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Download the 50 Fun Flying Destinations Guide and Map Layer in ForeFlight

May 19, 2025/in Having fun, News/by Eric Radtke

How to Succeed at Flight Training Later in Life

May 16, 2025/in Get Started/by John Zimmerman

Learning to fly isn’t easy, but it’s not supposed to be—that’s why it’s so rewarding when you earn that certificate. Acknowledge up front that you will have both good and bad days during training, and don’t beat yourself up after every mistake. I like to take a two week moving average of my performance, which prevents me from getting too high after a great lesson or too low after a really bad one.

Download the 50 Fun Flying Destinations Guide and Map Layer in ForeFlight

May 19, 2025/in Having fun, News/by Eric Radtke

How to Succeed at Flight Training Later in Life

May 16, 2025/in Get Started/by John Zimmerman

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Download the 50 Fun Flying Destinations Guide and Map Layer in ForeFlight

May 19, 2025/in Having fun, News/by Eric Radtke

Explore. Fly. Win a Sentry Plus.

Flying isn’t just about getting from A to B—it’s about discovery, challenge, and the freedom to explore the world from a unique perspective. With that in mind, Sporty’s created a digital guide and ForeFlight content pack that highlights 50 unforgettable flying destinations across the United States. From breathtaking natural wonders to charming small towns steeped in aviation history, these are the kinds of trips that remind us why we learned to fly in the first place.

**Why the 50 Fun Flying Destinations Content Pack?**

Pilots are explorers by nature. From the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the sun-soaked coasts of Florida, there is a wealth of beauty to discover via the skies. Sporty’s 50 Fun Flying Destinations Guide covers:

Iconic stops like the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, and Mount Rushmore.
Hidden treasures such as the tranquility of Mackinac Island or the WWII-era charm of Fredericksburg, Texas.
Aviation landmarks including Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and the historic First Flight Airport at Kitty Hawk.

Looking for a weekend escape, a new cross-country challenge, or a destination with aviation roots? This guide has you covered.

Now With a New Summer Fly-to-Win Challenge

Back by popular demand—but with a summer twist—we’re relaunching our destination challenge! This time, it’s easier than ever to participate:

Fly to just THREE destinations from the guide by August 1, 2025, and you’ll be eligible to win a ForeFlight Sentry Plus ADS-B Receiver.

Just email your ForeFlight track logs to [email protected] to enter.

The Grand Canyon is among the fun destinations you’ll find in the guide.

Content Pack Integration with ForeFlight

Planning a flight should be as enjoyable as the destination itself. That is Sporty’s provides the guide as a custom content pack and map layer within ForeFlight. With just a few taps, you can:

Overlay the 50 fun flying destinations in ForeFlight as a custom map layer.
Pull up detailed airport information, including runway data, services, and contact information.
Check weather conditions and average temperatures for your planned visit.
Explore points of interest at your destination, along with helpful links to make your trip a success.

Overlay the fun flying destinations as a custom map layer in ForeFlight.

From the map layer you can access a comprehensive airport and visitor’s guide.

Imagine plotting a spontaneous trip to a cozy mountain town in Colorado or planning a sunrise flight along the California coast—all the resources you need are available in Sporty’s 50 Fun Flying Destinations Guide, integrated with ForeFlight.

Featured Destinations

What are some of the exciting places you will find in the guide?

Sedona, Arizona: Famous for its red rock formations, Sedona’s airport sits atop a mesa, offering stunning views during approach and departure.
Nantucket, Massachusetts: A short hop from the mainland, Nantucket makes for a perfect beach getaway in a natural, isolated sanctuary.
Jackson, Wyoming: Nestled in the Jackson Hole Valley, this destination offers spectacular views of the Teton Range that rises more than 7,000’ above the valley floor.
Aspen, Colorado: For a high-altitude challenge, head to Aspen, with its stunning mountain views and a thrilling approach over towering peaks.

Maroon Bells is a sight to behold in Aspen, Colorado.

More Than Just a Guide

Spory’s digital guide is not just a list of places to go—it is a curated experience for pilots who love the journey as much as the destination. With rich descriptions, insider tips, and practical info—like nearby restaurants, hotels, and things to do—this guide is designed to make your flying adventures more fulfilling.

Here’s How to Get Started Now

From your device with ForeFlight (iPad or iPhone), visit Sportys.com/FunFlying and choose the “Download ForeFlight Content Pack” option.

The download file will automatically open in ForeFlight and begin to download.

Once the guide is downloaded in ForeFlight, it will be available within the “custom content” section under the “more” tab. You may access any of the individual guides from this page.

To display the Fun Flying Airports map overlay, return to the “maps” tab and select the “Fun Flying Airports” under the map layer drop-down menu.

From the Fun Flying Airport map layer, you may select any of the fun flying airports for more information.

The individual airport guide is available under “ASSOCIATED INFORMATION.”

Get inspired for your next flight and prepare to explore the US from a whole new perspective. Download the 50 Fun Flying Destinations Guide and ForeFlight Content Pack free at Sportys.com/FunFlying.

