Sporty’s Updates Pilot Training Platform

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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

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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

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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

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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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Sporty’s Awards Flight Crew Scholarship

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Sporty’s Awards Flight Crew Scholarship

Student pilot chasing his childhood dream receives $2,500 award

Sporty’s Flight Crew Scholarship recipient, Jake Phillips (right), and CFI, Tyler Kreidler, at Brandywine Flight School in front of his training airplane – a Piper Warrior.

While under quarantine in a small New York City apartment during the pandemic, Jake Phillips returned to his childhood dream of becoming a pilot as an escape from the isolation and enrolled in Sporty’s online Learn to Fly Course. After leaving New York for Chester Springs, PA, Phillips took the next step in fulfilling his dream by taking his first flight lesson.

As he nears his first solo, Phillips received a financial boost by earning a $2,500 scholarship awarded through his membership in Sporty’s Flight Crew program. “Flying has become a genuine passion and I hope to be able to share my passion for flying and the wisdom I develop along my journey,” remarked Phillips. “The Flight Crew Scholarship will be a tremendous assistance with my personal development through completion of my Private pilot certificate and on to my Instrument rating.”

Sporty’s Chief Instructor, Eric Radtke, surprised Phillips with the news of his scholarship award during a recent video chat, and, as you can see, Phillips was thrilled.

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.

 

Air Facts Announces Winner of Richard L. Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots

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Air Facts Announces Winner of Richard L. Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots

Michael Brown of Tennessee wins $2,500 prize

Michael Brown, a 23-year-old instrument and seaplane rated pilot from Tennessee, is the winner of the third annual Richard L. Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots. His article, “The Wrong Stuff,” was selected as the entry that best answered this year’s writing prompt: “my most memorable or important flying lesson (with or without a flight instructor).” Michael’s article recounts the lesson he learned trying to impress his first non-familial passenger in a Legend Cub on twin amphibious floats.

When his passenger asked if they could land on the water, Michael let his ego make the decision. As he admits, “I didn’t want her to think I didn’t have the confidence or the right stuff enough to do what the plane was designed to do.” After landing he quickly realized safely taking back off was going to be an issue. The winning article may be read in full at airfactsjournal.com.

Air Facts Editor John Zimmerman awarded Michael the $2,500 prize to encourage his aviation and writing pursuits, and the winning article was published in Air Facts. Michael is a private pilot with 280 hours total time and an instrument and seaplane rating. He comes from a family of aviation. His grandfather worked for Delta Airlines for 37 years and his father is a pilot. Michael graduated from Texas Christian University last May with a double major in Business and Communications. He is currently a first-year law student at Tulane University, where he hopes to become a transportation attorney. When he is not flying or studying, Michael enjoys biking and cheering on his Atlanta Braves.

The Richard L. Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots is funded through the royalties from Collins’s book sales and is augmented by contributions from his children, Richard, Jr. (who was also one of the judges), Sarah and Charlotte.

Air Facts began publication in 1938, edited by Richard’s father, Leighton Collins, and was the magazine starting point for such authors as Wolfgang Langewiesche, Bob Buck, Bill Mauldin and Richard Bach. Sporty’s relaunched Air Facts as an online magazine in 2011.

 

Sporty’s marks 60 years in aviation with online celebration

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Sporty’s marks 60 years in aviation with online celebration

Customer contests, product specials, and livestreams highlight busy month

In 1961, a young flight instructor named Hal Shevers began selling pilot supplies from the trunk of his Studebaker, with the goal of making general aviation safer, easier, and more fun. Sixty years later, Sporty’s has long since outgrown that first “warehouse,” but the company is still focused on Hal’s goal. Today, the company announced the start of a six week birthday party, featuring special savings, customer contests, and livestreams from Sporty’s headquarters.

“A lot has changed since 1961, from hairstyles to aviation technology,” said Sporty’s President Michael Wolf. “But one thing hasn’t changed: Sporty’s is still for pilots, by pilots. Our team is made up of flight instructors, aircraft owners, pilots, and aviation enthusiasts, and all of us work in general aviation because we love it.”

Throughout March and April, customers can take advantage of limited time savings on some of Sporty’s most popular products—what the company is dubbing “60 deals for 60 years.” Savings will be offered on some of today’s most popular categories, including flight simulators, ADS-B receivers, and aviation headsets. This also includes the latest generation of Sporty’s flight training courses and aviation radios, two product lines that stretch back to the very beginning of the company. In fact, the very first product offered for sale in the early 1960s was a Realtone radio, while Hal was pioneering the three-day ground school concept.

