ForeFlight, the most popular app for pilots, blends flight planning, charts, aviation weather, airport information, documents, synthetic vision and even a logbook into one complete resource. Follow along as ForeFlight lead product designer, Ryan McBride discusses advanced features to enrich your flying experience.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/05172848/iPad-G1000-flight-1024x576-1.jpg5761024studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-03-30 10:00:452021-06-08 19:23:10Webinar: Get the most from ForeFlight – advanced tips for aviation’s top app
Glider flying is the purest, most peaceful form of flying – just the pilot and the atmosphere, managing energy to get where you want to go. But how do you get altitude in the first place? While the aero-tow is traditional (using a towplane to pull the glider up), the winch launch is an exciting alternative. Ride along in this video to see how you can go from parked to 1900 feet in about three seconds.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/05172835/glider-winch-launch.jpg447801studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-03-29 11:18:072021-06-08 19:23:10Video: glider flying from a winch launch
gear.creep When stuff is left laying around and starts getting in the way of important tasks.
For anyone who has kids, gearcreep is a daily adventure. Books, bags, lunchboxes, one blue sock, and clarinet reeds somehow can’t cross the forcefield that is found approximately 10 feet inside my front door. Eventually, the forcefield can’t hold back the massive piles of junk and the gear starts creeping across the floor, only to be found at 2 am while stumbling down the hall to the bathroom.
While I complain about gearcreep at home, I learned that I was the chief offender of gearcreep in the cockpit. Pens, Bluetooth GPS units, aux input cables, flashlights… the stuff that I found rolling around the passenger seat and on the floor after a recent night cross country had me convinced that a more organized cockpit would be in my future. I started by getting some fresh gear, specifically to keep all my stuff from accidentally finding its way to the floor. Here are 5 items that have helped me to conquer my cockpit gearcreep problem.
Flight Gear iPad Bag
This bag is the perfect compromise between size and utility. The small footprint makes this bag a perfect fit for on the floor between the front two seats of a Cessna 182. It has plenty of pockets to keep all your gear organized. I really like the padded iPad pocket with with the thru hole for charging with a backup battery. I use this feature all the time to keep my iPad battery topped off.
Kneeboard
I swore off kneeboards after I finished training, but now I find myself gravitating back to them. Modern kneeboards have a spot for your iPad, notepads, cleaning cloths, charging accessories, etc. This sure beats picking pens out of the rudder pedals, and I like having the iPad firmly strapped to my leg.
Gear Mods
These little unsung heroes are amazing. It’s a simple, hook and loop backed pouch that holds frequently used items. These are great for keeping charging cables organized or for backup batteries. I’ve even used one to keep a camera and all the small mount pieces organized. They are specially designed to attach to both Sporty’s Flight Gear bags and kneeboards.
Pilot Pocket Plus
The simple suction cup organizer is a great addition to the cockpit. Constructed with clear acrylic, this nifty holder can be pressed against a side window and is a perfect home for your phone, sunglass, and a pen.
Portable Cargo Caddy
These simple, collapsible bags make great catch-alls for the hangar and the luggage compartment. Oil, chocks, cleaning kits, wipes… these inexpensive bags do a good job of keeping the back of the plane neat.
Now only if I could conquer the gearcreep by my front door.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/05172843/flight-gear-ipad-bag.jpg12001200studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-03-25 10:00:352021-06-08 19:23:10Avoid “gearcreep” and stay organized in the cockpit
The place: Witham Field Airport (KSUA), Stuart, FL
The aircraft: Cessna 150
The memory: We weren’t sure if Friday, June 29, 2018, was going to be just another flight lesson with Evan’s fabulous CFI, or if she was going to kick the baby bird out of the nest and tell him to go that morning, but his dad and I decided to be there with cameras just in case. (I’m that mom who captures everything with her camera!)
This was a major step in our then-17-year-old’s goal of becoming a pilot. At the age of four, he defined the concepts of lift and drag for his preschool teacher and announced that he was going to be a pilot when he grew up. He has never changed his mind. He got his private pilot’s certificate a short time after this solo and will have his glider endorsement before too long. With all that he has going on his Senior year of high school, he will probably wait to begin his Instrument Rating until he gets settled at college and sees what kind of time he will have there as an Aerospace Engineering major and member of the marching band, but he is definitely on his way. We are so proud of and happy for him for pursuing his passion! – Leslie Walling
Want to share your “Friday Photo” of your solo or checkride moment? Send your photo and description (using the format above) to: [email protected]
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/05172851/Evan-Joseph-Roseman.jpg17091245studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-03-22 10:00:152021-06-08 19:23:10Friday photo: Son, Evan Joseph Roseman, first solo
Route 66, the legendary cross-country highway from Chicago to Santa Monica, is synonymous with freedom and adventure – but usually in a car. In this unique video, Matt Guthmiller lands his Bonanza on a gravel strip right next to the Mother Road and explores an abandoned hotel. It’s not every day you see airplanes and cars mixing it up on the same piece of pavement.
