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.

Sporty’s Updates Pilot Training Platform

Sporty’s Updates Pilot Training Platform

Updates include new test prep features and an improved video training experience for Android users

The latest update of Sporty’s award winning Pilot Training platform brings Sporty’s innovative test prep features to the Learn to Fly, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot courses for Android phones and tablets. The update also improves the overall video training performance on Android devices.

In addition to being able to study specific categories of questions from Sporty’s proprietary database of over 2000 questions, the brand-new test prep interface allows Android users to create a custom study session or take a practice FAA test. Users can now study random groups of questions, only questions answered incorrectly or previously marked questions. The Android app now includes a new Smart Study Mode, which intelligently creates a session based on weak areas from previously graded sessions. A new Question Search function has also been added allowing users to find specific questions or topics to study using a quick keyword search.

When using Study Mode users have a new option to view each question as a flashcard presentation. This displays just the question and allows the user to focus on determining the correct answer, without the distraction of seeing incorrect answers. Each card can be visually flipped and the answer self-graded as correct or incorrect.

The new test prep function also includes a detailed Study History, showing past Study and Test session results, performance analysis, and the ability to start a new session from previously graded sessions.

The Video Training component in Sporty’s Pilot Training app for Android is also improved, with performance and visual improvements in the video player. The new interface now includes section notes and a complete digital transcript for each video segment in the Learn to Fly, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot courses.

Sporty’s Pilot Training platform offers the largest selection of aviation training courses in the industry, from Private Pilot Training to advanced aircraft and avionics checkouts. Sporty’s provides the ultimate flexibility in training by allowing users to access their courses from the device that works best for them on any given day, including online, iPhone/iPad, Android and Smart TVs. Content is always up to date and course progress stays in sync across all platforms. For more information or to purchase a course please visit sportys.com.

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Sporty’s Launches Free Flight Simulator Guide

Sporty’s Launches Free Flight Simulator Guide

Learn everything you need to know about home flight simulators

Sporty’s has created a Flight Simulator Quick Start Guide with the goal of better educating today’s digital flyers. The world of flight simulation has never been more popular. With recent programs allowing extremely detailed simulation experiences, it’s no wonder more aviation enthusiasts are upgrading their hardware or joining the ever-growing community.

Just like learning the ins and outs of a new airplane, understanding the fundamentals and bare necessities of flight simulation can be daunting.

For that reason, Sporty’s decided to create a Flight Simulation Quick Start Guide. Sporty’s team of pilots will guide you through this sometimes-confusing world, with honest advice and tips for better flying. “We’re sure you’ll find what you need to make your home training fun, realistic, and valuable by keeping your flying skills sharp,” says Sporty’s Flight Sim Product Manager Chris McGonegle.

Sporty’s Flight Simulator Quick Start Guide contains over six hours of video content covering product reviews, tutorials, and software configuration. A resource section with a flight sim buyer’s guide, webinars, and training guide are also included.

Sporty’s Flight Simulation Quick Start Guide E201 is available at no cost. All Sporty’s products may be ordered at sportys.com.

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Dave Stahl Checkride Scholarship Recipients Announced

Dave Stahl Checkride Scholarship Recipients Announced

Sporty’s Academy students, William Dunkman and Jonathan Sadler, have been selected as inaugural recipients of the Dave Stahl Checkride Scholarships. The scholarships were created in honor of Dave Stahl, a longtime flight instructor and designated pilot examiner in southwest Ohio, who flew west in August 2020.

The Dave Stahl Memorial Scholarship was established within the Sporty’s Foundation by family and friends to honor Dave’s legacy by funding two checkrides for Sporty’s Academy students. Mr. Stahl’s nieces, Jackie Stahl and Marnie Stahl, helped to outline the scholarship criteria and chaired the scholarship selection committee.

“It makes me think about our uncle and what it must’ve been like when he first discovered the joy of flying”, said Jackie Stahl, “We are so happy for all of these students to be on that journey. Uncle Dave would be proud.”

After selecting the two recipients and reviewing the worthy applications, Jackie and Marnie were inspired to help more applicants who were not selected by funding additional scholarships.

William Dunkman and Jonathan Sadler are currently training toward their Private pilot certificate and the scholarship funds will be used to fund their Private pilot checkrides.

The Sporty’s Foundation, on behalf of the family of Dave Stahl, extends its thanks and best wishes to all of the scholarship recipients.

For more information on The Sporty’s Foundation, visit SportysFoundation.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sporty’s Updates and Expands Commercial Pilot Course

Sporty’s Updates and Expands Commercial Pilot Course

Now includes 13 hours of in-depth training video

Sporty’s Commercial Pilot Training Course now includes comprehensive video content designed to thoroughly prepare pilots for both the checkride and to operate safely as a commercial pilot. The new video content is organized into six main chapters: Flight Maneuvers, Weather, Performance, High-Altitude Systems, Navigation, and Regulations. Shot using multiple HD camera angles to provide real-world training, pilots will learn how to fly each of the new commercial pilot maneuvers, including Chandelles, Lazy Eights, Eights on Pylons, and Steep Spirals.

As with all types of flying, weather plays a major role in commercial flights. Sporty’s Commercial Pilot Training Course shows pilots how to prepare for flights around thunderstorms, turbulence, and ice using actual scenarios. Tips for using datalink weather to stay clear of these hazards when in the air are also given. Airplane aerodynamics, from basic concepts to advanced knowledge areas like determining maneuvering speed from a VG diagram, are discussed, including an entire section on spin training with Patty Wagstaff. Patty explores the aerodynamics of spins and the recovery techniques, based on her years of championship aerobatic flying.

The course covers the latest avionics available in today’s modern airplanes. Pilots will learn about glass cockpit flight and engine instruments, flight directors, and how to use Garmin’s GFC 500 autopilot. Video content concludes with commercial pilot regulations, including privileges and limitations, common carriage and holding out, medical requirements, and rules for flying in the flight levels.

Sporty’s powerful test prep tools are included to help pilots ace the knowledge test, with an exclusive database of over 800 test questions. Pilots can choose individual categories or study random questions. “From the moment you begin answering questions, the course will learn your strengths and weaknesses,” says Sporty’s Academy President Eric Radtke. “That’s when our Smart Study Session tool is so valuable: you can focus on those topics that need the most work and spend less time studying questions you already know.”

When pilots have passed two practice tests with scores of 80%, the flight instructors at Sporty’s will automatically provide the required written test endorsement, so they can go right to the testing center.

Sporty’s test prep tools go far beyond basic quizzes. The team of flight instructors at Sporty’s has created 420 detailed oral exam prep flashcards, which cover a wide variety of topics and display only the question. Click the flashcard to flip it over and see the answer, complete with a link for further study. Just like the knowledge test section, pilots can study only marked or missed flashcards, plus take Smart Study sessions for focused review.

Finally, a complete document library is included, ideal for initial study or follow-up after the checkride. This includes the Commercial Pilot Airman Certification Standards, a complete flight training syllabus, the Airplane Flying Handbook, and much more.

Sporty’s Commercial Pilot Test Prep Course [#E249A] is available for $249. 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, or on AppleTV and 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/commercial.

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