Eric Radtke

Every pilot hits one at some point—a training plateau. You’re taking lessons regularly, but your progress suddenly stalls. Maneuvers that felt solid last week all of the sudden aren’t, and frustration starts to build. Don’t worry—this is a normal part of learning to fly, and there are ways to get past it.

Celebrate the season with Aviation Christmas Lights—a unique addition to your holiday décor that combines festive spirit with a love of the skies. Available exclusively from Sporty’s Aviation Gifts, each strand features 12 airplane-shaped LED lights, available in bright multicolor or bright white. Each airplane on the strand measures 3” in length with a 2.75” wingspan. The airplanes are spaced 6” apart along a generous 100-inch strand that includes a UL-listed plug.

Sporty’s is pleased to unveil its expanded women’s AeroWear™ Collection, a curated lineup of performance apparel created exclusively for women who live and breathe aviation. Designed with premium fabrics, functional details, and signature aviation accents, the collection brings together comfort, versatility, and pilot-inspired style.

Sporty’s Christmas Ornament is an annual tradition for the aviation community. This limited-edition, crystal ornament combines the magic of flight with the spirit of the holiday season, making it the perfect gift for pilots and aviation enthusiasts and an ideal client gift for flight schools and FBOs.

Knowing when to cancel or delay a flight is a skill every pilot develops over time and with experience.

Weather—usually the first factor to consider:

• Visibility and ceilings: Are they above your personal minimums?
• Wind: Are crosswinds within your comfort zone?
• Thunderstorms: they can escalate quickly especially in the spring and summer.

Even if you’re legal to fly, think about whether you’re comfortable handling unexpected changes.

Flying is a fun-filled adventure—and your training should be just as exciting. The 2026 edition of Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course takes everything you loved from 2025 and cranks it up with more immersive videos, smarter study tools, and revolutionary Aviation Intelligence℠ features. Whether you’re prepping for your first solo, studying for the written test, or polishing up for your checkride, this is the course that keeps you in the know.

PilotWorkshops, a leader in aviation training, has released a groundbreaking resource for demystifying the Private Pilot checkride and to help applicants prepare with confidence. Checkride Insights: Private Pilot is a fully annotated version of the FAA’s Airman Certification Standards (ACS), enhanced with plain-language explanations, real-world examples, and examiner insights.

Many student pilots notice that their airplane seems to float just above the runway during landing. This is due to ground effect, an aerodynamic phenomenon that every pilot should understand. Ground effect occurs when an airplane is flying close to the surface, usually within a distance equal to the wingspan of the aircraft. The presence of the ground reduces wingtip vortices and downwash, which in turn reduces induced drag and increases lift.

Sporty’s free webinar series continues into fall and winter with a mix of timely topics designed to help pilots stay informed, proficient, and safe. Each interactive session is led by an experienced flight instructor or industry expert and includes a live Q&A session.

Sporty’s Aviation Gifts has launched a new flight jacket that pays tribute to one of aviation’s most iconic flight jackets—the MA-1 bomber jacket. First issued to Air Force and Navy pilots in the 1950s, the MA-1 became a symbol of American airpower and aviation heritage. Now, Sporty’s brings that same spirit into the 21st century with its exclusive Modern MA-1 AeroWear™ Jacket, designed as the ultimate all-season jacket.