From established products that continue to impress, to new and exciting developments across the range of general aviation... here, to our eyes, is the VERY BEST from our list of the 10 most worthy 'gadgets' and programs of 2008. Let's start 2009 off with a bang with the announcement that Garmin's GPSMAP 696 RAN AWAY from the competition and has earned its selection at the top of ANN's Aero-Products Of The Year List for 2008.

Aero-News pays tribute to the following aviators -- in body and in spirit -- who slipped the surly bonds of Earth in 2008... and extends our sincere sympathies to their families, and to any of our readers who also lost a loved one last year...

...And Here, Darn it, Are The Heartbreakers

  Shame on those issues, folks, or groups that made our lot so much tougher in 2008... but our top selection... and all those who populate both Houses of Congress have a reason to be ashamed of themselves (aeronautically-speaking) in 2008.

Aero-Linx!

The Association is a national not-for-profit aerospace and community service organization composed of aviation-minded citizens established to remind Canadians of their country's rich aeronautical tradition and history, to support Canada's Air Force and to support and encourage the civil aviation component within the country.

Aero-Terms!

Visual Approaches. An approach conducted under Instrument Flight Rules that authorizes the pilot to proceed visually and clear of clouds to the airport.

In just a few minutes, as I write this, the responsibility for running the world's largest pilots organization passes from Phil Boyer to Craig Fuller. And while we feel the selection of Fuller to be an inspired one, full of promise, and one that seems especially suited for the years ahead, we have to admit that we're going to miss working with Boyer. He was more than good at his job, he has been a ball to work with. So… Phil Boyer retires, and while we hope this means everything that he personally wants it to mean for him and his family, we doubt he'll be a stranger. Knowing of his deep love for aviation, and his commitment to the world of GA, I have no doubt we'll be hearing from him again and again… which can only benefit us all.

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