Sporty's PIREPs

Did you ever fly out of Meigs field in downtown Chicago before it closed? It’s one of those airports you will never forget if you were lucky enough to visit before the painful closure in 2003. Beyond its reputation as a scenic and convenient access point to downtown Chicago, it was just as memorable to many pilots for a different reason. Ask just about any pilot today who learned to fly in the late 90s or early 2000s and memories will flood back to the view from the departure end of Runway 36 at KCGX, preparing for takeoff in Microsoft Flight Simulator. For many, including me, this was the first introduction to the excitement and freedom of general aviation.

Sporty’s Aviation Gifts is thrilled to announce the release of the 2025 Limited Edition Cirrus SR22-G6 Turbo Die-Cast Model. This meticulously crafted, 1:72 scale model is a must-have for aviation enthusiasts and collectors alike, celebrating one of the most iconic general aviation aircraft of the modern era.

A quarter of Cirrus customers are not pilots when they buy their airplane. Todd Simmons explains how the company succeeds with these non-pilots, including their focus on enabling a lifestyle instead of just selling specs, providing a complete ownership solution, and tackling safety head-on. Todd is also a passionate backcountry pilot, so he talks about the risks and rewards of that type of flying, including what he learned from being involved in a serious accident. In the Ready to Copy segment, Todd talks about the power of social media, the most important skill for safe taildragger flying, and which college football team in Georgia is best.

During preflight planning, it is imperative to check the Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) as these notices are considered essential to flight safety and contain information not known sufficiently in advance to publicize by other means. NOTAMs, as well as other current information pertinent to a flight, are available from a variety of sources, including the FAA NOTAM website, Flight Service and in mobile flight planning apps.

Zack Fox was just four years old when he had the opportunity of a lifetime to tour the flight deck of the USS Nimitz, the lead ship of the US Navy's Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. At the time, Fox’s cousin served in the US Navy aboard the Nimitz as an aircraft director (yellow shirt), responsible for the safe movement of aircraft on the flight deck and in hangar bays. During the time of Fox’s tour, the carrier was preparing for deployment in support of Operation Desert Storm. 

Now, more than 30 years later, Zack is pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot and is the latest recipient of Sporty’s $2,500 Pilot Training+ Scholarship award.

Choosing the right ground school is a crucial step in your journey toward obtaining your Private Pilot certificate. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing the most up-to-date and comprehensive videos, content, and study materials to ensure that our courses remain relevant and valuable throughout your training. Best of all, these updates are always free and included with your lifetime access to the course.

Learning to fly is hard, but revolutionary new fly-by-wire technology just might change that. Matt Thurber, an experienced pilot and journalist, describes how Skyryse has modified a Robinson helicopter and why it could be big news for general aviation. Matt is well-placed to evaluate this new aircraft because he recently learned to fly helicopters, and he shares what that was like, including why rotary wing flight requires using all a pilot’s senses. In the Ready to Copy segment, Matt talks about the threat of GPS jamming, why hangar foam fire suppression systems are bad, and what it was like to hunt swordfish from a Super Cub.

Sporty’s is proud to announce its new partnership as an authorized distributor for Champion Aerospace. This strategic collaboration will enhance Sporty’s product offerings, providing customers with access to some of the highest quality aviation oil filters and spark plugs available.

Champion Aerospace is a globally recognized brand, known for its commitment to engineering excellence and reliability in aviation products. With a legacy spanning over a century, Champion's oil filters and spark plugs are trusted by aviation professionals worldwide for their superior performance and durability.

Portable aviation oxygen systems are essential for the safety of passengers and pilots while they are enjoying the rewards of higher cruise altitudes. But these systems also take up space and can be difficult to organize, given the multitude of components--bottles, masks, cannulas, endless tubing, and more.

The Flight Gear Oxygen System Organizer from Sporty’s provides the perfect solution for organizing, storing, and using your system, with all of its accessories.

The world's largest airshow starts July 22, 2024, and as usual Sporty's will be there in a big way. Our main tent is located in Outdoor Space #260, just outside of Exhibit Hangar B, and Sporty's Aviation Gifts will be exhibiting inside Hangar B, booth 2111. We'll also be presenting seminars throughout the week.