Your first check ride is a big day. It is the first time you will step into the cockpit and demonstrate to your examiner, the FAA, and yourself that you’re ready to safely and competently operate as a private pilot. If...
The old Aeronca’s wood propeller paddled to a stop, letting me reflect on the peace and quiet of the flight as I slipped my earplugs out of their canals. Wearing a headset would have been superfluous, since there was no avionics...
LeRoy Cook has logged 17,000-plus hours, has written more than 1850 magazine articles and has flown about 500 different makes and models of aircraft. A midwestern-based CFI, he enjoys introducing new people to flying and is always looking for a different...
Since 1961 Sporty’s Pilot Shop has been offering pilots the tools they need to succeed. Whether that was an E6B in the 1960s or an online instrument course in 2025, Sporty’s has invested heavily in pilot education. It has done so...
In parts of the U.S. where snow falls, pilots frequently have to decide whether or not to go flying, after accumulation stops and the skies clear. “It’s only a little snow,” the hardy aviators will say, “looks like we can handle...
Learning to fly is a dream for many. My dream began as a child when a family friend who owned a flight school took my mom and me for a ride when I was 4 years old. Even at such a...
Choosing the right flight school is an important decision. It will greatly impact the path you take toward your goals and has major implications for your work-life balance while in school, as well as your finances afterward. Aspiring pilots have different...
My first flight as a student pilot several years back was unforgettable. It was a discovery flight—or “disco” flight, as it is sometimes called—at a small flight school near my house. It had been over 15 years since I was last...
There may not be physical barriers in place that limit access to flight training, but there are other types of obstacles that make it different from other activities. As when doing anything completely new, you’ll have to work your way through...
With your fresh pilot certificate, what fun steps can you take to continually grow as an aviator? When you got your certificate, the DPE probably told you that you hadn’t experienced everything you would need at some point in your flying...