Having a childhood dream of aviation, Chris first became an Aviation Explorer, motivating him to earn his private pilot's certificate as a teenager. During his four years at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University he earned his commercial, multi-engine certificate with an instrument rating. While experimenting in seaplanes, gliders, and flying his personal vintage Cessna 172, Chris developed a passion for general aviation. As a flight instructor, he shares that passion creating aviation training apps and content for Sporty's Pilot Shop. Outside of flying, Chris enjoys collecting and repairing weird cars.
TAA aircraft are frequently more available, more affordable, and emphasize situational awareness, automation management, and GPS navigation skills that directly translate to real-world operations.
During flight training, you’ll learn to plan your cross-country flights first by hand and use the E6B each step of the way. You’ll also find it to be a handy companion when studying for the FAA knowledge exam. We’ll use the Sporty’s electronic E6B flight computer in this quiz when calculating flight planning and navigation questions.
As winter sets in, it’s more important than ever to understand how the cold weather will not only affect the aircraft performance but also your preflight and weather planning. Use this quiz to test your cold-weather flying knowledge. The video clip below is from Sporty’s 2025 Learn to Fly Course
The rules for transponder requirements changed in 2020, requiring aircraft to be equipped with ADS-B out transponders in most of the same airspace that previously required a Mode C transponder. Take our latest quiz and test your knowledge of the details of ADS-B rules.
An aviation VFR Sectional chart is chock-full of visual reference information that is important for every pilot. Runway lengths, obstacle avoidance, restricted airspace, plus much more all provide bits of data that will keep you informed and safe on every flight. Do you know these charts front and back, or will that data overload leave you short on answers?
Do you know how the human body will react when exposed to the harsh conditions of high-altitude flight?
Check out our latest pilot quiz to test your flying knowledge of airport traffic patterns, landing directions and appropriate techniques for operating around the airport.
As much as it seems sometimes that airplanes fly by magic, it’s important for every pilot to understand at least the basic fundamentals of aerodynamics. These principles dictate not only how the aircraft stays aloft, but what makes it either stable or unstable.
The pitot-static system is the source of valuable flight information for the pilot. But how does it work and what instruments are affected? Take this quiz to find out if you have mastered the finer details of the pitot-static system. Want to brush up on your flight instrument knowledge? Check out Sporty’s 2024 Learn to […]
Do you know how to interpret the codes and symbols on an IFR approach chart?
