Sporty's PIREPs

Microsoft Flight Simulator has reinvigorated the flight sim world, with stunning graphics and a growing community. Now it's available on Xbox, but not every control system is compatible. Join Sporty's flight sim expert Chris McGonegle as he explains the options.

Flight instructors should talk less. Experimental airplanes are clearly better than certified ones. Waterskiing an airplane is a terrible idea. Dave Hirschman, a well-known writer for AOPA and a pilot with a wide range of experience in everything from taildraggers to jets, doesn't think these are controversial opinions. He believes them because the facts support them, and more people should just admit it. This episode covers all of these interesting topics, plus many more: why he uses a video camera on most flights, why pilots need to be good at both technology and manual flying, and what the most important trait is for safe flying. He also shares some stories from his time as a flight instructor and ferry pilot, and some of the personalities he's met along the way—some good, some bad.

Flying in the backcountry means "dispensing with the direct-to button," says Recreational Aviation Foundation Chairman John McKenna. The rewards for doing so include true adventure and stunning views—far beyond the $100 hamburger. He explains why you don't need big bushwheels to fly these trips, how his organization preserves remote landing strips all over the US, and what he has learned from over 6,000 hours in tailwheel airplanes. He also shares his tips for including family in your flying adventures. In the "Ready to Copy" segment, John picks his favorite backcountry airport, describes how to make great cowboy coffee, and explains why he once loaded over 60 dogs in a single airplane.

The Thrustmaster brand was born over 30 years ago from a team of engineers and pilots with backgrounds in the US Air Force, Navy, and NASA. The first thing you notice when taking the HOTAS One out of the box is the design of the stick and how it’s complemented by the throttle lever. Out of the box the two pieces are disconnected, allowing you to position them for either left or right seat simulated ops.

Are helicopters harder to fly than airplanes? What's it like to fly an instrument approach to a parking lot in an EC145 helicopter? And how has the iPad changed the air medical pilot's job? Professional helicopter pilot Matt Johnson takes us inside the fascinating world of rotary wing flight in this episode, from the basics of helicopters to the latest advances in technology. He's also an FAA designated pilot examiner, so he shares his tips for applicants—including why he wants you to pass! In the rapid-fire "Ready to Copy" segment, Matt shares his favorite helicopter, the strangest place he's ever landed, and whether he would ride on an autonomous air taxi one day.

The latest version of Microsoft Flight Simulator celebrates one year on the consumer market on August 18, 2021. For a lot of aviation enthusiasts, specifically digital aviation enthusiasts, the celebration started a little early. On July 27, the vivid program from Microsoft made the migration to the Xbox platform and is now compatible with the Xbox Series S and X. Other than a mass-produced personal computer that now supports the program, a lot of gamers/simmers are wondering what else is new with the latest update of the program that’s recently set the flight sim community ablaze. Here's a pilot report.

Air traffic control and pilots work together every day, but often the two sides don't fully understand each other. In this episode, longtime controller (and pilot) Eddie Albert takes us behind the scenes. You'll hear why "roger" is not a read back, what kind of weather ATC sees on their radar screen, and why declaring an emergency usually isn't a big deal. Eddie also explains how he picks an IFR route to file and how to manage weather deviations with a controller. In the fast-paced "Ready to Copy" segment, Eddie shares whether controllers prefer IFR or VFR flight following, what advice he gave to his son as a new controller, and what the best movie is with air traffic control.

Patty Wagstaff is one of the most famous airshow pilots in history, but her aviation story includes so much more than just aerobatics. In this wide-ranging podcast episode, Patty talks about what's going through her mind during an airshow, what pilots can learn from an upset recovery course, why she chose to fly as a wildfire spotter for Cal Fire, and why she loves flying in Africa. As you'll hear, she has flown an incredible variety of airplanes. In the fast-paced "Ready to Copy" segment, Patty shares her favorite warbird, what pilots can learn from horses, and what it was like to grow up in Japan.

Has the iPad made flying safer? What counts as a legal weather briefing these days? And what are the latest trends in aviation apps? Nobody knows the world of electronic flight bags better than Bret Koebbe, a corporate pilot, active flight instructor, and Editor at iPad Pilot News. He shares his tips for integrating an iPad into primary flight training, flying with datalink weather, and using flight simulators to learn a new app. In the fast-paced "Ready to copy" segment, Bret shares his favorite app, what it's like to fly Sporty's 1963 Piper Aztec, and his best tip for smoking meat.

Flying at night is one of the many privileges we have as private pilots, and what good is a privilege if you don’t exercise it? But night flight isn’t without some challenges.  Here are my top 3 hacks to make your night flights more enjoyable.