Gearcreep: When stuff is left laying around and starts getting in the way of important tasks.

For anyone who has kids, gearcreep is a daily adventure. Books, bags, lunchboxes, one blue sock, and clarinet reeds somehow can’t cross the forcefield that is found approximately 10 feet inside my front door. Eventually, the forcefield can’t hold back the massive piles of junk and the gear starts creeping across the floor, only to be found at 2 am while stumbling down the hall to the bathroom.

Sporty’s Founder shares his regret at not wearing headsets

I’ve been flying for over 50 years, in everything from single engine Pipers to twin engine jets. But for the first 30 years of my flying career, those flights did not involve an aviation headset. Communicating with Air Traffic Control meant listening to a scratchy cabin speaker over the roar of the engines, and then, if I was lucky enough to understand the instructions, replying with a hand-held microphone.

We are proud to have over 25,000 customer reviews at sportys.com, real opinions from real pilots on the products you're interested in. They are a great resource for deciding which product to buy or how to use the latest technology, but some reviews go beyond just words. Every Sporty's review has the option to add a photo, and we've received some great pictures of our products in use. Check out some of our best ones below.

What's the difference between 1090 and 978?

You probably know by now that most airplanes will have to be equipped with ADS-B Out by January 1, 2020, in order to meet the FAA mandate. Beyond that basic issue, though, there are still a lot of questions to consider. One of the first is 1090 vs. 978. That is, should you install an ADS-B Out transponder that works on the 1090 MHz frequency (sometimes called 1090ES) or the 978 MHz frequency (sometimes called a 978 UAT)?

Takeoff is unlike any other app we've ever created at Sporty's. Instead of being focused on an individual training goal (like our popular Pilot Training app), Takeoff can be used every day, by pilots of all levels. It's a constant companion for the active pilot, helping you to stay current and have fun. Download it today for free content. You can subscribe for $59.99/year or get it free when you join Sporty's Flight Crew.

Sporty's has a long history of giving back to aviation, with a particular focus on young people and the future of aviation. We simply think it's the right thing to do. In 2007, we formalized our philanthropic efforts by establishing The Sporty's Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting worthy aviation causes. In 2018, for example, the foundation donated over $225,000 to programs - and all with no overhead (Sporty's Pilot Shop underwrites all expenses).

This is the second in a series of articles where we'll highlight individual programs we support at The Sporty's Foundation. Our goal is to shine a light on some great organizations and encourage other pilots to support them.

“It’s magic.” At least that is what I thought the first time I turned on an Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headset. WOW! What kind of wizardry is happening in these ear cups? I was instantly convinced that ANR might be the single greatest innovation in aviation history. The noise environment of a piston airplane makes communications tough, but modern ANR headsets have revolutionized the way pilots communicate.

Rene Wilson of Columbia, South Carolina, has been selected to receive the second Sporty’s Flight Crew Scholarship, which all Gold and Platinum members are eligible to apply for. Rene plans to use the $2500 scholarship to complete his private pilot training.

Securing your iPad in the cockpit is important for both safety and ease of use while flying. For those pilots who prefer a kneeboard to a mount, there are as many options as ever, from basic leg straps to multi-purpose lap desks. Here's our list of the top five kneeboards, as chosen by the pilots at Sporty's.

Sporty's has a long history of giving back to aviation, with a particular focus on young people and the future of aviation. We simply think it's the right thing to do. In 2007, we formalized our philanthropic efforts by establishing The Sporty's Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting worthy aviation causes. In 2017, for example, the foundation donated over $280,000 to programs - and all with no overhead (Sporty's Pilot Shop underwrites all expenses).

This is the first in a series of articles where we'll highlight individual programs we support at The Sporty's Foundation. Our goal is to shine a light on some great organizations and encourage other pilots to support them.