Not only was Wednesday, February 1 notable for its warm and pleasant weather, it also happened to be a day that brought a special first for Sporty’s and the Clermont County Airport. Brothers Will and Andrew Gilliland both soloed within an hour of each other in Cessna 172 Skyhawks. While Will may have bragging rights in terms of being first around the pattern, Andy executed three excellent landings and brother Will was first to offer his congratulations. Celebrating with Will and Andy were dozens of fellow pilots and instructors at Sporty’s.

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Since the iPad was first introduced in 2010, Sporty's has been at the forefront of the revolution in aviation apps, providing pilots the information they need in addition to the best apps andaccessories. Now, Sporty's is adding to its resources with the launch of iPad Pilot News, a brand new website dedicated exclusively to flying with the iPad.

The site will offer tips and tricks for easier and safer operations with Apple's tablet. From shortcuts in ForeFlight to configuring external GPSs, iPad Pilot News demystifies the world of the iPad. There will also be reviews of new apps, news and legal considerations. Finally, pilots are encouraged to add their knowledge with comments, debates and polls.

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We are proud to introduce the latest aviation book to be published by Sporty's. "Then & Now: How Airplanes Got This Way" is Phil Scott's rich, witty and fun seventh book. In this collection of hilarious, historical essays, veteran journalist and historian Scott takes apart aircraft through history and tells how, through a combination of science and art, all the pieces fit together to make a thing that worked—or didn’t.

Ever wonder why an airplane can stall with its engine running full speed? How airports developed into the convoluted mess that they have become? Who invented rudder pedals, ailerons, the fuselage, and the Mile High Club? It’s all here.

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Sporty’s Academy is pleased to announce the addition of a Frasca Mentor™ AATD flight simulator. The Mentor replicates a Cessna 172S cockpit layout, complete with an authentic Garmin G1000 panel with integrated GFC-700 autopilot.  The Mentor features advanced aerodynamic modeling, robust customization options and an impressive 200 degree visual display.

The Mentor includes Frasca’s TruVision technology and options that have typically been available only on higher level devices.  The TruVision system provides worldwide visual coverage with more than 10,000 runways, coastlines, representative terrain, rivers, roads, and more, allowing the pilot to fly anywhere in the world and view representative terrain and runways in each area. Additional visual features include continuous time of day, variable sea conditions, city lighting, moving automobile lights, and automatic building generation.

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No matter your ultimate goal, if you want to learn to fly, you have to solo. Talk to any pilot and a major milestone in their flying is the first time they flew an airplane alone. For most pilots, soloing an airplane is more memorable than passing a checkride. Now, Sporty’s has made this milestone even easier by offering a DVD course that includes everything a pilot needs to solo—just add flight instructor.

“We know from over 50 years experience gained at our own flight school, if you get a student to solo, his chances of dropping out are virtually zero,” says Sporty’s Founder Hal Shevers. “This course will help student pilots make it to that milestone, whether they plan to continue on towards a license or simply solo.” 

Because learning to fly can sometimes feel overwhelming and because many aspiring pilots don’t know exactly what certificate level they desire, Sporty’s designed its new course to be simple and easy to use. It’s the perfect starting point for anyone learning to fly. There is no software to install and no textbooks to study. Start with Volume 1 on your television, PC or Mac and continue to solo. 

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