Friday photo: Rob Craig-Gray solo

The moment: My solo moment

The pilot: Rob Craig-Gray

The place: Millard Airport (KMLE), Omaha, NE

The aircraft: Cessna 172 Skyhawk

The memory: Always wanted to fly and, as a military member in the Air Force, finally made it happen. Earned my Private pilot July 11, 2019! Finally!

 

Want to share your “Friday Photo” of your solo or checkride moment? Send your photo and description (using the format above) to: [email protected]

Video: flying an F-22 Raptor

The F-22 Raptor seems to defy physics, with the speed of a modern supersonic fighter but the maneuverability of a light airplane. This new video shows you the F-22 in action, from both inside and outside the cockpit. You’ll see the incredible vertical climb, the 9G turns, and the thrust vectoring nozzles. It’s quite a show.

Video courtesy of MojoGrip.

Video Tip: Flying in and around special use airspace

Special use airspace includes military operations area, prohibited areas, alert areas, warning areas, restricted areas and controlled firing areas. This week’s video tip explains how to identify their location and best practices for making sure you don’t accidentally fly into one.

https://youtu.be/eHidK24DzH4

The video clip below is from Sporty’s complete Learn to Fly Course

550x225 LTF course

New simulation added to free Runway Safety Simulator

The FAA Safety Team has added a new simulation to the the Runway Safety Pilot Simulator at www.RunwaySafetySimulator.com. “The Anatomy of a Wrong Surface Event” is the second in a three-part series focusing on causal factors for wrong surface events, such as incorrect runway or taxiway approaches, landings, or departures. It highlights the importance of guarding against certain environmental factors that contribute to wrong surface events and other runway incursions.

Free learning opportunities from Sporty’s virtual airshow month

While the summer wasn’t quite the same without EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Sporty’s celebrated the spirit of aviation with its very own virtual airshow month – a series of events and experiences hosted on Sportys.com and social media platforms. This included weekly webinars, live stream events, and fun flying videos.

The entire lineup of programming is available here:


A pilot's guide to headsets

What's new in ForeFlight

iPad Proficiency Check

Redbird flight simulators and trainers

Flight simulators - what pilots need to know

Garmin new product update

IFR quiz hour

Your roadmap to success in flight training

Skydiving for pilots

Patty Wagstaff aerobatics in 360

Oshkosh memories

Flying the FISK arrival

Tri-State Warbird Museum tour

Rob Reider home concert

Behind the scenes with Sporty's video team

Flight simulators live tour

Hands-on with aviation headsets

Friday photo: giving back

 

The moment: Sharing a new aviation experience with my protege

The pilots: Capt. Tyler Stargardt (right) and Nate Vucsko-Cameron

The place: Visit to the tower

The aircraft: N/A

The memory: Capt. Tyler Stargardt (right) was the first EAA Next Step and Sporty s Learn to Fly Course participant to earn his Private pilot certificate at age 17. Tyler went on to serve as an ambassador for the EAA Next Step program and was awarded the Young Eagles Flight Training Scholarship in 2010.

Tyler is a true Young Eagles success story rising to the rank of Captain early in his airline career and has never stopped giving back. This includes mentoring recent Next Step participant, Nate, who Tyler describes as his “twin” only 10 years his junior.

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Want to share your “Friday Photo” of your solo or checkride moment? Send your photo and description (using the format above) to: [email protected]