The Sporty’s Foundation Releases its Annual Report for 2019

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The Sporty’s Foundation Releases its Annual Report for 2019

Sporty’s continues to show leadership in philanthropic efforts within aviation

The Sporty’s Foundation made bequests totaling $219,500 during 2019 to fulfill its goal to attract young people to the aviation community both as a career and a lifestyle. The Foundation also supports organizations and museums that preserve the rich history of aviation for future generations.

The Sporty’s Foundation has issued its most recent annual report, detailing activities and bequests during 2019 and may be seen online at SportysFoundation.org.

The Sporty’s Foundation continues as a major sponsor of EAA’s successful Young Eagles program from a financial commitment to complement Sporty’s making its award-winning Learn to Fly course available at no charge to all Young Eagles.

The Sporty’s Foundation also continues its focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) activities, by financing more than a dozen scholarships to deserving young people pursuing an aviation course of academic study and flight training.

This past year also saw a $20,000 bequest to the University of Cincinnati to provide aviation scholarships. An additional $15,000 was donated to EAA for improvements and enhancements to Aviation Explorers’ base camp, located on EAA grounds and where hundreds of Aviation Explorers spend time enjoying AirVenture and becoming part of the show by volunteering.

“We are proud of our no-overhead administration of our foundation and encourage donors and potential donors to examine our IRS Form 990, which we have posted at the foundation’s website,” said Sporty’s Founder and Chairman Hal Shevers. “Sporty’s assumes 100% of those administrative expenses so every donated dollar goes directly to the programs we support.”

Online contributions are being accepted, either as a one-time payment or a recurring monthly donation. As a 501(c)(3) foundation, all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. For more information on The Sporty’s Foundation, visit SportysFoundation.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Download hi-res EPS of Sporty’s Foundation Annual Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sporty’s Collaborates with Patty Wagstaff to Launch New Aerobatics Course

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Sporty’s Collaborates with Patty Wagstaff to Launch New Aerobatics Course

Improve your stick and rudder skills with this entertaining course

Sporty’s has partnered with airshow legend Patty Wagstaff to introduce an all-new course that focuses on the art and sport of high-performance flying. Perfect for any pilot who has ever wondered what it’s like to fly a loop or considered taking an upset recovery course, Intro to Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff puts viewers in the cockpit for a thrilling look at flight beyond straight and level.

More than just a list of maneuvers, this course explores the history of aerobatics, what the industry looks like today, differences between aerobatic airplanes, and tips for getting started. Then Patty shows off all the maneuvers, from basics like loops and spins to advanced maneuvers like hammerheads and lomcevaks. Stunning HD video shows every maneuver in Patty’s Extra 300, and is supplemented by sophisticated animations. Special 360-degree video segments allow pilots to pan around during flight as if they were sitting in the cockpit.

The course also features two of Patty’s colleagues, experienced aerobatic instructor Allan Moore and airshow performer Spencer Suderman, as they demonstrate maneuvers in a Super Decathlon and Pitts Special.

Intro to Aerobatics course [#E312A] is available for $49.99. It can be accessed, along with all of Sporty’s course offerings, on Sporty’s award-winning Pilot Training platform. This provides the ultimate flexibility by allowing pilots to train using the device that works best on any given day: access online in a web browser, in Sporty’s Pilot Training app for iOS and Android, on AppleTV or RokuTV. Access to all platforms is included and course progress always stays in sync. For more information or to purchase a course please visit sportys.com/aerobatics.

 

 

 

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High resolution pictures for print:

 

Download hi-res EPS of Intro to Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff (Feature)

Download hi-res EPS of Intro to Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff (Macbook)

Download hi-res EPS of Intro to Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff (Cockpit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Become a Garmin GTN Master with Sporty’s New Garmin Course

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Become a Garmin GTN Master with Sporty’s New Garmin Course

Learn at your own pace from the comfort of your couch


Sporty’s has partnered with Garmin to provide comprehensive training for GTN 650, GTN 750 and GTN Xi series touchscreen navigators. The GTN Essentials eLearning course brings the Pilot’s Guide to life by incorporating a combination of scenario-based training videos, animations, tips and tricks. The course takes you logically through the features of the GTN system and provides demonstrations of some commonly-used techniques. Typical high-altitude, medium altitude and helicopter scenarios are used to demonstrate how to successfully use the GTN system in flight.