How to Succeed at Flight Training Later in Life

May 16, 2025/in Get Started/by John Zimmerman

As we get older, most of us get worse at being a student—no matter what the subject. The first 20 years of life are filled with classes, tests, and homework, so we’re used to absorbing new information and occasionally stumbling on our path to mastery. The typical 45-65 year old, on the other hand, likely hasn’t been in a formal educational setting in a long time. It can feel uncomfortable or even embarrassing to make a mistake or confess, “I don’t know.” After all, you’re used to being the expert.

This difference in mindset has been reinforced for me recently, as I’ve become a student again, this time of music. After years of thinking about it, I finally took up the violin. Much like flying, this process has been exciting, challenging, occasionally frustrating, but mostly very satisfying. I’ve kept a learning journal (a trick I learned from flight training, of course), and in reviewing this, I noticed some lessons that apply to any later-in-life student.

So if you’re considering learning to fly after your 40th birthday (or your 60th—you really aren’t too old to start), remember these tips.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions even if it feels awkward.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re a successful engineer, doctor, or teacher, you are used to knowing the answers and leading the discussion. This might make you nervous about asking questions of your instructor, especially if they are younger than you (which is often the case in aviation). Ignore those nerves and ask away, even if you think you’ll sound stupid.

This is easier said than done, but I found it helpful to tell my violin teacher up front: “I’m going to ask a ton of questions, some of which may sound ridiculous; I hope you’ll appreciate my willingness to learn.” This set the tone early and has yielded great results. Most instructors love a curious student.

So if you’re wondering what the heck a magneto is or why there’s no Class F airspace, don’t hold back. Don’t assume it doesn’t matter. Don’t assume every other student pilot knows these topics better than you do. Have the curiosity of a first grader, and keep asking questions.

Don’t get frustrated. Learning to fly isn’t easy, but it’s not supposed to be—that’s why it’s so rewarding when you earn that certificate. Acknowledge up front that you will have both good and bad days during training, and don’t beat yourself up after every mistake. I like to take a two week moving average of my performance, which prevents me from getting too high after a great lesson or too low after a really bad one.

If you feel like you’re in a rut, and that two week moving average isn’t good, by all means talk to your instructor. Don’t be afraid to mix things up if the current plan isn’t working, but don’t expect perfection. You may be used to success, but one of the great lessons of flight training is to remain humble and never get too comfortable. That’s not failure, that’s growth.

Invest in the instructor relationship. One-on-one learning depends on the student and instructor much more than the textbook or the technology. That doesn’t mean you have to be best friends with your CFI, but don’t be purely transactional. You should take a few moments to understand who they are as a person: what is their teaching style, their likes and dislikes, and their unique style? Do your part as the student to share your personality and your learning preferences. If you both understand each other and work on the learning process as a partnership, you’ll learn more, be more efficient, and have more fun.

Your most important learning happens in between lessons, without an instructor there, so be diligent about carving out time for regular studying.

Have a plan to always be studying or practicing. Here’s one I have learned time and time again with music, and it’s every bit as true for aviation. Your most important learning happens in between lessons, without an instructor there, so be diligent about carving out time for regular studying. Whether it’s watching videos online, reading the FAA textbooks, replaying your most recent flight with an app, or flying a simulator at home, you should try to do something aviation-related every 2-3 days. There are more options than ever before, so there’s no excuse for going weeks between aviation learning sessions, even if your formal flight lessons are canceled due to weather.

Learning to fly is really up to you as the student, and lessons are best viewed as periodic check-ins to fix mistakes and learn new skills. Self-directed learning like this takes commitment, so don’t wait for a time when nothing is going on to study; build it into your day-to-day life in a very intentional way. Get help from your spouse or friends if needed—this is a great way to have someone else keep you honest.

Remember why you’re doing it. If you’re learning to fly later in life, it’s probably because you want to have fun or achieve a lifelong dream, so stay focused on your ultimate goal. Sure, everyone has to pass the same FAA tests, but notice which parts you enjoy most and make sure you learn those skills. Is it about traveling to faraway places? Then make sure you’re really learning how to travel cross-country. Is it about fun flights in taildraggers to grass runways? Then don’t get too bogged down in the details of turbocharging systems and glass cockpits. You want to become a safe and confident pilot, but you also want to be ready for your unique mission after the checkride, whatever that might be. Communicate those goals to your flight instructor early on.

The differences in mindset between younger and older students don’t have to spell doom. In fact, there are some real advantages that come with maturity. Older adults are typically highly motivated and they often know themselves better, so they understand how to achieve their goals. They have other life experiences to draw on and more refined decision-making skills. Play to those strengths by customizing your training plan to fit your personality and by working smarter with your schedule.

You can teach an old dog new tricks. We see it every month in our flight school, and there’s no reason you can’t join the club.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Download the 50 Fun Flying Destinations Guide and Map Layer in ForeFlight

How to Succeed at Flight Training Later in Life

Download the 50 Fun Flying Destinations Guide and Map Layer in ForeFlight

How to Succeed at Flight Training Later in Life

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Download the 50 Fun Flying Destinations Guide and Map Layer in ForeFlight

Explore. Fly. Win a Sentry Plus.

**Why the 50 Fun Flying Destinations Content Pack?**

Now With a New Summer Fly-to-Win Challenge

How to Succeed at Flight Training Later in Life

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