Gifts for Aviation Lovers: Pilots, Plane Spotters and Sim Flyers
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 21 hand-picked ideas
You can usually tell an aviation lover by the way they look up. A plane goes over and they know, without checking, whether it's a 737 or an A320, and they might tell you where it's headed. Some of these people fly themselves; many more never will, and love airplanes anyway. The difference matters, because the best gift for a working pilot is often useless to an enthusiast, and vice versa.
This guide is split along those lines. It starts with gear for licensed and student pilots, then books both groups enjoy, then a section on why an hour in the air might be the best gift of all. After that come gifts for plane spotters and collectors, flight simulators, drones and models, and a handful of small gifts under $25.
Aviation fans often love the history and the photography too; see gifts for history buffs, gifts for photographers and, for sim pilots, gifts for gamers.
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For pilots and student pilots
Pilots are particular about their gear, and the expensive items (a premium noise-canceling headset, a panel-mount avionics upgrade) are best chosen by them. These are the useful pieces that suit most pilots without much guesswork. If they're mid-training, ask their instructor what students at that school use.
- 1
Passive Noise-Reducing Pilot Headset
~$160
A passive headset with gel ear seals and a boom mic, the kind many student pilots learn with before upgrading to active noise reduction. It's also an excellent spare for passengers, since pilots who take friends flying always need another set. Check the plug type: most small airplanes use the standard twin general aviation plugs, while helicopters use a different single plug.
- 2
Pilot Kneeboard with Pen Holder
~$30
A board that straps to the thigh and holds checklists, a notepad and a pen within reach in a cramped cockpit. Student pilots use one on every flight to copy down weather, frequencies and clearances. It's inexpensive and genuinely useful. If they fly with a tablet, look for a kneeboard designed to hold it.
- 3
Pilot Flight Bag with Headset Compartment
~$70
A padded bag with a dedicated headset pocket and smaller compartments for charts, a logbook, a flashlight and spare batteries. Pilots tend to start with a random backpack and quickly realize why proper flight bags exist. A good milestone gift for passing a checkride or a first solo.
- 4
Red and White LED Pilot Flashlight
~$25
A compact light with separate white and red modes. White is for the preflight walkaround in a dark hangar or ramp; red is for reading charts in the cockpit at night without ruining night vision. Every pilot who flies after sunset should carry one, and plenty of them make do with a phone light instead.
Books for the hangar and the armchair
These are good for pilots and enthusiasts alike, from the classic technical text to a Cold War memoir that reads like a thriller.
- 5
Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche
~$22
Published in 1944 and still recommended by flight instructors, this book explains what really happens when an airplane flies, with angle of attack at the center. It's practical rather than mathematical. Student pilots find it clears up things their lessons rushed past, and curious non-pilots come away understanding why planes stall.
- 6
Skunk Works by Ben Rich
~$18
The memoir of the engineer who ran Lockheed's secret projects division, covering the U-2, the SR-71 Blackbird and the stealth fighter. It's full of engineering puzzles, government secrecy and personality clashes. A strong pick for an enthusiast who loves military aircraft or Cold War history, and an easy read for a long flight.
- 7
Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
~$24
The FAA's official textbook on aerodynamics, weather, navigation and regulations, the foundation of every pilot's written test. The FAA posts it free online, but a printed copy is far easier to study from and annotate. Ideal for someone who has just started lessons or keeps saying they'd like to.
- 8
Aviation Photography Coffee Table Book
~$35
A large book of air-to-air and airshow photography, from vintage warbirds to modern jets. It suits the enthusiast who loves the look of airplanes more than the technical side, and it's an easy gift when you don't know which aircraft they love most.
The best aviation gift might be an hour in the air
For anyone who has ever said "I've always wanted to learn to fly," consider a discovery flight. Most flight schools offer one: a short introductory lesson in a small training airplane, with an instructor in the right seat and the student usually taking the controls once they're airborne. Prices vary a lot by region and aircraft, so call a local school and ask about a gift certificate. If they later start training, the time can usually be logged.
For enthusiasts who don't want to fly the plane themselves, there are other options. Many aviation museums offer memberships, and some host rides in vintage aircraft. Airshows run through the warmer months across the country, and reserved seating or a day pass makes a fine gift. Even a planned afternoon at a good spotting location near a busy airport, with a picnic and an airband radio, counts as an experience to a true avgeek.
For plane spotters and collectors
Spotters photograph and log aircraft, collectors fill shelves with models, and both listen to air traffic control for fun. These gifts are for people who love airplanes from the ground.