The course is divided into 8 lessons with “bite-sized” videos that enable the user to tailor their studying and maximize the use of their time. Users can pause and seamlessly resume a lesson, re-take the entire course or specific lessons as often as they want. When used in combination with the free Garmin GTN PC or iPad trainer apps, additional scripted scenarios and detailed guidance provide opportunities for practice and familiarity.

The GTN Essentials eLearning course [#E181A] is available for $125.00 It can be accessed, along with all of Sporty’s course offerings, on Sporty’s award-winning Pilot Training platform. This provides the ultimate flexibility by allowing pilots to train using the device that works best on any given day: access online in a web browser, in Sporty’s Pilot Training app for iOS and Android, on AppleTV or RokuTV. Access to all platforms is included and course progress always stays in sync. For more information or to purchase a course please visit sportys.com/pilottraining.

 

 

 

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Call for Entries: The Second Annual Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots

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Call for Entries: The Second Annual Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots

$2,500 award for a pilot up to age 24

The Richard Collins family has once again partnered with Sporty’s to offer The Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots. To qualify, the writer must be a pilot (including student pilot) who is 24 years of age or younger. The article must be original, not previously published, and no longer than 1,500 words. The topic should be an event that changed or shaped the author’s flying.

The winning article will be published in Air Facts, the publication Richard’s father, Leighton, founded in 1938 and which was relaunched eight years ago by Sporty’s as an online magazine. The articles will be judged by a panel of three: Richard Collins, Jr., J. Mac McClellan, and Amy Laboda.

“Richard Collins left a rich legacy in aviation, including the many young writers he encouraged or hired,” says Sporty’s Vice President and Air Facts Editor John Zimmerman. “This prize is a great way to continue that important work and honor a great writer.”

The winning article will be published in Air Facts, while its writer will receive a check for $2,500. The prize will be announced during the 2020 Sun ’n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, FL.

Articles may be submitted now through March 3, 2020, and sent in as a Word document to [email protected]. In addition, young pilots are required to submit a 100-word bio to accompany their articles.

Read the 2019 winning article here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sporty’s Awards Flight Crew Scholarship

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Sporty’s Awards Flight Crew Scholarship

Student pilot with plans to help others receives $2,500 award

Sporty’s Flight Crew Scholarship winner Josh Calley.

Josh Calley of Honeoye Falls, NY, is the latest recipient of a $2,500 scholarship awarded through his membership in Sporty’s Flight Crew program. Josh has accumulated about 40 hours of flying experience and is nearing the completion of his Private pilot training. He is flying a Diamond DA40 through OnCore Aviation at the Greater Rochester International Airport (KROC).

Josh is a nurse practitioner and has previously served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. He aims to continue his volunteerism in aviation through Civil Air Patrol and by participating in medical relief flights. Josh plans to put his scholarship toward the completion of his Private pilot studies and checkride before transitioning to Instrument training.

Josh describes his lifelong affinity for aviation: “I have wanted to fly since I was a kid, originally hoping I would someday fly for a commercial airline. I pursued a different career path, but have finally decided to take the plunge into aviation. I plan to use flying to help others.”

Sporty’s Flight Crew is a three-level customer benefit program that rewards customers with access to training programs, unlimited free shipping, an on-call personal Sporty’s shopper, and more. The top two levels (gold and platinum) include the opportunity to apply for a $2,500 flying scholarship.

It’s easy to enroll as a Sporty’s Flight Crew member by visiting sportys.com/flightcrew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airline Captain’s Leather Flight Jacket Available from Sporty’s

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Airline Captain’s Leather Flight Jacket Available from Sporty’s

Soft, supple lambskin feels broken in on day one

Sporty’s updated Airline Captain’s Jacket brings the classic aviator’s jacket into the 21st century. Developed in cooperation with major airline captains, it has a clean, contemporary appearance and is identical to uniform jackets worn by flight crews around the world. The leather has a soft hand and will gain character with age.

