Pilot talking on radio

Our top stories of 2022

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Thank you for subscribing to Sporty’s Flight Training Central. As 2022 comes to a close, and we reflect on the progress we’ve made as pilots, here is a look at some of our most popular posts from 2022. We hope your year has been filled with aviation adventure. Best wishes for a safe and prosperous New Year from the team at Sporty’s Flight Training Central! – Ed.

 

5) Pilot certificates are not participation trophies

Every generation seems to think the next generation doesn’t work as hard, isn’t as talented, or doesn’t have the same motivation that their generation did when they were younger. I don’t think that has been any different in aviation training historically.

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C172 glide distance4) Best glide speed – keep it simple or extract the most performance

As a student pilot, before you even solo, your flight instructor will teach you the basic concept behind a speed known as Best Glide Speed. You will likely be taught that this is a speed that will allow you to cover the most distance in gliding flight. This basic concept will probably follow you through your Private Pilot certificate.

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Aerodynamics maneuver3) Is general aviation safe?

A question that prospective flight training students and their families may have about learning to fly is, “Is it safe?” A knowledgeable flight instructor should have a thoughtful and honest answer to this question, but it is not as cut and dried as you might think.

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2) Be aware of these 5 night flying deceptions

When it comes to night vision, we aren’t very good because we weren’t built for it. In fact, if it weren’t for rods, we wouldn’t be able to see anything in the dark. Rods (photoreceptor cells scattered across the retina) do well in peripheral vision and are much more sensitive to light which makes them a necessity for our nighttime flying. But rods can’t process color which is why our night vision isn’t very colorful.

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Pilot talking on radio

1) VFR Flight Following – a pilot’s guide

If “flight following” is a new term, don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s not exactly a staple in many Private pilot training programs and don’t expect much attention on flight following in a checkride. But not to diminish its importance, because it’s a service that every VFR pilot should take advantage of and it could even be a lifesaver.

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Eric Radtke