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Video tip: How to fly a Slow Roll with Patty Wagstaff

June 10, 2021/in /by David Zitt

There are nearly endless opportunities after earning a private pilot certificate to build and advance your stick and rudder skills. Many pilots go on to specialized flight schools to learn new flying techniques, like how to fly a loop or a roll in a high-performance airplane. Our favorite spot for this type of hands-on aerobatics training is at Patty Wagstaff’s flight school in St. Augustine, Florida.

Join Patty in a segment from Sporty’s Basic Aerobatics Course and see how much fun flying inverted can be, as she demonstrates how to fly a slow roll in a Super Decathlon over the beaches of St. Augustine.

Quiz: ADS-B Rules and Regulations

June 7, 2021/in /by

Since the ADS-B mandate took full effect in 2020 there still some confusion looming about the limitations about this portion of the FAA’s NextGen system. Can you answer all these questions correctly and prove you’re qualified to fly in the National Airspace System?

Video: pulling over 7 G’s in a turboprop trainer

June 4, 2021/in Fun Flying Videos/by John Zimmerman

Did you know that one of the most advanced military trainers today has a propeller out front? The Pilatus PC-21 can fly up to 320 knots at low altitude, and is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop engine. In this video, you’ll ride along for a takeoff in the PC-21, complete with a 7.5-G pull-up into a vertical climb and a few rolls. Not your average single engine airplane.

Video courtesy of Pilatus Aircraft.

Rate your flight training experience

May 28, 2021/in Uncategorized/by studentpltnews

AOPA has opened its 2021 Flight Training Experience Survey to any student or pilot who has received instruction in the past year. The survey measures flight instructor and flight school performance on four key factors affecting flight training—educational quality, customer focus, community, and information sharing.

How does your flight instructor or flight school measure up? AOPA has streamlined the survey to make it quicker and easier to complete—less than 10 minutes! Your responses will identify and recognize the nation’s best training providers and provide valuable feedback on improving the flight training experience.

By participating in the Flight Training Survey, you’ll be eligible to enter to win one of 21 sweepstakes prizes valued from $100 to $360, including an opportunity to earn a 12-month membership in Sporty’s Platinum Flight Crew program with access to its full line of online pilot training courses.

Sporty’s Introduces Commercial Pilot Training Course

May 25, 2021/in Career, Tips and technique/by Eric Radtke

Sporty’s latest training course will help pilots earn a Commercial pilot certificate, an essential step on the way to a job as a flight instructor or an airline pilot. Like all Sporty’s courses, the Commercial Pilot Course includes access to multiple formats for the same low price: online, iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple TV and Roku. Progress always stays in sync between formats, and course access never expires.

Because Commercial pilot applicants come from a variety of backgrounds, Sporty’s Commercial Pilot Test Prep Course is organized in multiple learning modules that can be customized and deployed according to the pilot’s background. Pilots with vast experience may choose to focus on mastering commercial flight maneuvers and written test preparation, while pilots transitioning directly from an Instrument rating may first choose to access the more than 13 hours of video-based content.

Here’s how to put Sporty’s Commercial Pilot Course to use:

Access the Video-based Learning Content – Sporty’s Commercial Pilot Training Course includes comprehensive video content designed to thoroughly prepare pilots for both the checkride and to operate safely as a commercial pilot. The video content is organized into six main chapters: Flight Maneuvers, Weather, Performance, High-Altitude Systems, Navigation, and Regulations.

The course also includes text-based Commercial study elements in one convenient “resources” location for quick reference. This includes the Commercial Pilot Airman Certification Standards – your guide to the checkride and an essential study resource. The course delivers relevant sections of the Airplane Flying Handbook. Learn about high altitude operations, international flight planning, and privileges and limitations of a Commercial pilot with extensive information on deciphering private versus common carriage.

Course users also gain access to Sporty’s FAA library which includes the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), regulations, weather handbooks, and much more. All of the included study resources offer robust PDF tools for organizing, searching, bookmarking, highlighting or even printing.

Study for the written test – Sporty’s powerful written test prep tools will help you ace the Commercial pilot written test with access to an extensive database of more than 800 test questions. All Commercial written test categories are included, from airplane systems to weather to regulations. Sporty’s Test Preparation offers both a study and testing mode.

Use Study Mode to select individual categories or study a random mix of questions. Sporty’s exclusive Smart Study sessions even help identify categories that require more focused study based on your results, so less time is spent studying content already mastered. Testing mode will provide a random mix of questions to provide a simulated exam, including a timed exam.. Two tests with a minimum score of 80% are required for the written exam endorsement. The written exam endorsement is issued directly from the course.

Master the Commercial maneuvers – Sporty’s Commercial Pilot Test Prep Course includes detailed animations describing exactly how to perform all the Commercial maneuvers for the checkride. From chandelles to lazy eights, each segment provides step-by-step instructions, minimum standards required for checkride success, and common errors to avoid. The dedicated segment on flying complex and high-performance airplanes will help pilots transitioning to advanced aircraft by explaining propeller and landing gear systems, autopilot use, and engine management tips.

Prepare for the checkride – Sporty’s alleviates the stress of checkride day by integrating a dedicated checkride prep module. Checkride prep allows you to gauge your preparedness in a self-guided question/answer session using flashcards. Answer an oral exam question and then click the card to see the corresponding answer with a reference for further study. Questions cover all knowledge categories for Commercial pilot and were crafted by Sporty’s staff of CFIs and designated pilot examiners.

Just like the knowledge test section, you can study only marked or missed flashcards, plus take Smart Study sessions for more focused review. Finally, the included practical test checklist is an interactive form designed to help you stay organized and ensure all practical test requirements have been met.

Sporty’s Commercial Test Prep Course is available for $249.99. It can be accessed, along with all of Sporty’s course offerings, on Sporty’s award-winning Pilot Training platform. This provides the ultimate flexibility by allowing pilots to train using the device that works best on any given day: access online in a web browser or in Sporty’s Pilot Training app for iOS and Android. Access to all platforms is included and course progress always stays in sync. For more information or to purchase a course, visit sportys.com/commercial.

Video: Bush Flying 101

May 21, 2021/in Fun Flying Videos/by John Zimmerman

You hear a lot about “bush flying,” but what does it really mean? In this beautiful video, Trent Palmer shows that it’s more about flying with a spirit of adventure than anything else. He lands his airplane at a variety of remote dirt strips and meets up with other bush pilots for a fun-filled day in the air.

Video courtesy of Trent Palmer.