Coming from an aviation family, John grew up in the back of small airplanes and learned to fly as a teenager. Ever since, he has been hooked on anything with wings and regularly flies a Citabria, a Pilatus PC-12, and a Cirrus SR22. He is an ATP and also holds ratings for multiengine, seaplanes, gliders, and helicopters. In addition to being Editor-in-Chief of Air Facts, John is the President of Sporty’s Pilot Shop, responsible for new product development and marketing.
When you start flying, you may be presented the choice of pursuing your Sport Pilot, Recreational Pilot or Private Pilot certificate. Understanding the differences between them will help you to choose the right one for you.
There is no “right” type of person to become a pilot. Aviators come from all kinds of backgrounds, each with unique reasons for flying. You can take lessons at any age—there is no minimum and no maximum.
Even once you’ve picked a flight school, spend some time to find the right flight instructor. He or she will be a key element in your training and how much enjoyment you get out of flying.
Congratulations on taking the first step on the path to learning to fly! Here are some common questions and answers regarding this process to help you get started in the right direction.
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.
Once a year, we publish a print version of Flight Training Central, which highlights some of our newest articles and important trends in the aviation world. Click on the cover below to flip the pages of this new edition. You’ll read about airline pilot hiring statistics, flight simulators, and using a flight data recorder for debriefing flights.
You know the requirements for flight training, and you might even have a school picked out. But what is it really like to start flight training? Beyond the mechanics of flying an airplane, what goes through the mind of a new student pilot? In this new video series from the popular Baron Pilot channel on YouTube, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes (and unfiltered) view of Kim’s flight training journey. It’s fun and rewarding, but learning to fly isn’t always easy.
Soloing an airplane before you get your driver’s license? That was Ryan Glassmeyer’s goal from an early age, and that’s exactly what he managed to do. In this video, he talks about learning to fly as a teenager, how he convinced his parents, and then takes us along for that first flight.
At the end of the day, is there a single skill that is most important? One that would, if mastered, have the greatest impact on your ability to fly safely? It may not sound as exciting as crosswind landings or short field takeoffs, but learning to precisely control your airspeed is a foundational skill that makes these other skills easier to master. It demands discipline, practice, and attention, but it rewards you with smoother, safer flights.
Flight simulators are really popular right now: combine the latest programs like Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane with the latest hardware like the Honeycomb Alpha and Bravo, and you have a powerful tool for flight training and fun. But if you don’t approach it with the right mindset, flying a sim can just waste time. In this video, Sporty’s John Zimmerman shares four tips for making your next sim session more realistic, from checklists to iPad apps.
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