Each month offers a chance to discover new products entering the aviation gear market.
While many new products hit the shelves almost daily, several brands also take the opportunity to incorporate customer feedback to improve their existing gear. Continuing our bimonthly unboxing series, let’s take a look at the new and enhanced aviation gear arriving in May 2025.
Quick Look: 7 New Aviation Gear Releases for May 2025
- Best new headset: David Clark DC Jet-X Headset
- Best new pilot watch: Waterbury Metropolitan Chronograph 41 mm Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch
- Best new aircraft simulator software: Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) 2024 (Sim Update 2)
- Best new gift: Solar-Powered Runway/Taxiway Light
- Best new pilot apparel: Mammut Ducan Guide HS Hooded Jacket for Men and Women
- Best new aircraft accessory: Cockpit Cooling Fan
- Best new pilot training tool: Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA) 2025-26 Pilot Test Prep with Prepware Software for private pilots, instrument rating, commercial pilots, instructor pilots/CFIs, airline transport pilots, and remote pilots
7 New Aviation Gear Releases for May 2025
David Clark DC Jet-X Headset
Best new: Headset
A headset is one of the most essential equipment a pilot can invest in. The new David Clark DC Jet-X Headset is an ultra-lightweight, rest-on-ear headset designed explicitly for airline and corporate pilots. It offers active noise reduction (ANR), plush leatherette ear seals, and a heat-absorbing head pad for enhanced comfort during long flights. The headset is FAA TSO-approved, weighs just 4.5 ounces, and is backed by a three-year warranty and the extraordinary David Clark customer support.
David Clark also released the DC Jet Passive Headset ($345), which delivers similar professional-grade audio and clarity for pilots flying jets or turboprops.
Price: $685
Waterbury Metropolitan Chronograph 41 mm Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch
Best new: Pilot watch
While a watch is an essential tool for pilots to tell and track time, it also makes an excellent gift for the pilot or aviation enthusiast in your life. The Waterbury Metropolitan Chronograph 41 mm Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch is simple, elegant, and defined by sharp lines and sweeping curves. It features a 41 mm stainless steel case and a two-tiered bezel. This chronograph watch offers the added functionality of a stopwatch and is water-resistant up to fifty meters.
Price: $209
Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) 2024 (Sim Update 2)
Best new: Aircraft simulator software
The recently released Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (MSFS2024) caused many hobbyists and professional pilots to rethink and reconfigure their home-based flight simulator setups. Therefore, Microsoft understands the importance of superior software to support these comprehensive systems and will soon release its next major MSFS2024 update, Sim Update 2. This update is one of the most significant ever for MSFS, featuring hundreds of bug fixes and various improvements. The update is currently in its public beta testing phase, and the beta process suggests the full update will be available soon.
Price: $199.99
Solar-Powered Runway/Taxiway Light
Best new: Aviation gift
The Solar Powered Runway/Taxiway Light is an ideal gift for the upcoming Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. What pilot does not like to brag about being a pilot? So why not show it with these solar-powered, runway- and taxiway-inspired lights by lining their driveway, hangar, or garden path? Each light automatically charges during the day and illuminates at night, creating a realistic and eye-catching airfield effect.
The lights are also available in a set of six, including Solar-Powered Runway Lights ($249.95) and Solar-Powered Taxiway Lights ($249.95).
Price: $49.99
Mammut Ducan Guide HS Hooded Jacket
Best new: Pilot apparel
Regardless of the season, many areas of the country still experience cooler temperatures and rainy weather, even in summer. Therefore, the new Mammut Ducan Guide HS Hooded Jacket for men and women is an excellent lightweight hardshell offering reliable weather protection. With the three-layer Mammut Dry Tour technology, the jacket delivers outstanding waterproofing while maintaining optimal breathability throughout busy flying days.
Price: $299
Cockpit Cooling Fan
Best new: Aircraft accessory
This Cockpit Cooling Fan is the ideal aircraft accessory for summer. At under $20 per unit, you can ensure that you and your copilot stay comfortable on hot days at altitude. This cockpit cooling fan easily attaches to the headrest spokes, connects to a backup battery via a USB-C cable, and keeps everyone refreshed in the intense summer heat. It can even be flipped on the headrest to cool the passengers in the back.
Price: $14.95
ASA 2025-26 Pilot Test Prep with Prepware Software
Best new: Pilot training tool
The ASA 2025-2026 Pilot Test Prep now includes Prepware Software for private pilots ($29.95), instrument rating ($44.95), commercial pilots ($39.95), instructor pilots/CFIs ($59.95), airline transport pilots ($99.95), and remote pilots ($24.95). Aviation Supplies & Academics is the most trusted name in FAA test preparation and now offers Prepware software alongside its printed and digital materials for unlimited study sessions and practice tests. The ASA Test Prep and Prepware software include the questions, figures, legends, and full-color charts students will see at the testing center.
Price: Starting at $24.95
Get Your New Aviation Gear Today
Aviators purchase new gear to replace old items, discover new interests, or upgrade for better performance. Skip the long store lines and add one of these new aviation gadgets to your online cart today.
