Sporty's PIREPs

The IFR category of flight can be intimidating to pilots of all experience. Weather minimums, required equipment, fuel reserves - it all changes when flying in the Instrument system. Sporty's Pilot Shop is taking on the task of demystifying the IFR category of aviation by answering these common instrument flying questions.

At Sporty’s, we’re always looking for ways to make flight training more accessible, efficient, and engaging. That’s why we are excited to announce a new integration with Flight Schedule Pro, a leading flight school management platform. This partnership makes it easier than ever for flight schools to incorporate Sporty’s award-winning online training into their curriculum, streamlining the learning process for students and instructors alike.

The IFR category of flight can be intimidating to pilots of all experience. Weather minimums, required equipment, fuel reserves - it all changes when flying in the Instrument system. Sporty's Pilot Shop is taking on the task of demystifying the IFR category of aviation by answering these common instrument flying questions.

The IFR category of flight can be intimidating to pilots of all experience. Weather minimums, required equipment, fuel reserves - it all changes when flying in the Instrument system. Sporty's Pilot Shop is taking on the task of demystifying the IFR category of aviation by answering these common instrument flying questions.

Basic GPS uses a network of satellites to triangulate positions anywhere on Earth.  There are at least five satellites in view at all times. Your onboard navigator can provide three-dimensional position and altitude information if it is receiving signals from at least four satellites. 

WAAS uses two additional geostationary satellites to improve the accuracy of GPS.  These satellites receive and transmit a correction signal to WAAS-enabled navigators.  The correction signals are calculated on the ground by two wide area master stations and uploaded to the stationary satellites.  These master stations receive signal error data from a network of precisely surveyed reference stations.  The reference stations constantly monitor the GPS satellite signals for errors.

The IFR category of flight can be intimidating to pilots of all experience. Weather minimums, required equipment, fuel reserves - it all changes when flying in the Instrument system. Sporty's Pilot Shop is taking on the task of demystifying the IFR category of aviation by answering these common instrument flying questions.

The IFR category of flight can be intimidating to pilots of all experience. Weather minimums, required equipment, fuel reserves - it all changes when flying in the Instrument system. Sporty's Pilot Shop is taking on the task of demystifying the IFR category of aviation by answering these common instrument flying questions.

The IFR category of flight can be intimidating to pilots of all experience. Weather minimums, required equipment, fuel reserves - it all changes when flying in the Instrument system. Sporty's Pilot Shop is taking on the task of demystifying the IFR category of aviation by answering these common instrument flying questions.

Sporty’s is proud to announce that Don Wykoff, a distinguished member of our flight training team, has been honored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with its prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. This accolade is bestowed upon pilots who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to safe flight operations for 50 or more years.

Don began working part-time at Sporty’s in 1974 which provided the opportunity to pursue pilot training. He completed his first solo flight in September 1974 and earned his Private Pilot Certificate two months later.  Through the past five decades, Don has exemplified professionalism and exhibited safety across a variety of aviation sectors, including general aviation, military, and Part 121 airline operations.

Few pilots have lived as interesting a life as Martha Lunken: from giving checkrides in DC-3s to teaching Neil Armstrong’s wife to fly, she has met some of aviation’s most colorful characters and flown some of aviation’s most iconic machines. She tells plenty of those fascinating stories in this episode—and shares some controversial opinions along the way. In the Ready to Copy section, Martha talks about what she would do as FAA administrator, flying the Lockheed Lodestar, and life as an accident investigator.