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Top 10 things you need when starting flight training

Sporty’s is much more than just a pilot shop—today, our successful flight school has hundreds of students and is solely responsible for the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program. The plethora of pilot supplies out there can be overwhelming, so students often look to us for advice on what you really need for flight training. Here's our top 10 list.

You’re only as good as your endorsements

As a newly minted student pilot, you’ll naturally rely on…

Video: first solo in a Cessna 152

A pilot's first solo is a day full of mixed emotions: excitement and nervousness, pride and fear. This video shows all those feelings, as a student pilot makes her first trip around the pattern by herself in a Cessna 152. If you're not a pilot yet, it's a great preview of what's to come. If you are a pilot, you'll probably remember exhaling at the end like Erin does here.

Video: why pilots need fuel testers

Draining and checking fuel before flight is one of the first things you learn as a student pilot. But what are you actually looking for, and how do you know if your sample is good or bad? In this Product PIREP video, Sporty's Doug Ranly explains the point of this ritual and shows what contaminated fuel looks like.

Video tip: get to know your altimeter

The altimeter is a flight instrument that provides accurate altitude information to pilots and relies solely on outside air pressure. This week's tip explores how the altimeter works, the various types of altitudes you need to know about and potential errors you may encounter while referencing the altimeter.

CFI Tips: Go-Arounds

Pilots are often too reluctant to execute go-arounds and because…

Rolling Out the Weather Cameras

Technology can be a wonderful thing. Improvements have made great…

Video: flying a Beech 18 on floats

The Beech 18 is an iconic airplane, with big radial engines and those long, beautiful wings. Put it on floats and you have a new new level of fun. In this video you'll ride along as AOPA's Richard McSpadden earns his multiengine seaplane rating in the big Beech, splashing around the scenic lakes of northern Minnesota.

Video tip: pilot’s guide to airport services

Most of your flight training will focus on the essentials of flying like stick and rudder skills, navigation and communicating on the radio. One item that's often overlooked is what to do after landing on a cross-country flight and taxi up to the airport parking area. This week's tip takes a look at the resources available to you at the FBO and some advice on how to take advantage of them.

Five overlooked features in Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course

Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course is famous for its beautiful HD video and its large database of FAA test questions. While those two features are invaluable for passing your tests and becoming a safe pilot, there’s a lot more to this course than just videos and quizzes. Here’s a look at five overlooked features.