The soft-field takeoff technique will be required when departing from runway surfaces made of grass or dirt and will allow you to keep as much weight off the nose wheel as possible during the takeoff roll.

Sporty's Pilot Training app is the must-have resource for anyone who wants to improve their aviation skills. It's available on iPad, iPhone, Android devices, and even smart TVs like Roku and Apple TV. In addition to Sporty's complete courses (over two dozen are available), the app is also loaded with free tools for student pilots. Here's a look at some highlights.

A statistic was recently shared with us that indicates that in the past approximately 6-months, it appears first-time pass rates on private pilot airplane single-engine land practical tests are hovering somewhere in the 50-60% range. Take this to heart, please. It means that nearly half of our pilot applicants are failing their first attempts at a private pilot certificate.