The old school whiz wheel has been replaced by more modern options, but for the FAA Knowledge Test you can’t bring your smartphone. That makes Sporty’s Electronic E6B a great option – it’s much easier to use than slide rules but it’s still allowed for use on FAA tests. Join Sporty’s Doug Ranly for a hands-on look at how to use this popular flight computer. You’ll see three common functions step-by-step, plus tips for converting Fahrenheit to Celsius.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/05172855/Screen-Shot-2019-03-12-at-10.22.21-AM.png444795studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-03-12 10:30:212022-01-26 14:40:40Video: how to use Sporty’s Electronic E6B Flight Computer
Webinar: Get the most from ForeFlight – advanced tips for aviation’s top app
/in Webinars/by studentpltnewsForeFlight, the most popular app for pilots, blends flight planning, charts, aviation weather, airport information, documents, synthetic vision and even a logbook into one complete resource. Follow along as ForeFlight lead product designer, Ryan McBride discusses advanced features to enrich your flying experience.
Video: glider flying from a winch launch
/in Fun Flying Videos/by studentpltnewsGlider flying is the purest, most peaceful form of flying – just the pilot and the atmosphere, managing energy to get where you want to go. But how do you get altitude in the first place? While the aero-tow is traditional (using a towplane to pull the glider up), the winch launch is an exciting alternative. Ride along in this video to see how you can go from parked to 1900 feet in about three seconds.
Video from FliteTest.
Avoid “gearcreep” and stay organized in the cockpit
/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnewsgear.creep
When stuff is left laying around and starts getting in the way of important tasks.
For anyone who has kids, gearcreep is a daily adventure. Books, bags, lunchboxes, one blue sock, and clarinet reeds somehow can’t cross the forcefield that is found approximately 10 feet inside my front door. Eventually, the forcefield can’t hold back the massive piles of junk and the gear starts creeping across the floor, only to be found at 2 am while stumbling down the hall to the bathroom.
While I complain about gearcreep at home, I learned that I was the chief offender of gearcreep in the cockpit. Pens, Bluetooth GPS units, aux input cables, flashlights… the stuff that I found rolling around the passenger seat and on the floor after a recent night cross country had me convinced that a more organized cockpit would be in my future. I started by getting some fresh gear, specifically to keep all my stuff from accidentally finding its way to the floor. Here are 5 items that have helped me to conquer my cockpit gearcreep problem.
This bag is the perfect compromise between size and utility. The small footprint makes this bag a perfect fit for on the floor between the front two seats of a Cessna 182. It has plenty of pockets to keep all your gear organized. I really like the padded iPad pocket with with the thru hole for charging with a backup battery. I use this feature all the time to keep my iPad battery topped off.
Kneeboard
I swore off kneeboards after I finished training, but now I find myself gravitating back to them. Modern kneeboards have a spot for your iPad, notepads, cleaning cloths, charging accessories, etc. This sure beats picking pens out of the rudder pedals, and I like having the iPad firmly strapped to my leg.
These little unsung heroes are amazing. It’s a simple, hook and loop backed pouch that holds frequently used items. These are great for keeping charging cables organized or for backup batteries. I’ve even used one to keep a camera and all the small mount pieces organized. They are specially designed to attach to both Sporty’s Flight Gear bags and kneeboards.
Pilot Pocket Plus
Portable Cargo Caddy
These simple, collapsible bags make great catch-alls for the hangar and the luggage compartment. Oil, chocks, cleaning kits, wipes… these inexpensive bags do a good job of keeping the back of the plane neat.
Now only if I could conquer the gearcreep by my front door.
Friday photo: Son, Evan Joseph Roseman, first solo
/in Friday Photo/by studentpltnewsThe moment: My son’s first solo
The pilot: Evan Joseph Roseman
The place: Witham Field Airport (KSUA), Stuart, FL
The aircraft: Cessna 150
The memory: We weren’t sure if Friday, June 29, 2018, was going to be just another flight lesson with Evan’s fabulous CFI, or if she was going to kick the baby bird out of the nest and tell him to go that morning, but his dad and I decided to be there with cameras just in case. (I’m that mom who captures everything with her camera!)
This was a major step in our then-17-year-old’s goal of becoming a pilot. At the age of four, he defined the concepts of lift and drag for his preschool teacher and announced that he was going to be a pilot when he grew up. He has never changed his mind. He got his private pilot’s certificate a short time after this solo and will have his glider endorsement before too long. With all that he has going on his Senior year of high school, he will probably wait to begin his Instrument Rating until he gets settled at college and sees what kind of time he will have there as an Aerospace Engineering major and member of the marching band, but he is definitely on his way. We are so proud of and happy for him for pursuing his passion! – Leslie Walling
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: landing on Route 66
/in Fun Flying Videos/by studentpltnewsRoute 66, the legendary cross-country highway from Chicago to Santa Monica, is synonymous with freedom and adventure – but usually in a car. In this unique video, Matt Guthmiller lands his Bonanza on a gravel strip right next to the Mother Road and explores an abandoned hotel. It’s not every day you see airplanes and cars mixing it up on the same piece of pavement.
Video courtesy of Matt Guthmiller.
Video: how to use Sporty’s Electronic E6B Flight Computer
/in Pilot Gear/by studentpltnewsThe old school whiz wheel has been replaced by more modern options, but for the FAA Knowledge Test you can’t bring your smartphone. That makes Sporty’s Electronic E6B a great option – it’s much easier to use than slide rules but it’s still allowed for use on FAA tests. Join Sporty’s Doug Ranly for a hands-on look at how to use this popular flight computer. You’ll see three common functions step-by-step, plus tips for converting Fahrenheit to Celsius.
Shop Now: Sporty’s Electronic E6B Flight Computer