Constructed from lambskin, the Airline Pilot Jacket has a zip-out Thinsulate liner, so this jacket keeps you warm on the coldest days. Epaulet holders on each shoulder display your stripes and oversized brass zippers are easy to use, even with gloves. Other features include an elasticized leather waistband, snap-close cuffs, and double-entry pockets including a larger leather-lined inside pocket for documents.

“Leather jackets have been popular with professional pilots for decades, and for good reason. They are rugged, comfortable, and never go out of style,” says Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman. “We worked hard to find the perfect leather for this new jacket – it simply feels great.”

Available in a range of sizes, the Airline Captain’s Leather Flight Jacket [6189A] may be purchased for $349.00 at sportys.com or by calling 1-800-SPORTYS.

 

 

 

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Download hi-res EPS of the Airline Captain’s Leather Flight Jacket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add Bluetooth to any aviation headset with the FARO Stealth Audio Link

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Add Bluetooth to any aviation headset with the FARO Stealth Audio Link

You don’t have to buy a new headset to get in-flight app alerts or music

The FARO Stealth Audio Link provides an economical way to add Bluetooth to any aviation headset, even if it’s a basic model from 20 years ago. Perfect for getting audio alerts from your favorite app, listening to music on long cross-country flights, or picking up clearances at non-towered airports, the Stealth Audio Link is compatible with any headset with standard PJ plugs. It’s an easy way to add the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity without spending a small fortune on a new headset.

“The most sought-after feature in the headset market is Bluetooth, and the new FARO Stealth Audio Link provides an economical option for pilots to add this feature,” said Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman. “It’s also completely portable so it’s easy to move between airplanes or headsets.”

The Stealth Audio Link allows pilots to prioritize input audio with an easy three-position switch. The top selection gives the aircraft priority, so anytime the intercom is active the music or input audio will be muted. The middle selection gives the music or input audio priority, so both the intercom and music will be heard at the same time. The bottom selection mutes the music or input audio so pilots can focus on ATC transmissions.

The Stealth Audio Link features independently-controlled volume levels for both the left and right ear with simple thumb wheel adjustments. The control box also has a stereo/mono switch, so it is adaptable to most aircraft intercom systems. It works with any standard twin PJ plug aviation headset, and can be powered by either two AA batteries or via the USB type C port on the side of the unit. 

The FARO Stealth Audio Link [8643A] is available for $139.95 exclusively from Sporty’s, and may be purchased at sportys.com or by calling 1-800-SPORTYS.

 

 

 

 

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Earn Automatic FAA WINGS Credit With Sporty’s Courses

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Earn Automatic FAA WINGS Credit With Sporty’s Courses

Entire Sporty’s course library now eligible for one-click validation

Pilots can now earn FAA WINGS credit automatically from any of Sporty’s 18 training courses, which can help satisfy the requirement for a Flight Review and potentially save money on insurance. Unlike other courses, which require pilots to visit the FAA Safety website, review several pages of training notes, and then take a review quiz, Sporty’s new program provides immediate credit after submitting a brief form within the course.

“We are extremely proud of our partnership with the FAA Safety Team in promoting aviation safety and training to all pilots,” says Sporty’s Academy President Eric Radtke.  “Sporty’s mission to improve aviation safety means we are continually working to make training easier and more effective, and this is a major enhancement for pilots.”

After watching all the video segments and completing a final review quiz, pilots are eligible to request WINGS credit right from Sporty’s Pilot Training app or online portal. After completing the request form and entering their FAA Safety account information, they will be instantly awarded the appropriate Basic or Advanced Knowledge WINGS credit. Credits are then used to help satisfy the requirements of a WINGS phase. Completion of a WINGS phase can then be used to meet the requirements of a Flight Review.

