Sporty’s Announces Aviation Webinars for 2022

Sporty’s webinars are live, multimedia presentations that are interactive and free for anyone who registers. Sporty’s webinar series touches on a variety of topics from training to new products and services. All webinars are archived so they may be viewed or re-viewed whenever time permits.

Sporty’s Launches CFI Portal with Free Resources for Instructors

Sporty’s is making it easier for flight instructors to stay organized and connected to students with its new CFI Portal. Part of the company’s 2022 Pilot Training platform, this suite of tools includes lesson plans, a flight instructor refresher course, a complete FAA library, special CFI offers and access to Sporty’s award-winning pilot training courses. Best of all, every feature is available free to any active flight instructor.

Steven Schofield Earns Sporty’s Pilot Training+ Scholarship

Steven Schofield grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, watching airplanes on approach for the Cheyenne Regional Airport while dreaming about flying F-16s in the Air Force. Medical requirements would preclude a military path for Schofield so he pursued a career in music education, but he never forgot his dream of flying.

Sporty’s Introduces Tailwheel Checkout Course, hosted by Patty Wagstaff

Backcountry flying is one of the hottest segments of general aviation right now, and Sporty’s latest course offers the perfect way to get started. Tailwheel Checkout, hosted by legendary airshow pilot Patty Wagstaff, includes over two hours of practical tips for mastering these demanding airplanes, based on Patty’s decades of flying taildraggers at airshows, in Africa, and everywhere in between.

New Flight Gear Flashlight Can Do it All

The new Flight Gear Rechargeable Flashlight from Sporty’s can replace a whole flight bag of lesser lights. Constructed with aircraft grade aluminum, this water-resistant flashlight includes both white and red LEDs, plus a USB port to charge your devices.

Sporty’s Continues its Christmas Tradition

Sporty’s Continues its Christmas Tradition

This year’s ornament features the Globe Swift

Sporty’s Crystal Christmas Ornament is an annual tradition for pilots, flight schools, FBOs, and aviation enthusiasts. This year’s ornament, the 37th in the series, features the Globe Swift.

The Globe Swift is a two-seat, retractable gear aircraft from the post-World War II era. With sleek lines, a low stance, and aggressive styling, the Swift has a great ramp presence. Originally designed in 1940, the Swift didn’t receive its type certificate until 1946. Over 1500 of the all-metal taildraggers were produced before production ceased in 1951.

Sporty’s custom-etched Globe Swift Ornament includes a bright red ribbon for hanging along with an insert card describing the airplane. Boxed for gift giving, Sporty’s 2021 Crystal Christmas Ornament [9833A] is available for $24.95 and may be purchased at sportys.com or by calling 1-800-SPORTYS.

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Sporty’s Launches 2022 Pilot Training Courses

Today Sporty’s released the latest version of its award-winning Pilot Training platform, an online library of 20+ aviation courses for smartphones, tablets, and TVs. New features for 2022 include expanded TV app options, new audio training segments, an interactive flight instructor portal, and integration with AOPA Flight Training Advantage. Lifetime updates are still included at no additional cost.

Sporty’s Adds Leather Bags to Award-Winning Flight Gear Collection

Sporty’s Adds Leather Bags to Award-Winning Flight Gear Collection

Designed by our team of pilots to survive daily use in the real world

The pilot-friendly features and rugged design of Sporty’s patented Flight Gear® collection are now available in leather.  The two new pieces are crafted of soft, jacket-quality, black calfskin leather, with reliable metal zippers and tough metal hardware to create bags with lasting style and durability.

Sporty’s iPad Leather Flight Gear bag is perfect for protecting your expensive electronics, while keeping all the gear that goes with them organized. Measuring 14” h X 9” d X 12” w, its small footprint allows this bag to fit nicely between the front two seats of a Cessna 182. Quick access pockets for a flashlight, fuel tester and charts keep important items close at hand. Padded pockets protect headsets and radios, while a pilot-friendly organizer pocket is the perfect place to store a cell phone, pens, keys and ID.

