Video Tips

Interactive Quizzes

Pilot Gear

Test Questions

Latest posts

From Flight Simulator to Aerobatics: Training with Patty Wagstaff

/
0 Comments
After learning to fly aerobatics in Microsoft Flight Simulator as a kid, one pilot finally got the chance to experience them for real—training with legendary aerobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff in St. Augustine, Florida. From his first flight in a Super Decathlon to stepping into the Extra 300, the experience offered a new perspective on aircraft control, upset recovery, and the value of continually expanding your skills as a pilot.
Read more

How to Master Steep Turns: A Student Pilot’s Guide

Whether you’re just starting out or have logged hundreds of hours, mastering steep turns is all about precision, coordination, and feel. In our latest video tip, we break down practical strategies to help you fly steeper, smoother, and safer turns every time.
Read more

Webinar: First Look at Garmin’s New AXIS Flight Displays

/
0 Comments
Join Garmin flight instructor and aviation educator Luke Wickersham on for a practical introduction to AXIS. Luke will walk through the system’s new features, explain the different AXIS models and variants, and take a closer look at why understanding the FMS is important for pilots.
Read more

How to read a METAR aviation weather report

/
0 Comments
One of the first aviation-specific weather products you’ll learn to use is called an Aviation Routine Weather Report, or METAR for short, which is an observation of weather conditions at an airport.
Read more

S-Turns Across a Road—Sporty’s Flight Maneuver Spotlight

/
0 Comments
An S-Turn across a road is a flight training maneuver where a pilot flies their aircraft across a straight road, performing a series of coordinated turns in opposite directions, effectively drawing an "S" pattern on the ground, demonstrating their ability to manage wind drift and adjust bank angles while maintaining a consistent ground track.
Read more

Webinar Video: Checkride Insights with Catherine Cavagnaro

/
0 Comments
Join Catherine Cavagnaro, prominent DPE and longtime CFI, for an inside look at the checkride from the examiner's perspective. She shares practical advice on preparing for the practical test, making a positive impression, and avoiding common pitfalls that can compromise a successful outcome.
Read more

Video Tip of the Week

How to Master Steep Turns: A Student Pilot’s Guide

How to read a METAR aviation weather report

Video tip: Get to Know Your Altimeter

Quizzes

Quiz: Can You Identify These Airport Signs and Markings?

See and Be Seen: Test Your Pilot Traffic Awareness Skills

Quiz: Airspace classifications and rules

Articles

From Flight Simulator to Aerobatics: Training with Patty Wagstaff

Webinar: First Look at Garmin’s New AXIS Flight Displays

New Instrument Rating Written Test Questions Added to Sporty’s Course

Webinar Videos

Webinar Video: Checkride Insights with Catherine Cavagnaro

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

Webinar Video: Airplane Engine Operations

Getting Started Tips

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?

Getting Started Videos

Video: choosing a flight school

Video: why learn to fly?

Video: how do you learn to fly?

Pilot Gear

The 2025 Gear of the Year Winners from Sporty’s

Product Pilot Report: Flight Bags By Pilots

Top 10 student pilot gifts

Resources

A Comprehensive Guide to the FAA Knowledge Test

Browse our Free Scholarship Directory

2020 courses

Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course

2012-2026 - Sportsman's Market, Inc.