Friday photo: first solo Dallas Padgitt

  The moment: First solo The pilot: Dallas Padgitt The…

The best headsets for student pilots – how to choose

Choosing your first aviation headset is a tough decision. In this detailed video, JC Mayerle and Doug Ranly from Sporty's explain what to look for, then they take four popular models flying to compare them in the cockpit of a Cessna 172. Which one will come out on top?

Sporty’s Pilot Training Course Is A Valuable Tool For Flight Instructors

Sporty’s Pilot Training course is the go-to product in self…

Video: McDonald’s drive-thru in a helicopter

A helicopter really does give you the freedom to do some... unique... things. In this funny video, ride along as two pilots pull off the ultimate $100 hamburger run by picking up an order at McDonald's. Just don't try this in your Cessna!

Stereo vs. mono headsets – what’s the difference?

Buying your first headset can be confusing. There are a lot of things to consider: passive noise reduction (PNR) vs. active noise reduction (ANR), plug types, Bluetooth, aux inputs, ear seals, and finally mono vs. stereo. While we won’t tackle every subject in one blog, we will attempt to answer that age old question: Do I need a mono or stereo headset?

Friday photo: Malena Modirzadeh first flight with a passenger

The moment: First flight with a passenger The pilot: Malena…

What’s in your flight bag, episode 2

In this series, we ask the pilots at Sporty's what gear they carry when they go flying. While every pilot's flight bag is unique, some common principles apply to everyone: carry enough to be prepared but not too much so that you're weighed down with unnecessary junk. Hear from John Zimmerman, ATP and helicopter pilot, in this episode.

Video tip: fun flying

Tired of the same old "turns around a point and stalls" lesson? Don't worry - it's normal. In our latest video tip, we offer a few ideas for shaking things up during flight training. Whether it's making a breakfast run or picking a new time to fly, there are plenty of ways to keep flight training fun.

Video: High Sierra Fly-in

It's part Burning Man and part Oshkosh and the result is a totally unique event. Every year a diverse mix of pilots and aviation enthusiasts gathers at a dry lakebed in western Nevada for the High Sierra Fly-in. Airplanes compete to see who can take off and land in the shortest distance, and fun flying is the only item on the menu.

Transitioning to the airlines (Part I)

To help shed some light on the life of an airline pilot, Sporty's Student Pilot News is pleased to introduce Mr. Alan Nguyen. Nguyen is a Sporty's Academy flight instructor and first officer at a regional air carrier. Please enjoy the first installment of this multi-part series on transitioning to the airlines.