Sporty’s Learn to Fly and Instrument Rating courses provide six credits, while shorter courses provide one credit for either a basic or advanced knowledge topic. Sporty’s courses are available on a variety of devices, including online, iOS app, Android app, and smart TVs. Pilots can complete the course anywhere, then use the online training portal or the iOS app to request WINGS credit when ready.

From Sporty’s Learn to Fly course to advanced glass cockpit training, pilots of all experience levels and interests will find a course from Sporty’s library to meet their training mission. For more information, visit Sportys.com/wings.

 

 

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Download hi-res EPS of the Sporty’s Courses FAA Wings Credit

Download hi-res EPS of the Sporty’s Courses FAA Wings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sporty’s Introduces Faro Stealth 2 Headsets

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Sporty’s Introduces Faro Stealth 2 Headsets

Only Bluetooth-enabled passive headset now available

Offered exclusively by Sporty’s, the Faro Stealth Passive Headset is an affordable headset with an array of functions. The Stealth 2 is the only passive headset to offer full Bluetooth connectivity so the pilot may connect wirelessly to an iPad or smartphone to get aviation app notifications, listen to music, or even make phone calls. The Stealth 2 is perfect for picking up clearances at pilot-controlled airports or hearing a traffic callout from ForeFlight.

“Until now, the only way to have Bluetooth connectivity with a headset was to purchase an ANR model.  This feature is now available on the Passive Faro Stealth 2, allowing pilots to enjoy Bluetooth features at a substantial savings,” says Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman.

Ultra-soft ear seals are more than twice as thick as other brands to provide maximum comfort with up to 26 dB noise reduction. The fully adjustable microphone boom is reversible and features a noise-canceling electret microphone that delivers crystal-clear communication.

The Stealth 2 features independently controlled volume levels to both the left and right ear with simple thumb wheels. Faro Stealth headsets also feature a stereo/mono switch so they are adaptable to most aircraft intercom systems.

“That means even if your intercom is mono, you’ll still hear music in stereo,” adds Zimmerman.

The Passive Faro Stealth 2 Headset (8255A) is available for $249.95.  Faro Stealth 2 is also available equipped with ANR (8509A) for $449.95. Either may be purchased at sportys.com or by calling 1-800-SPORTYS.

 

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Download hi-res EPS of the Passive Faro Stealth 2 Headset

Download hi-res EPS of the ANR Faro Stealth 2 Headset

Download hi-res EPS of the Faro Stealth 2 (cockpit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flight Gear Headlamp Designed for Pilots

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Flight Gear Headlamp Designed for Pilots

Ideal for those who prefer hands-free lighting

The Flight Gear Headlamp is ideal for pilots who fly between dusk and dawn. You can easily use this light while flying without it getting in the way.

“One of the biggest problems when using flashlights on the flight deck is overly powerful, blinding lights that ruin your night vision,” says Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman. “You won’t have that issue thanks to independent switches for red and white LEDs.”

This headlamp features an independent switch for the red LEDs that controls two levels of brightness. The low-level red LED is ideal when you just need a touch of illumination in the cockpit. The high-level red LED is great to brighten up a larger space inside the plane without adversely effecting your night vision.

The other button on the headlamp controls the white LEDs. When you need maximum brightness, the Flight Gear Headlamp delivers. The first press of the button turns on the bright white floodlight. Perfect for pre-flight, the Flight Gear Headlamp lights a wide view of your surrounding area. With a second press of that button, the light changes to a spotlight function. A third press of the button will illuminate both the flood and the spotlight, providing the best possible brightness for the pilot.

In addition to the pilot-friendly light features, Sporty’s Flight Gear Headlamp is designed with a swivel head so that you can aim the light exactly where you want it. The comfortable headband on the light is adjustable and does not interfere with a headset.

Using three AAA batteries (not included), the Flight Gear Headlamp [7497A] is available for $19.95 and may be purchased at sportys.com or by calling 1-800-SPORTYS.

 

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High resolution pictures for print:

Download hi-res EPS of Sporty’s Flight Gear Headlamp (Head)

Download hi-res EPS of Sporty’s Flight Gear Headlamp

Download hi-res EPS of Sporty’s Flight Gear Headlamp (Red light)