Sporty's PIREPs

Datalink weather, either from ADS-B or SiriusXM, is an essential tool for almost all pilots. Once you've flown a cross country with in-flight radar, up-to-date METARs, and visual AIRMETs, it's awfully hard to go back to flying without it. If you're considering adding a datalink weather receiver to your iPad (like a Sentry, Stratus, or GDL), one of the first decisions you'll face is the source of your weather data: ADS-B or SiriusXM? Both are reliable systems that deliver the same key information, so neither one is a bad choice. But there are important differences to consider. Let's review each option.

This collection of doubled walled drinkware features a handy placard for in flight reference. Each piece was selected and used by Sporty’s team of test pilots.

Flying Eyes Sunglasses offer a unique combination of style and practicality. The sleek, flexible frames prioritize comfort during extended wear. Constructed from lightweight, durable materials, these sunglasses ensure you can focus on your journey without the distraction of uncomfortable eyewear. 

How much of the recent boom in private aviation will last now that the pandemic is over? Aviation analyst Brian Foley says about 10%, which is good for the industry but not enough to sustain some overly optimistic business models. In this episode, he talks about the current state of the market, the fate of Wheels Up, and Cirrus Aircraft’s plan to go public. Brian is also getting current as a pilot after 15 years, and he offers some realistic advice for other rusty pilots. In the Ready to Copy segment, Brian shares his famously blunt opinion about Sustainable Aviation Fuel, electric airplanes, hydrogen power, and the best-looking Falcon jets.

Buying your first headset can be confusing. There are a lot of things to consider: passive noise reduction (PNR) vs. active noise reduction (ANR), plug types, Bluetooth, aux inputs, ear seals, microphones, and finally mono vs. stereo. While we won’t tackle every subject in one blog, we will attempt to answer that age old question: Do I need a mono or stereo headset?

Developing new products is the most exciting part of working at Sporty's. Whether it's something simple like designing a better kneeboard or something complicated like building a new radio, we love to find new ways to make flying safer, easier, and more fun. Our product team was busy in 2023, adding over 300 new products to sportys.com throughout the year. Here are 10 of our favorites.

Over the last two years, Pilot's Discretion has grown to be one of the top five aviation podcasts on Apple's charts, with devoted subscribers who listen every two weeks as Sporty's John Zimmerman interviews some of aviation's most interesting people. From honest discussions about flight training to fascinating stories from world famous airshow pilots, this podcast is for anyone who loves to fly. No news or fluff, just thought-provoking conversations. If you missed any in 2023, you can catch up with our 10 most popular episodes.

With over 90,000 subscribers, Sporty's YouTube channel is an essential resource for pilots of all levels. In 2023, we posted over 150 new videos, including training tips, product reviews, webinar recordings, and fun facts. Here were the 10 most popular from the last year.

Our goal at Sporty's is to make flying safer, easier, and more fun. Sometimes we do that with a great new product, but sometimes we do that with original content. In addition to our main website at Sportys.com, we publish three online magazines that focus on important topics in aviation: iPad Pilot News covers apps and accessories, Flight Training Central serves up tips to improve your flying skills, and Air Facts shares stories and lessons learned from other pilots. Plus, our Product PIREP series on the Sporty's blog delivers hands-on demos of the latest pilot gear. If you missed something this year, it's OK—we published almost 400 articles across these sites in 2023! Here were the top 10.

In this special year-end episode, host John Zimmerman sits down with producer Rob Reider for a behind-the-scenes look at Pilot’s Discretion. They talk about what traits make for a good guest, the two rules for podcast hosts, and tips for getting better audio. You’ll also learn the most popular Pilot’s Discretion episodes of 2023, what John and Rob’s favorite episodes are, and what lessons they have learned about flying after 66 interviews. In the back-and-forth Ready to Copy segment, they share the most famous pilots they’ve flown with, their nominee for most underrated airplane, and their favorite airports.