Includes course access for yourself with your Sporty's account immediately after checkout.
We'll ship you or the recipient of your choice an online activation code for this course. This physical gift packet includes one activation code and directions on redeeming the course.
We can email the recipient of your choice instant online access to the course. This is the easiest way to send someone else the course as a gift.
Sporty’s SP-400 Handheld NAV/COM Aviation Radio
Expected 02/03/23
Order now and we will ship as soon as it's available.
The award-winning SP-400 is simply the most powerful portable radio you can buy—like having a complete standby radio stack in your flight bag.
The backup radio trusted by pilots.
The award-winning SP-400 is simply the most powerful portable radio you can buy—like having a complete standby radio stack in your flight bag. The all-in-one radio makes a reliable backup for emergency use, but it’s also perfect for listening to ATIS, getting clearances before engine start or just monitoring local traffic.
But a great radio is worthless if it’s hard to use. That’s why our staff of pilots, flight instructors and aircraft owners spent so much time making the SP-400 intuitive and easy to use. It has all the features you need, but none that you don’t. There are no confusing menus, no memory bands and no complicated squelch buttons—just turn it on and type in a frequency. After all, an emergency is no time to look for an instruction manual.
Includes alkaline battery pack, antenna, wrist strap and instruction manual. Measures 5 1/2”h x 2 1/4”w x 1 5/8”d. Five year warranty.
Why the SP-400 is the pilot-friendly radio:



COM
- Last frequency flip flop makes it easy to switch back and forth
- Visual memory recall shows five memory channels per screen (store 20 total)
- Receives on 8.33KHz frequencies but does not transmit on those frequencies

NAV
- Full ILS display—the only portable radio with this feature!
- VOR with large CDI display and automatic bearing-to-station readout

WEATHER
- NOAA weather radio receiver built in
- Nationwide coverage with pre-programmed stations

EMERGENCY
- Dedicated 121.5 button for instant emergency communications
- Sidetone—hear yourself talk when using a headset
Why we recommend AA batteries
You'll notice the SP-400 comes standard with a AA battery pack - not a rechargeable lithium-ion or NiMH pack. We believe this is the right answer for almost all pilots. While a rechargeable battery is great for a smartphone you use every day, it is less suitable for a backup radio that may languish in a flight bag for weeks at a time. In an emergency, you have to know your radio will turn on, and forgetting to charge your lithium battery is a common mistake. The standard SP-400 battery pack holds 8 AA batteries (two more than most other radios). That sounds minor, but it leads to a big improvement in battery life. We often get over 40 hours of use from an SP-400 battery pack, when most of the time is spent receiving and not transmitting.
Of course we offer a rechargeable battery pack for the SP-400 if you so desire. This is a good option for pilots who fly more frequently or for FBO use. Whichever option you choose, we believe you'll geTPuglit great performance and long battery life from Sporty's radio.
Aviation Consumer's "Gear of the Year!"

"...better than some panel-mounted gear."
"Sporty's SP-400 Shines. Its performance is clearly exceptional."
"You can easily pick this unit up and use all of its features without touching the manual."
"...it's a solid bargain."

Staff Pirep
"Since our very first product was an aviation radio, I'm partial to our SP-400 Hand-held NAV/COM. It's an amazingly powerful radio, and one I never could have dreamed of in 1961."
Flies:
Piper Aztec


Founder-Sporty's Pilot Shop
Upgraded screen - better contrast and adjustable backlight for improved sunlight readability.
The award-winning SP-400 is simply the most powerful portable radio you can buy—like having a complete standby radio stack in your flight bag. The all-in-one radio makes a reliable backup for emergency use, but it’s also perfect for listening to ATIS, getting clearances before engine start or just monitoring local traffic.
But a great radio is worthless if it’s hard to use. That’s why our staff of pilots, flight instructors and aircraft owners spent so much time making the SP-400 intuitive and easy to use. It has all the features you need, but none that you don’t. There are no confusing menus, no memory bands and no complicated squelch buttons—just turn it on and type in a frequency. After all, an emergency is no time to look for an instruction manual.
Includes alkaline battery pack, antenna, wrist strap and instruction manual. Measures 5 1/2”h x 2 1/4”w x 1 5/8”d. Five year warranty.
Why the SP-400 is the pilot-friendly radio:
- Oversized, high-resolution screen—twice as large as most other radios
- Enhanced screen backlight with adjustable contrast for better sunlight readability
- Large, soft keypad is easy to use, even in turbulence
- No menus or memory banks—just type in the frequency
- One-handed operation for fast emergency access
- Unmatched battery life, powered by easy-to-find AAs
- Quick-change battery pack—switch in just 3 seconds!
- Backlit screen and keypad
- Dedicated squelch and volume knobs for precise adjustment
COM

- Last frequency flip flop makes it easy to switch back and forth
- Visual memory recall shows five memory channels per screen (store 20 total)
- Receives on 8.33KHz frequencies but does not transmit on those frequencies
NAV
- Full ILS display—the only portable radio with this feature!
- VOR with large CDI display and automatic bearing-to-station readout
Weather

- NOAA weather radio receiver built in
- Nationwide coverage with pre-programmed stations
Emergency
- Dedicated 121.5 button for instant emergency communications
- Sidetone—hear yourself talk when using a headset
Why we recommend AA batteries
You'll notice the SP-400 comes standard with a AA battery pack - not a rechargeable lithium-ion or NiMH pack. We believe this is the right answer for almost all pilots. While a rechargeable battery is great for a smartphone you use every day, it is less suitable for a backup radio that may languish in a flight bag for weeks at a time. In an emergency, you have to know your radio will turn on, and forgetting to charge your lithium battery is a common mistake. The standard SP-400 battery pack holds 8 AA batteries (two more than most other radios). That sounds minor, but it leads to a big improvement in battery life. We often get over 40 hours of use from an SP-400 battery pack, when most of the time is spent receiving and not transmitting.
Of course we offer a rechargeable battery pack for the SP-400 if you so desire. This is a good option for pilots who fly more frequently or for FBO use. Whichever option you choose, we believe you'll get great performance and long battery life from Sporty's radio.
Aviation Consumer's "Gear of the Year!"
- "...better than some panel-mounted gear."
- "Sporty's SP-400 Shines. Its performance is clearly exceptional."
- "You can easily pick this unit up and use all of its features without touching the manual."
- "...it's a solid bargain."
Additional Resources
Click Here for Instruction Manual
Click here to view The Aviation Consumers "Portable VHF Radios: Sporty's SP-400 Shines" Article
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh News review
What's the range of portable aviation radios? We went flying to find out. Click here to read the article
Looking for quick reference videos on the SP-400's operations. Click here to see the series.
- LEMO Plug to SP-400 Adapter$29.95
- Yaesu BNC Antenna$29.95
- Headset Adapter$29.95
- Radio Holster$13.95
- Magnetic Base Antenna$75.00
- Metal Belt Clip$9.95
- Claw Yoke Mount for SP-400$62.95