- Our favorite9
Handheld VHF Airband Receiver Radio
~$55
A pocket receiver that tunes into the frequencies used by airport towers, approach controllers and pilots. Listening along while planes land is completely absorbing for an enthusiast, and it makes airshows and spotting trips far more interesting. It's receive-only, so there's no risk of accidentally transmitting. Look up the local airport's frequencies before wrapping it so they can start listening right away.
- 10
Die-Cast Airliner Model 1:400
~$40
A detailed metal airliner model in a real airline's paint scheme. Collectors usually stick to one scale so their models look right together, and 1:400 is popular because the shelves don't overflow. Choosing an airline and aircraft that means something, like the jet from a honeymoon or the airline a parent flew for, turns a model into a keepsake.
- 11
Vintage Airplane Blueprint Poster Set
~$22
Technical-drawing style prints of classic aircraft. Framed, they suit an office, garage or kid's room, and they cost very little for the amount of wall they fill. A safe choice for an enthusiast whose favorite aircraft you don't know.
- 12
Classic Metal Aviator Sunglasses
~$25
The teardrop shape pilots made famous, and a fun style gift for an enthusiast. One honest caveat: these are polarized, and the FAA advises pilots against polarized lenses, which can make cockpit screens hard to read and hide glare from other aircraft. Give them to the plane lover, not as gear for actually flying.
Sims, drones and models
For people who want to fly something, today, without a flight school bill.
- 13~$180
HOTAS Flight Stick and Throttle Combo
A separate throttle and stick with programmable buttons, a big upgrade for flight sims. Check it works with their PC or console first.
Aviation LoversGamersluxe - 14~$40
USB Flight Stick Joystick for Flight Simulators
A simpler single joystick with a twist rudder. A good starting point for someone flying sims with a mouse and keyboard.
Aviation LoversGamerspractical - 15~$120
Beginner Camera Drone with Carrying Case
A beginner camera drone. Recreational flyers in the US must pass the FAA's free TRUST test and register drones of 250 grams or more.
Aviation LoversPhotographersfun - 16~$70
Beginner RC Airplane Ready to Fly
A forgiving radio-controlled plane with stabilization. Expect a few crash landings, and suggest a local model aviation club for help.
Aviation LoversTech Loversfun - 17~$28
Plastic Model Airplane Kit with Paint and Glue
A scale kit with paints and glue for a patient builder. Great for winter evenings, and the finished model makes a proud shelf piece.
Aviation LoversWoodworkers & DIYersfun
Small gifts under $25
Stocking stuffers and add-ons that aviation people recognize instantly.
18.Remove Before Flight Keychain ~$8
The red tag from aircraft pins and covers, as a keychain. Cheap, instantly recognized and fun to hand out to a whole flying club.
19.E6B Flight Computer ~$20
The circular slide rule for wind, fuel and time calculations. Student pilots still learn it, and it's allowed in the written knowledge test.
20.Pilot Logbook for Flight Hours ~$12
The official record of every flight. Ideal for a brand-new student pilot; experienced pilots usually keep their existing logbook going.
21.Paper Airplane Folding Kit and Book ~$15
Designs and pre-printed paper for folding planes that really fly. A great way to share aviation with kids on a rainy afternoon.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
$50–$100
Before you book the hangar
Find out whether they fly. Pilot gear makes a great gift for pilots and very little sense for enthusiasts.
Leave the big-ticket pilot purchases to them. Premium headsets and avionics are personal choices made after a lot of research.
For enthusiasts, pick their favorite: an airline, an era or a specific aircraft makes a model or print feel personal.
Consider a discovery flight, an airshow day or an aviation museum membership. Time around airplanes is what they love most.
Want something matched to their corner of aviation? Try our gift finder.
Common questions about aviation gifts
What's a good gift for a student pilot?
A kneeboard, a pilot logbook, an E6B flight computer, a red and white flashlight, a flight bag or a printed copy of the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Contributing to their flight lessons is also a gift most students would love.
What do you get an airplane enthusiast who isn't a pilot?
An airband radio receiver, a die-cast model of an airliner that means something to them, a book like Skunk Works, a discovery flight, or tickets to an airshow.
Is it legal to listen to air traffic control?
In the US, listening to aviation radio with a receiver is generally legal and a popular hobby. A receive-only scanner can't transmit, so it can't interfere with pilots or controllers.
Can I buy someone a flying lesson?
Yes. Most flight schools sell gift certificates for a discovery or introductory flight, a short lesson with an instructor where the recipient usually gets to take the controls.