Sporty's PIREPs

Learning to fly is all about the challenge for YouTube creator Ethan O’Rourke. That meant training in a J-3 Cub with no electrical system and now traveling the country in an Aeronca Chief. Ethan explains the joy of low and slow flights, shares his approach to making memorable aviation films, and describes what it was like to fly over the North Atlantic in a WWII bomber. In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll learn tips for hand-propping airplanes, what it was like to fly a MiG-15, and how to land on a frozen lake.

As summer temperatures climb, density altitude becomes more than just a textbook concept—it becomes a real-world performance factor that can catch even experienced pilots off guard.

So what is density altitude, really?
In simple terms, density altitude is the altitude your airplane thinks it’s operating at, based on the current air density. As temperature, humidity, and elevation increase, air becomes less dense. This means your engine produces less power, your wings generate less lift, and your propeller becomes less efficient.

Sporty’s has introduced a new cockpit accessory that solves a persistent problem for pilots:  what to do with your ANR (active noise reduction) headset control box. The ANR Control Box Holder eliminates this cockpit clutter by keeping your control box securely mounted, and within arm’s reach, but conveniently out of the way.

Sporty’s has redefined the aviation flashlight. The new Flight Gear Rechargeable Smart Flashlight combines smart features, rugged construction, and purpose-built design—all in a compact, rechargeable package. Built from the ground up by pilots, for pilots, this versatile tool is ideal for everything from preflight inspections to night operations.

We train mechanics to attack airplanes with tools, but A&P/IA Colleen Sterling says there’s a better way. She shares her advice for using modern tools like engine monitors and borescopes to maintain airplanes based on condition instead of by the calendar. She also talks about her fascinating day job, which involves searching for lost airplanes—including her role in finding the Air France 447 wreckage. In the Ready to Copy segment, Colleen explains why compression checks are overrated, how to be a better air racer, and what it’s like to fly aerobatics in a biplane.

A routine VFR flight to Georgia turned into a classic summer puzzle—building cumulus clouds, climbing altitudes, and the looming threat of thunderstorms. I stayed above the weather at 8,500 feet, but the cloud tops kept climbing, forming anvils to my west. One quick look at ForeFlight connected to Sentry, and it reported some green, yellow, and even some orange in some of those clouds over there.

The world's largest airshow starts July 21, 2025, and as usual Sporty's will be there in a big way. Our main tent is located in Outdoor Space #260, just outside of Exhibit Hangar B, and Sporty's Aviation Gifts will be exhibiting inside Hangar B, booth 2111. We'll also be presenting seminars throughout the week.

The Home Flight Simulation market has experienced a unique, maybe even rollercoaster ride over the last few years. At the E3 conference (Electronic Entertainment Expo) in June of 2019, Microsoft announced that a new Flight Simulator was in the works. The previous program was released almost 13 years prior, so the community was hungry for new simulation software. At the same time, a former product manager from Saitek/Logitech was launching a new brand and delivering a yoke with a honeycomb design as the logo in late 2019. And within six months of both these announcements, the world was quarantined and it was socially acceptable to stay inside all weekend and fly the digital skies. Flight simming was mainstream. Microsoft took advantage of the aligning stars and launched (many would argue prematurely) Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020—and a new chapter for the flight sim community started. But how did this benefit the aviation community?

Sporty’s has introduced a sleek, new addition to its popular Flight Gear line: the Executive Kneeboard, a premium, all-in-one organizer, designed for pilots who demand both form and function in the cockpit.

If you’re training at a towered airport, you’ll eventually hear the phrase “cleared for the option.” It’s an ATC clearance that gives you flexibility to perform any one of several landing maneuvers: a full stop landing, touch-and-go, stop-and-go, or low approach/go-around.