Eric Radtke

Smith & Wesson has been producing dependable tools since the 19th century, and the Captain’s Flashlight reflects that legacy with a design aimed squarely at real-world flight deck and preflight use. Featuring independent red and white LEDs, the flashlight delivers the right light at the right time—without the frustration of cycling through modes.

First, you need both competence and confidence. Competence means you can handle navigation, flight deck management, and abnormals without prompting. Confidence means you trust your judgment (training) when something unexpected happens.

As the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) works toward its ambitious Mission 2.5 goal of flying 2.5 million Young Eagles by EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, Sporty’s is reaffirming its long-standing commitment to introducing youth to aviation and supporting the next generation of pilots.

Sporty’s is proud to serve as a Presenting Sponsor of Migration 2026, the leading conference for aviation educators, taking place March 3–4, 2026, at the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida. Hosted by Redbird Flight, Migration brings together flight instructors, flight training organizations, and K–12 aviation educators for two days of practical, forward-looking discussions focused on strengthening the pilot training pipeline.

Ready to trade the runway for the water? Sporty’s is proud to announce the launch of its all-new Seaplane Rating Course, a visually stunning, experience-driven training program designed to prepare pilots for the unique challenges and rewards of seaplane flying. From first taxi to advanced water operations, this course blends expert instruction, real-world scenarios, and breathtaking on-location footage to deliver a truly immersive learning experience.

Early in flight training, checklists are everything. You’re unfamiliar with the airplane, unfamiliar with the flow of a flight, and still figuring out what needs to happen and when. In that phase, using the checklist as a step-by-step to-do list isn’t just acceptable, it’s exactly what you should be doing. But as you gain familiarity, many of the required actions become second nature. You know where things are, you understand the sequence, and you’re able to anticipate what comes next. Yet many students continue using the checklist the same way they did on day one—reading, doing, then reading again—often with their head down and their attention divided.

Starlink Mini has quickly become a must-have connectivity tool for pilots—but finding a secure, flexible mounting location in the cockpit hasn’t always been easy. Flight Gear’s new Starlink Mini Suction Cup Mount solves that problem with a purpose-built design, engineered for real-world flying.

Air Facts is now accepting entries for the eighth annual Richard L. Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots, an annual writing contest designed to encourage the next generation of aviators to share their stories.

The Richard Collins family again has partnered with Sporty’s to present this prestigious award, which recognizes outstanding aviation writing by pilots age 24 and younger, including student pilots. Eligible submissions must be original, unpublished, and no longer than 1,500 words. This year’s theme remains a favorite: “My Most Memorable Flight.”

Sporty’s has announced its 2025 Gear of the Year award winners, recognizing the standout aviation products that pilots selected most and liked best this year. Among hundreds of new products introduced in 2025, the winners reflect a combination of customer feedback and evaluations by Sporty’s staff of experienced pilots and instructors.

Whether it’s a student pilot or a seasoned pilot accomplishing a flight review, the pattern of getting behind the airplane is remarkably consistent. Things are going fine until multiple small tasks pile up at once. By the time the pilot notices, they’re already chasing airspeed, altitude, or a clearance.