almost guaranteed to find a propeller, which makes it a great gift for pilots. This is a replica of a World War I propeller. It’s the perfect home decor item for a pilot, and it is a beautiful addition to any home. It could be wall-mounted or propped up—or it could be included in other parts of the home like tables or bars.
World Map and Scratch-Off Travel Poster
Many pilots became pilots because they love to travel. If you know someone who uses their standby privileges religiously totally up drool-worthy trips around the globe, they’ve got to have a world map at home. This one allows them to scratch off the countries or states that they visit.
Wall Art Airplane Blueprint Poster
You can’t go wrong with airplane wall art. Again, try to pick their favorite plane! For example, here are blueprint posters of an F-16 fighter, and here’s a beautiful Boeing 777.
Personalized Airplane Ornament or Stocking
Give them a truly unique gift for pilots and decorate their tree this Christmas with a personalized aviation ornament. These ceramic ornaments are the perfect gift for a new pilot or pilot to be. You could also give them one of these fun personalized airplane stockings to fill with other small aviation gifts.
And if your shopping for a young aviation enthusiast, a personalized airplane ornament is the perfect aviation gift.
5 Best Gifts for the Pilot Lifestyle
Finally, here are some gifts for the lifestyles of the FAA certificated. These gifts are less expensive and are both practical and thoughtful.
Yeti Insulated Water Bottle
Staying hydrated during a flight is no joke. In hot environments, small planes are notoriously hot. When you get to altitude, the air is cool but much drier. Hydration is a safety issue for pilots.
Make it a little easier on them by hooking your pilot buds up with an insulated stainless steel water bottle. It’s unbreakable, will last forever, is easily cleaned, spill-proof, and will keep cold things cold and hot things hot for hours.
Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses
Sunglasses make an excellent gift for pilots. Like the water bottle, they’re an item that every pilot needs. Like buying shoes, many pilots are fickle about precisely which styles and lenses they use during flight.
As a baseline, pilots should use non-polarized lenses. You can’t go wrong with the original aviators from Ray-Ban. If you aren’t sure what to buy, these are one of the best pilot gifts for him.
For more suggestions on sunglasses check out this post on the best sunglasses for flying.
Fisher Space Pen
Pilots take a lot of notes, and while electronics have filled new cockpits, many pilots still resort to the old-school pen and paper. But pilots often write in cramped spaces and at awkward angles.
These pens were first designed for use by NASA’s first astronauts. The pen is pressurized so that it will write at any angle and at any temperature.
Nerdy? Yes.
Useful? Infinitely.
TRX Exercise Kit
Unfortunately, many pilots find themselves living a more sedentary lifestyle than they’d like.
With all the long hours in small cockpits, fast meals on the go, and quick turns in strange cities, pilots can have difficulty finding time to work out. So packable workout kits are great gifts for pilots.
This suspension training system fits in a small pouch and can be used anywhere—even in tiny hotel rooms.
Leatherman Wingman
No flight bag is complete without an excellent multitool. Leatherman tools are perfect for pilots, thanks to the practical and infinitely useful needle-nose pliers. The “Wingman” model is especially apt, don’t you think? This is one of my favorite gifts for pilots.
I’m also a huge fan of the “Signal” model.
Leather Pilots Jacket
A high-quality leather jacket combines style, durability, functionality, and sentimental value, making it an excellent gift for pilots who appreciate both fashion and the aviation heritage.
It’s a gesture that not only keeps them warm but also warms their heart.
While high quality leather jackets are pricier, they will also last them for years to come and will come in handy on those cold flying days. This is truly one of the quintessential aviation gifts for him.
What are some of the best gifts for pilots you’ve seen? Share them in the comment section below.
Custom Leathergoods from Zephyr Aviation
Zephyr sells several great pilot gifts handcrafted from high-quality leather.
A Special Flight Training Experience
If you’re looking for a special gift for a pilot deep in their flight training, consider purchasing them a gift certificate for a different kind of flying — something that they wouldn’t normally pay for but that they’d love to try out.
Every pilot is excited to fly in new types of planes or new places, so you might consider some of these options.
- A discovery flight/hour of training during an upcoming vacation (think Hawaii or the Florida Keys)
- A mountain flying familiarization flight
- An aerobatics introduction flight or an hour of upset-recovery training
- A helicopter discovery flight
- A tailwheel lesson (Extra kudos if you find one that operates out of a small country grass airstrip!)
- A glider flight
- A seaplane discovery flight
- Skydiving, hang gliding, or a powered parachute lesson
To make this gift work, you’ll have to do some homework and find the right school for the right job. Most small flight schools will happily issue gift certificates or work out arrangements with you.
For a student deep in flight training and short on cash, the great thing about a gift like this is that you are both giving them an hour of time in their logbook and an experience they’ll remember forever.
Plus, it helps keep them excited about aviation even if they’re tired of pattern work at their home airport.
Personalized and Unique Etsy Pilot Gifts
The best aviation gifts have a personalized touch, and Etsy is the perfect website to start shopping for the pilot in your life. The site sells anything from antique aviation swag to personalized clothing and jewelry.
Here are a few of our favorites:
- Hand-carved wood plaques for first solo or pilot certificates, including detailed airport diagrams for where the deed happened.
- Laser-engraved, personalized leather logbook holders
- Jet-A scented candle, because every pilot loves the smell of jet fuel in the morning
Aviation Socks
Are you at a loss of what to get that special pilot in your life?
Socks are always the answer; just ask a mom. Check out these aviation-themed socks in three patterns.
They’ll add a fun, whimsical touch to any pilot’s uniform (or look pretty good on the golf course).
‘Trust Me, I’m a Pilot’ Swag
How do you know someone is a pilot?
Because they’ll tell you they are!
Help your flying friends and family out by providing whiskey glasses (or t-shirts, socks, mugs, & pretty much anything) emblazoned with the words, “Trust me, I’m a pilot.”
Also always popular: Anything that looks like a ‘Remove Before Flight‘ flag.
Best Aviation Gifts Under $50
Aviation Gifts $50-$100
Pilot Gifts $100-$200
Presents for Pilots for $200+
Book Gifts for Pilots
If you’re shopping for a pilot with a little free time on their hands you could pick up a few aviation books for them to read. Personally, books are one of my favorite gifts for pilots. This post includes a number of aviation books they’re sure to enjoy. If they are just getting started with their flight training, here are the best private pilot books to help them get ready for their checkride and FAA written test.