Friday photo: Seth Cooper Private pilot

The moment: Private pilot checkride The pilot: Seth Cooper The…

Video tip: how to take off in an airplane

Taking off is one of the most exciting moments of every flight, where you get to swiftly accelerate down the runway and lift off to leave the world below. This week's tips takes a look at the step by step procedure to accomplish this task in a Cessna 172, showing each control input necessary to fly a smooth takeoff on your next flight.

Video: flight bag review

There's no perfect flight bag for every pilot - it depends on the type of flying you do, the aircraft you fly, and your own personal preferences. With prices ranging from under $50 to well over $200, there are a lot to choose from. In this Product PIREP Video, we review some of the best-selling options, including Flight Gear, Flight Outfitters, MyGoFlight, and Travel Pro.

Video: tailwheel checkout on a grass runway

Learning to fly a tailwheel airplane is challenging, but incredibly rewarding. While they are less stable than tricycle gear airplanes, they are a lot of fun and open up a whole new world of flying. As this video shows, you can land on grass runways in the middle of farms and connect with flying the way it used to be.

Top 5 summer flying activities

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The summer is still young and adventure awaits!  The good weather is upon us, Fly Ins are scheduled, and you can smell the pancakes in the air.  The freedom and adventure of general aviation knows no bounds.  Seize the moment this summer and stop dreaming, start flying.

Friday photo: Rebecca Frechette first solo

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I thought I was finishing a regular lesson as I pulled off the runway to taxi back to the hangars but my flight instructor told me he was getting out and he wanted me to take the airplane for a lap around the pattern. He gave me a thumbs up and said, “you got this!”

Video: how to prepare for the FAA Knowledge Test with Sporty’s course

Everyone who wants to become a licensed pilot will need to pass the FAA Knowledge Test (or written test). But don't worry - this is easy with Sporty's complete Learn to Fly Course. In addition to detailed video segments, the course includes powerful test prep tools so you'll understand all the key concepts and be completely prepared for the test. In this video, join Sporty's Academy Vice President Bret Koebbe for a hands-on look at all the features available.

Piper Cub on the farm

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There's nothing quite so pure as a yellow Piper J-3 Cub on a grass strip; the airplane just wasn't meant to be flown over big cities and landed at towered airports. In this fun video, you'll ride along in a 1945 Cub, from hand propping to low passes over the farms. No avionics, no airspace, just fun flying.