New Flight Gear Sunglasses Are Made for Flying

Handmade in Italy exclusively for Sporty’s

Sporty’s new Flight Gear Captain’s Sunglasses are loaded with pilot friendly features. These high-quality sunglasses are lightweight yet durable which make them perfect for those long cross country flights. The non-polarized lenses are ideal for viewing iPads or phones, and won’t cause instruments to fade at certain viewing angles. The iconic Aviator style provides ultimate coverage and sun protection.

“When we set out to design the perfect sunglasses for pilots, we had three goals,” said Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman. “The lens had to work with iPads and glass cockpits, the temples couldn’t interfere with ANR headsets, and the price had to be under $100. The Flight Gear Captain’s Sunglasses hit all three.”

Sporty’s Flight Gear Captain’s Sunglasses feature:

Flight Deck Friendly Lens

The flight deck friendly lens sharpens your view while eliminating glare. These ultra-high-definition lenses have a green tint to minimize blue light interference.

Tapered Temples

The most abused part of your sunglasses is the hinge. Flight Gear sunglasses feature a custom tapered hinge that provides the maximum amount of durability where you need it most. The temple tapers down to a smaller form to not interfere with your headset.

Spring Hinges

These unique hinges provide a custom fit. Most sunglasses will open to a predetermined point. If your head is wider than that point, your head will feel increased side pressure. The hinges on these Flight Gear sunglasses allow the temples to go further than the width of the sunglasses, reducing the amount of side pressure.

Lightweight, high strength frames

The frames are made from high-quality Italian metals that offer a premium feel without the additional weight typical in other metal frames. We have put them through tests and have been pleasantly surprised by the extreme strength they display. These frames will easily put up with day to day abuse or being thrown in a flight bag until you’re ready to fly.

Each pair of Flight Gear Captain’s Sunglasses come with a molded crush-resistant case and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Lens measures 58mm across and frames are offered in gold or black. The Flight Gear Captain’s Sunglasses [3150A] are available for $89.95 by calling 1-800-SPORTYS or at sportys.com.

 

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Download hi-res image of Sporty’s Flight Gear Sunglasses (Black)

Download hi-res image of Sporty’s Flight Gear Sunglasses (Gold)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sporty’s Launches Second Aerobatics Course with Patty Wagstaff

Basic Aerobatics covers the fundamentals of loops, rolls, and spins

Five months after announcing a partnership to develop online aerobatics training, Sporty’s and Patty Wagstaff have introduced a second course, Basic Aerobatics. This detailed course is a great complement to in-airplane training and explores three essential aerobatic maneuvers in all their varieties: loops, rolls, and spins.

“The flight instructors at Sporty’s Academy and Patty Wagstaff Aviation Safety share the same goal: to make flying safer and more fun,” said Wagstaff. “These courses do exactly that, by taking pilots beyond straight and level to see what high performance flying is all about.”

In Basic Aerobatics, viewers will go flying in a Super Decathlon over the beautiful beaches of St. Augustine, Florida, for a detailed look at everything from basic loops to hesitation rolls. Wagstaff explains every maneuver step-by-step, complete with sophisticated animations, and tips for better technique. She also answers frequently asked questions and provides solutions to common errors. The course presents techniques for each aerobatic maneuver when in an airplane without an inverted fuel and oil system, so this course is perfect whether you’re flying a high performance showplane or a Cessna Aerobat.

“We’ve worked hard to make it feel like you’re riding along with Patty in the airplane,” said Sporty’s Academy President Eric Radtke. “Beautiful HD video shows the pilot’s perspective for each maneuver and split-screen segments simultaneously show the flight controls, flight instruments, and views out each window. The course even includes bonus 360-degree videos showing Patty flying each maneuver.”

Basic Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff [#E905A] is available for $99.99. Volume 1 in the series, Intro to Aerobatics [#E312A], is available for $49.99, and both courses can be purchased as a bundle [#E936A] for $129.99. Basic Aerobatics 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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Sporty’s Launches Virtual Airshow Experience

Oshkosh is canceled but the aviation celebration isn’t

Today Sporty’s kicked off its first ever virtual airshow, a five-week-long series of events and experiences that will be hosted on Sportys.com and various social media platforms. In addition to new product introductions and show specials, Sporty’s will also offer weekly webinars, live stream events, contests, and fun flying videos. The goal is to keep pilots connected and excited about aviation, no matter what their flying plans are this summer.

“AirVenture is our favorite week of the year, where we get to meet thousands of customers, show off the latest products, and see amazing airplanes in action,” said Sporty’s President Michael Wolf. “But while we can’t be together in Wisconsin, we hope we can help recreate some of the Oshkosh atmosphere online.”

Webinar topics include what’s new in aviation headsets, practical tips for flying with an iPad, how to use flight simulators to stay current, proficiency strategies from Sporty’s team of flight instructors, and an interactive IFR quiz hour. Sporty’s will also host webinars from other companies, including ForeFlight and Redbird. Limited time Virtual Airshow specials will be available on a variety of products, from training courses and headsets to flight bags and avionics.

Other events include a virtual exhibit hangar video series, with exclusive videos from major aviation brands, live stream sessions with Sporty’s product experts, and weekly contests. There’s plenty of fun planned as well, including a live stream concert from Sporty’s video host and longtime musician Rob Reider and a virtual airshow routine from legendary performer Patty Wagstaff. At the end of July, one Sporty’s Flight Crew member will be awarded a $2,500 flight training scholarship.

Sporty’s is also encouraging pilots to give back during this challenging airshow season, with The Sporty’s Foundation Matching Gift Initiative. For every dollar Sporty’s customers donate to EAA this July, up to $25,000, the foundation will match it. There is no overhead, so 100% of donations will go to the area of greatest need at EAA. Donations of any amount are accepted, and Sporty’s is asking pilots to consider an amount equal to their expected ticket fee for AirVenture 2020.

“Sporty’s and EAA have been partners for decades, with a relentless focus on growing participation in aviation,” said Wolf. “The important work of inspiring the next generation of pilots does not stop because AirVenture is on hold for a year, and hopefully this gift will help that work continue.”

Sporty’s 2020 Virtual Airshow runs from June 29 to August 2. For a complete schedule of events, visit Sportys.com/Airshow.

 

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Free Getting Started Course Available From Sporty’s

Provides helpful resources to begin your pilot training

Learning to fly is a process, but oftentimes the most confusing part is taking that first step. How do you find a flight school? What should you ask a prospective flight instructor? What’s the difference between a Sport Pilot and Private Pilot certificate? Sporty’s has recently released a new course to help answer these questions, and it’s completely free.

The course, called Get Started with Learning to Fly, features videos, articles, and other resources for the brand-new pilot. This includes:

• Four video segments covering the basics of learning to fly, finding a flight school, and what a first lesson looks like
• A twelve-part article series that addresses common questions, like Part 61 vs. 141 schools, FAA medical requirements, and cost
• A flight school directory, searchable by zip code, with contact information for nearby schools
• A high-resolution Cessna 172 cockpit poster, great for getting acquainted with a common training airplane
• Helpful links to other resources and essential pilot supplies.

The course works on a variety of devices, including web browsers, iOS devices, and Android devices. The course is 100% free, but registration is required. You can sign up here.