Video: High Sierra Fly-in

It's part Burning Man and part Oshkosh and the result is a totally unique event. Every year a diverse mix of pilots and aviation enthusiasts gathers at a dry lakebed in western Nevada for the High Sierra Fly-in. Airplanes compete to see who can take off and land in the shortest distance, and fun flying is the only item on the menu.

Transitioning to the airlines (Part I)

To help shed some light on the life of an airline pilot, Sporty's Student Pilot News is pleased to introduce Mr. Alan Nguyen. Nguyen is a Sporty's Academy flight instructor and first officer at a regional air carrier. Please enjoy the first installment of this multi-part series on transitioning to the airlines.

Friday photo: Priscilla Marapodi instrument rating checkride

I started my aviation journey April 2017 since then it’s been an amazing journey. I thought the PPL was an amazing accomplishment until today the IFR checkride, now I feel like a real pilot! 

Smart study strategies with Sporty’s 2019 Learn to Fly Course

Sporty’s courses are the ideal pilot training companion - everything…

Video: flying (and sailing) in the Bahamas

Some exotic adventures require a long airline flight halfway around the world; others require only a pilot's license and a Cessna (plus a few friends). In this envy-inducing video, filmmaker and pilot JP Schulze heads to the beautiful blue waters of the Bahamas for some flying and sailing. It feels worlds away from the United States, where they departed, but it's only a short flight in the Cessna.

Learning to fly and having a full time job – Can it be done?

We get many aspiring pilots that ask us about learning to fly…

Friday photo: Ryan Miller first solo

My son's first solo! I bought the ELSA RV-12 so that I could learn airplane maintenance work and so that my son could affordably learn to fly.  This plane was built by high school students as an Eagle's Nest project at Clear Springs High School

Video: what flying is all about

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Flying is about lift and thrust, weight and drag. But as Trent Palmer shows in this amazing video, flying is also about gaining a new perspective on the world and enjoying life. After watching these three taildraggers fly around a mountain at sunset, we think you'll agree that, "life is too short to eat dessert last."

Video tip: understanding Class E airspace

Unless you're flying a jet high into the flight levels, there's a good chance that the majority of your flying will take place in Class E airspace. This week's tip takes a look at the operating requirements, minimum VFR weather and how to identify Class E airspace on the sectional chart.

How high do you want to fly today?

How high should we fly today? Choosing an altitude for a flight may seem like a simple decision at first, but there are actually a lot of variables to consider. What is the purpose of the flight? How is the weather? Are there any airspace restrictions? What is the performance of the airplane? This may sound like a lot to consider, but with some help from your mobile EFB app and some practice, this process will become second nature to you.