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Commercial pilot video tip: Eights on Pylons

There are several new flight maneuvers to learn during Commercial Pilot Training. One of the new ground reference maneuvers is called Eights on Pylons, which involves flying a figure 8 pattern over the ground while varying the aircraft’s altitude in order to maintain a defined visual reference to preselected reference points, called pivot points, or pylons.
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VFR Flight Following: A Pilot’s Guide

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ATC will serve as another set of eyes in the sky to keep you apprised of other traffic targets that could be a threat. You also gain the benefit of safety alerts from ATC and perhaps even weather advisories.
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Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course Keeps Getting Better

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Sporty’s continues to add new lessons, test-prep questions, and training features to its Learn to Fly Course. Here’s a look at what’s new in 2026—and why lifetime access means your course keeps getting better.
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Usual Compared to What?

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How unusual runway dimensions can distort your visual picture—and why knowing the runway’s length-to-width ratio can help you anticipate landing illusions before they catch you on final. Lee Smith explains what to look for during flight planning and how to cross-check what your eyes are telling you when the runway doesn’t look quite right.
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Sim Challenge: Looks About Right (VFR)

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A simulator is the perfect place to practice judgment, timing, and managing workload when the pressure is on. Our Sim Challenges make it easy to get a good workout—at home—using Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane. Along the way, you’ll answer thought-provoking questions and learn from an expert’s real-world insights.
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Lazy Eights—Sporty’s Flight Maneuver Spotlight

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The Lazy Eight maneuver is part of Sporty’s 2025 Commercial Pilot Training Course and includes a narrated video animation, along with step-by-step instructions that include performance standards and common errors. Study them while on the ground or print them for quick reference in
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Video Tip of the Week

Commercial pilot video tip: Eights on Pylons

How to fly in and out of airports in Class C and D airspace

Video tip: How to determine the wind direction for takeoff and landing

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See and Be Seen: Test Your Pilot Traffic Awareness Skills

Quiz: Airspace classifications and rules

Quiz: Flight Planning with Sporty’s E6B

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VFR Flight Following: A Pilot’s Guide

Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course Keeps Getting Better

Usual Compared to What?

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Webinar Video: Tools and Resources to Help Your Flight School Thrive

Webinar Video: Airplane Engine Operations

Webinar Video: Aviation Law 101 for Pilots

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How to Become a Pilot: Your Complete Guide to Learning to Fly

It’s Learn to Fly Week at Sporty’s and Flight Training Central

Is Sporty’s the Best Online Ground School for Private Pilots?

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