Sporty’s Original Leather Flight Gear bag is a great choice for pilots of all levels. Measuring 20 1/2″l x 13 1/2″w x 12″h overall, with a center compartment measuring 15 1/2″l x 9″w x 12″h, its large capacity provides flexible organization options and even room for a change of clothes.

Exterior gear pockets provide storage for a headset, GPS and transceiver. There are also four quick-access chart pockets, two roomy side pockets and a slim side pocket great for keeping your pens, keys, and flashlights organized. A huge center compartment is perfect for books and approach plates, while two interior pockets can store an extra radio, GPS or kneeboard.

“Don’t choose between protecting your headset or iPad—take it all,” says Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman. “You won’t find a better designed, better-looking bag.”

Sporty’s iPad Leather Flight Gear Bag [10485A] is available for $159.95 and Sporty’s Original Leather Flight Gear Bag [9845A] is available for $249.95. Custom embroidery is available for $9.95. All Sporty’s Flight Gear may be ordered at sportys.com or by calling Sporty’s at 1.800.SPORTYS.

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Sporty’s Introduces Vintage T-shirt Collection For Pilots

Sporty’s Introduces Vintage T-shirt Collection For Pilots

Show your enthusiasm for aviation with these comfort stretch shirts

Sporty’s has created a line of t-shirts highlighting the joy of flight. These soft and stylish shirts celebrate the freedom of flight, from the early days of the Wright brothers to modern GPS navigation.

Perfect for walking the show at Oshkosh or impressing your non-pilot friends, each one features an exclusive design and the Sporty’s Vintage brand inside. Thoughtful design choices include a modern cut that’s slimmer at the waist but still relaxed through the chest, a ribbed trim at the neck, and a tagless label to prevent scratches.

Four styles are available:

Kitty Hawk T-Shirt: This blue t-shirt features a vintage Kitty Hawk Flying Club logo, reminding pilots where it all began.

In Thrust We Trust T-Shirt: A gray t-shirt with a classic three blade prop surrounded by the unofficial motto of pilots: In Thrust We Trust.

Blue Side Up T-Shirt: A bi-plane with Keep the Blue Side Up text is on this gray t-shirt, offering a daily tip for better living.

Flying Direct T-Shirt: This blue t-shirt features Flying Direct text with a large “D” directional arrow. It’s just the way pilots think.

“There’s nothing like throwing on a well-worn t-shirt for a Saturday at the airport,” said Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman. “With these shirts, we have combined all our favorite comfort features with some tongue-in-cheek phrases.”

Kitty Hawk T-shirt [7149A], In Thrust We Trust T-shirt [7334A], Blue Side Up T-shirt [6703A] and Flying Direct T-shirt [7072A] are each available for $24.95 in sizes Small through XXL and may be ordered at sportys.com or by calling 1-800-SPORTYS.

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Isaac Love-Jackson Earns Sporty’s Flight Crew Scholarship

Isaac Love-Jackson Earns Sporty’s Flight Crew Scholarship

Full-time student and aspiring airline pilot receives $2,500 award

Sporty’s Flight Crew Scholarship recipient, Isaac Love-Jackson (left) with instructor Marco Van Viegen.

Isaac Love-Jackson of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is the latest recipient of Sporty’s $2,500 Flight Crew Scholarship. Love-Jackson has been interested in being a pilot from as far back as he can remember, having grown up near an airport and watching airplanes almost daily. He worked hard to earn enough money to begin his flight training in 2018 with Wisconsin Aviation at Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin. Isaac utilized his Flight Crew membership and online course access for his Instrument and Commercial training, having just earned his Commercial certification in early July.

Love-Jackson intends to utilize his award to pay down debt associated with his Commercial training and to get a head start on his CFI training. As a CFI, Love-Jackson intends to share the magic of aviation with others and acquire enough pilot experience to transition to a regional airline with the ultimate dream of flying for a legacy air carrier. “Being able to share aviation with others has been the most rewarding aspect of my aviation journey,” remarked Love-Jackson. “I especially love sharing the aviation experience with younger individuals to hopefully spark their interest in aviation.”

Sporty’s Chief Instructor, Eric Radtke, shared the news of his scholarship with Love-Jackson during a recent video chat.

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.