Sporty's Product PIREPs

More and more pilots are flying with action cameras like GoPros to record their flights. While these tiny devices record stunning video, they are not the easiest products to use. To help you feel more confident shooting in-flight video, we asked Bret Koebbe, an active pilot and flight instructor who leads Sporty's video department, what he's learned after a decade of shooting with GoPros. This detailed article includes his suggestions for getting started, choosing camera settings, mounting a GoPro, and much more.

It’s been four years since Garmin launched the aera 660, and some pilots have been wondering whether the avionics giant would ever develop another portable aviation GPS. Their electronic flight bag app, Garmin Pilot, has won thousands of fans over the years and their wireless weather receivers, like the GDL 52, are found in everything from 172s to Citations. Are those products the only option now? This week Garmin answered with an emphatic “no,” by introducing the impressive aera 760. We’ve been using it for a few weeks now and we like what we’ve seen.

Vedant “Vedu” Ruia, of Tampa, FL, is the latest recipient of a $2,500 scholarship awarded through his membership in Sporty’s Flight Crew program. Ruia recently earned his Private Pilot certificate from Atlas Aviation at the Peter O. Knight Airport (KTPF) near Tampa. He currently pilots a Colt Super Pelican light sport airplane based at the Tampa North Aero Park (X39).

The Sun ‘n Fun Fun Aerospace Expo may be canceled this year, but Sporty’s is trying to help pilots get in the spring flying spirit while they’re at home. This week we're offering a variety of remote learning options, savings on popular pilots supplies, and even the chance to virtually ride along with airshow pilot Patty Wagstaff via YouTube.

Sporty’s test pilots search high and low for the best pilot supplies available, and when we can’t find a product that meets our stringent standards, we develop one that does. Sporty’s offers a huge selection of flight training tools, headsets, avionics and more—the gear you use every day to plan flights, keep the cockpit organized, and have fun in the airplane. Many are tried-and-true classics that have proven to be effective cockpit resources for years, plus new products that we’ve developed, tested and approved for inclusion in Sporty’s Pilot Shop.

Fire extinguishers and their ratings can get pretty confusing for those of us who have never had to use one and are simply looking to purchase one for our aircraft “just in case.” What is the difference between the types of extinguishing agents? What about the ratings? Which one works best for you? We'll offer some pilot-to-pilot advice in this article.

Josh Calley of Honeoye Falls, NY, is the latest recipient of a $2,500 scholarship awarded through his membership in Sporty’s Flight Crew program. Josh has accumulated about 40 hours of flying experience and is nearing the completion of his Private pilot training. He is flying a Diamond DA40 through OnCore Aviation at the Greater Rochester International Airport (KROC).