Eric Radtke

Make cold-weather flying more comfortable this winter with the Flight Gear Heated Seat Pad. Pilots flying older general aviation aircraft know that cabin heaters are not always sufficient when winter temperatures take hold. This portable heated cushion provides an extra source of warmth on chilly fall mornings and cold winter flights without taking up additional space in the cockpit.

The best way to avoid turbulence is to anticipate where and when it's likely to occur. A thorough preflight weather briefing can reveal potential trouble spots, including convective activity, frontal boundaries, and strong winds.

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 a thoughtful gift for pilots and aviation enthusiasts and an ideal client gift for flight schools and FBOs.

Sporty’s now includes free organizer tabs with its editions of two essential FAA publications: the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) and the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH).

PilotWorkshops Premier is a new, comprehensive membership program designed to help pilots build and maintain proficiency between flights. Developed directly from customer feedback, Premier delivers an integrated training ecosystem for aviators seeking direct access to flight instructors, real-time interactive training, and continuous decision-making practice.

The pitot tube is a small but important part of your airplane's pitot-static system. It measures the pressure of the air entering its forward-facing opening as the airplane moves through the air. Combined with static pressure from the static ports, that information allows the airspeed indicator to calculate indicated airspeed.

Learning to fly involves more than passing a written test. It takes quality instruction, practice, and the ability to apply what you have learned in the airplane. The 2027 edition of Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course adds new 4K video lessons, expanded Flight Instructor Focus segments, updated test preparation, and new ways to study with Sporty’s Aviation Intelligence℠ (AI) tools. Because Sporty’s courses include lifetime access, these updates are included automatically for existing customers at no additional cost.

Sporty’s has introduced the Compact Pilot Gel Seat Cushion, a lightweight, foldable seat cushion designed to add comfort to airplane seats without taking up valuable space in a flight bag.  The cushion has a breathable honeycomb gel design that provides soft, supportive seating while promoting airflow.  Its compact size makes it well suited for long cross-country flights, training sessions, and older aircraft with well-used seats.

For many pilots, the first step is becoming a flight instructor. Instructing allows you to get paid to fly while building the experience needed to qualify for more advanced flying jobs. It's also a good way to develop skills that aren't always measured by your logbook, such as communication, decision-making, and crew resource management.

Sporty’s has announced its upcoming webinar schedule, featuring four free online presentations covering new avionics, modern autopilots, handheld radios, and iPad flight tools. All webinars begin at 3:00 p.m. Eastern and are open to pilots of all experience levels.