Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Flying with Flight Simulator

Welcome to the latest edition of the Flight Maneuver Spotlight series. Here we’ll highlight the various maneuvers you’ll practice during your flight training and be expected to demonstrate during your private pilot checkride. This one is a little different—we're sharing a flight simulator maneuver that you can fly on your own.

Smarter Pilot Training: Exploring Sporty’s AI Tools

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Sporty’s 2026 pilot training courses introduce a suite of AI-powered learning tools designed specifically for pilots. These aren’t generic chatbots—they’re built on a vetted, aviation-specific AI engine, tested and refined by flight instructors to help students learn smarter, faster, and more confidently.

Video Tip: Six Rules for VFR Cross-Country Flights

Getting out of the traffic pattern and going on a real trip is a lot of fun. It may even be the reason you’re learning to fly in the first place. But the same reasons these trips are so much fun - new places to see, a goal at the end of the flight - can lead to challenges if you aren’t prepared. Here are six rules to keep in mind when you’re flying VFR cross countries.

From the DPE: Why Lazy Eights Are a Challenge for Commercial Pilot Students

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In this month’s From the DPE column, Jason Blair takes a deep dive into one of the most deceptively difficult maneuvers for commercial pilot students: the lazy eight. He explains why it tests not only technical skill but also energy management, coordination, and that elusive “feel” for the aircraft.

What’s Wrong: Cross-Country Mystery

Welcome to “What’s Wrong?“, a new twist on aviation challenge quizzes. “What’s Wrong?” works just like a real flight: You’re in an airplane, flying along and there are clues to a potential problem right there in front of you—but it’s still on you to notice them and take action before it’s too late.

Video Tip: Cessna 172 Electrical System

The electrical system is a critical component of today's modern airplanes, distributing and supplying power to the lights, avionics and digital flight instruments. This week's tip takes a look at the various elements that make up the electrical system in the popular Cessna 172 training airplane.