Interactive events are also being held throughout the celebration, including educational webinars and new product livestreams from Sporty’s store. Customers can also participate in weekly contests, with prizes awarded for the oldest Sporty’s catalog, the most complete Sporty’s Christmas ornament set, and more. The company will be sharing a variety of stories and pictures from the last six decades, in a series of articles and videos.

“We wouldn’t be here today without our loyal customers, so we want to make them the center of our celebration,” added Wolf. “We look forward to seeing many pilots online for one of our livestream events, or at one of our famous Saturday cookouts on the ramp at the Clermont County/Sporty’s Airport.”

For a complete schedule of events, visit sportys.com/60.

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Sporty’s Launches Updated and Redesigned Aerobatics Course with Patty Wagstaff

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Sporty’s Launches Updated and Redesigned Aerobatics Course with Patty Wagstaff

Improve your stick and rudder skills with tips from a legend

Ever wondered what it’s like to fly a loop or a roll? Maybe you’ve considered taking an upset recovery course to improve your stick and rudder skills? If so, then this course is for you. Basic Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff puts you in the cockpit with an airshow legend to experience flight beyond straight and level.

“Building off of our two previous courses with Patty Wagstaff, we’ve worked hard to create a complete aerobatics course,” said Sporty’s Academy President Eric Radtke. “This course combines all the elements of the previous courses with a new layout and over ten hours of new video and maneuvers.”

More than just a list of maneuvers, this course explores the art and sport of high performance flying—it’s the perfect complement to in-airplane training. You’ll learn about the history of aerobatics, what the industry looks like today, and how to get started. You’ll also learn about legal considerations for flying aerobatics, how to prepare physically, and the systems on different types of aerobatic airplanes.

Then you’ll dive into all the maneuvers, from basics like loops and rolls to combination maneuvers like cloverleafs and hammerheads. Stunning HD video shows Patty demonstrating every maneuver and is supplemented by sophisticated animations. In-depth segments describe every maneuver step-by-step, complete with split screen views and real world tips for smoother flying. You’ll also get answers to frequently asked questions and solutions to common errors.

“We are so excited to be able to share tips and techniques that will help mentor aerobatic pilots and also show how aerobatic training is so valuable to every pilot to improve their confidence and make them safer pilots,” said Patty Wagstaff.

Aerobatics can be flown in a wide variety of airplanes, so this course presents alternative techniques for how to fly each aerobatic maneuver when in an airplane without an inverted fuel and oil system. You’ll go flying in an RV, a Super Decathlon, and an Extra to see how each airplane requires a unique approach.

The course also includes bonus 360-degree videos showing each maneuver, with controls to pan around the cockpit and view the maneuver from any angle. You’ll feel like you’re riding in the airplane for every loop, roll, and spin.

Basic Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff [#E906A] is available for $149.99 and 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.

To watch a video preview please visit Sporty’s YouTube Channel.

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The Sporty’s Foundation Releases its Annual Report for 2020

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The Sporty’s Foundation Releases its Annual Report for 2020

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

The Sporty’s Foundation made bequests totaling $161,000 during 2020 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 2020 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 $10,000 was donated to the AOPA Foundation “You Can Fly Challenge”, a suite of programs designed to make flying more accessible and affordable. Several new scholarship programs were also established, including the FlyGIRL/Women in Aviation Scholarship, the Flight Crew Scholarship program and the Dave Stahl Memorial Checkride Scholarship.

“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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Sporty’s Better Barf Bag Makes a Bad time Better

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Sporty’s Better Barf Bag Makes a Bad time Better

Say Goodbye to Spills and Unwanted Smells

Getting motion sickness in a small aircraft is not a pleasant experience and conventional air sickness bags only make matters worse. Having to pull a folded garbage bag out of a small paper envelope and then trying to use a twist tie to seal it up while bouncing around on a hot summer day is awful. The Better Barf Bag was designed by pilots who understand this.

Constructed with thick, heat-sealed plastic, this bag seals in the liquid with a zippered, leak-resistant top. The 2.5” gusseted bottom helps to increase capacity while giving the bag a solid base to keep upright when placed on the floor. The dark color of the bag helps to mask the contents.

“It’s not a glamorous product, but it’s one that needs to be easy to use and effective,” says Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman. “Having some Better Barf bags on board is a great insurance policy. They contain the mess rather than creating a bigger one.”

Each  Better Barf Bags [3695A] measures 8” x 8” and are available as a ten-pack for $6.50. All Sporty’s products may be ordered at sportys.com or by calling 1-800-SPORTYS.

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