Behind the Scenes of Sporty’s New Seaplane Rating Course – On the Water Flying Podcast

If you’re curious how Sporty’s new Seaplane Rating Course came together, the latest episode of the Water Flying Aviation Podcast is worth your time.

Hosted by Seaplane Pilots Association Executive Director Steven McCaughey, the episode features a behind-the-scenes conversation with:

• Patty Wagstaff, course author and on-camera instructor

• Bret Koebbe, Sporty’s lead course developer

Filmed over more than a year—from Alaska to Florida—using 15 different seaplanes, the course represents one of the most ambitious seaplane training productions ever attempted. In this candid discussion, Patty, Bret, and Steve share what it took to bring it to life, from instructional philosophy and real-world water operations to the logistics of filming on location.

The project was made possible in large part through the support and expertise of the Seaplane Pilots Association. In recognition of that collaboration, Sporty’s is donating multiple seaplane rating scholarships to the Seaplane Foundation—marking a new level of partnership between Sporty’s, SPA, and the Seaplane Foundation.

Whether you’re planning to earn your seaplane rating or simply enjoy hearing how aviation training is built from the inside out, this episode delivers both insight and inspiration.

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Eric Radtke

It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed.Eric now manages Sporty’s media network including FlightTrainingCentral.com. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.

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