Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Soft Field Takeoff

The soft-field takeoff technique will be required when departing from runway surfaces made of grass or dirt and will allow you to keep as much weight off the nose wheel as possible during the takeoff roll.

Departing the Airport Traffic Pattern – HD Flight Maneuver Spotlight

Standard VFR departure procedures are established at pilot-controlled airports to ensure that departing aircraft remain clear of incoming traffic as they climb out of the terminal airport environment.

Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Slow Flight

Flying an airplane just above the stall speed in the slow flight configuration will teach you a lot about the handling characteristics and controllability at low speeds, which is a critical step in the development of your flying skills during flight training.

Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Crosswind Landings

This crosswind landing technique requires you to modify your normal landing procedure by using a combination of rudder and aileron to keep the airplane aligned with the runway.

Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Turns Around a Point

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Welcome to the latest edition of the Flight Maneuver Spotlight series. Here we’ll highlight the various maneuvers you’ll practice during your flight training and be expected to demonstrate during your checkride.

Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Traffic Pattern Entry Procedures

Standard traffic patterns are established at nontowered airports to provide a smooth flow of traffic from the arrival phase of flight through approach and landing. Here are the steps to follow to safely and efficiently join the pattern and get established on the final approach leg for landing.

S-Turns Across a Road—Sporty’s Flight Maneuver Spotlight

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An S-Turn across a road is a flight training maneuver where a pilot flies their aircraft across a straight road, performing a series of coordinated turns in opposite directions, effectively drawing an "S" pattern on the ground, demonstrating their ability to manage wind drift and adjust bank angles while maintaining a consistent ground track.

Lazy Eights—Sporty’s Flight Maneuver Spotlight

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The Lazy Eight maneuver is part of Sporty’s 2025 Commercial Pilot Training Course and includes a narrated video animation, along with step-by-step instructions that include performance standards and common errors. Study them while on the ground or print them for quick reference in

Steep Turns – Sporty’s HD Flight Maneuver Spotlight

Welcome to Sporty's Flight Maneuver Spotlight series. This week we're going to fly steep turns, a maneuver that will help both improve your flight control skills at a steeper bank angle and show the importance of keeping your eyes moving between inside and outside the cockpit.

Chandelles – Flight Maneuver Spotlight

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The Chandelle is a Commercial pilot maneuver in which the pilot combines a 180° turn with a climb. This segment is from Sporty’s 2024 Commercial Pilot Training Course and includes a narrated video animation, along with step-by-step instructions that include performance standards and common errors.