PIREPs

A home flight simulator is a great way to keep your flying skills sharp when the weather is bad or your airplane is in the shop. That's always been true, but recent rule changes make advanced flight simulators much more valuable for training. Here's what the new rules say, and how you can use a Redbird TD or TD2 to save money on proficiency training.

One of the best parts of our jobs here at Sporty's is meeting all the passionate, creative pilots who invent new products. We love to test crazy ideas and partner with fellow pilots to bring new concepts to market. In fact, almost everything we sell was created by an aviation enthusiast, whether it's a single person with a vision or a large company packed with pilots. To celebrate these pilot-entrepreneurs, we're kicking off a new series today called "The Pilots Behind the Products." Over the next weeks and months, we'll introduce you to the people and the stories that make favorite pilot supplies a reality.

Last week we introduced the latest edition of Sporty's award-winning training system, the 2019 Learn to Fly and Instrument Rating courses. These feature plenty of new technology, from a new Android app to customized test prep tools to CloudAhoy integration. Beyond the powerful new tools, though, are a host of video updates and additions. We're continually working to make our courses the most practical, up-to-date, and comprehensive videos available anywhere. Here's a look at some of the new segments in the Instrument Rating Course.

So-called action cameras barely existed a decade ago; now they are a must-have for any adventure, whether it's skiing, skydiving or flying. Their small size, incredible video quality, and built-in GPSs make them perfect for sharing your flights with non-pilots. You can relive that flight to Oshkosh, or share your first solo with friends and family. To help you choose the right model, we've developed this Buyer's Guide with all the essential specs.

Home flight simulation technology has improved a lot over the last 5-10 years, to the point where pilots can create a reliable training device at home without spending $10,000 and taking a week to set it up. When used properly, such a simulator can significantly improve your flying skills, whether you're learning to fly, getting back into flying after a long layoff, or trying to maintain instrument proficiency. Here's how to find the right system.

Sporty's introduced its 2018 Learn to Fly Course this week, which added a number of new features to this popular training product, including: a new iOS app, automatic sync between the online course and app, CFI tracking, new video segments, and more. We sat down with Sporty's Academy Vice President Bret Koebbe, who leads Sporty's course development team, to learn more about the course and the people who make it.

We say it all the time: one of the best parts of our jobs here at Sporty's is meeting all the passionate, creative pilots who invent new products. We love to test crazy ideas and partner with fellow pilots to bring new concepts to market. In fact, almost everything we sell was created by an aviation enthusiast, whether it's a single person with a vision or a large company packed with pilots. In this post, we're sharing more stories of "The Pilots Behind the Products," including Lightspeed and MyGoFlight.

The first product Sporty’s ever sold was a receiver/scanner. The small radio allowed student pilots to listen to the interactions between air traffic controllers and airline pilots. By hearing these professionals speak on the radio, students could learn how to better communicate when they were flying. The radios have drastically changed since we first started in 1961, but pilots still like to listen to each other while on the ground.

ProFlight is the first new headset from Bose since 2010, and it’s a completely new design that’s specifically made for professional pilots. In fact, it’s unlike any other aviation headset we’ve ever seen. We spent a week flying with ProFlight in a variety of airplanes and overall we were impressed. Here’s our hands-on review.