Of the many complete flight-training kits on the market, Sporty's Complete Flight Training Course is one of the more popular. Though one may be tempted to think that's because the company is able to market the kit effectively through its pilot shop, it's the quality that matters. Excellent production quality and content make this course one that deserves a serious look.
Each of the kit's seven DVDs run anywhere between slightly less than two hours to more than three hours in length. The course takes a holistic approach, breaking down individual subject matter by stage, rather than topic. For example, instead of presenting all aircraft systems on the first DVD, the subject is spaced out across multiple volumes that are organized by training stage. In the context of the entire course, this works well. However, it may be confusing for those students using only the DVDs and not Sporty's training syllabus. Some of the excellent production quality includes in-flight footage, as well as computer graphics and animation to help students understand difficult topics.
Some sort of FAA knowledge test preparation material is standard on all pilot training kits on the market, and Sporty's FAA knowledge test prep software fills that role. It includes three modes--learning, test, and flashcard. Learning mode allows the user to select one or more areas to study. Topics are broken down into categories that mirror the FAA's content-area designations, such as aerodynamics, weather, and performance. Wrong answers are immediately corrected with a list of the applicable reference material. In Test mode, the software simulates an FAA knowledge test by randomly selecting 60 test questions and presenting them in a timed format. A report at the end is broken down by category, letting the instructor know where the student may need work. Flash card mode digitally recreates the experience of studying with note cards, using a total of 741 cards.
Finally, the Training Course Outline is a three-stage-check, 33-lesson syllabus. Required for Part 141 training (for which Sporty's course qualifies), the outline is a great resource for any instructor or flight school. Lessons are presented in a standard format with an objective, content, completion standards, and required study. Each lesson is also cross-referenced to the kit's DVDs, in addition to applicable FAA publications and handbooks. The outline also has 26 ground lessons that can supplement flight training or be used as a stand-alone ground school.
Price: $199
Contact: www.sportys.com; 800-776-7897
'Instrument Flying Handbook'and 'Instrument Procedures Handbook'
Skyhorse Publishing recently added the FAA's Instrument Flying Handbook and Instrument Procedures Handbook to its stable of aviation training publications. Both volumes are soft-cover and printed in full color on high-quality paper. Although the FAA's Instrument Flying Handbook is a well-known guide to the instrument flight rules environment, the Instrument Procedures Handbook isn't as widely read--but for instrument flight instructors and budding professional pilots, it should be. The book contains expanded information on satellite navigation and human factors, among other topics important to professional pilots.
Price: $19.95 each
Contact: www.skyhorsepublishing.com; 212-643-6816
'Dream Aircraft: The Most Fascinating Airplanes I've Ever Flown'
Aviation seems to involve an immense amount of daydreaming. Between thinking about upcoming flights and reliving those gone by, pilots have a tendency to romanticize flight. Longtime AOPA Pilot contributor Barry Schiff encourages that with his new book, Dream Aircraft: The Most Fascinating Airplanes I've Ever Flown. Schiff has led a unique and diverse aviation life, and this book chronicles some of his favorite and memorable aircraft of the more than 300 he's had the fortune to experience. Imagine strapping in to a Lockheed U-2, a replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, or a P-51 Mustang, and you have a sense of what it's like to experience Schiff's dream airplanes. Although the title would leave one to assume that all his experiences contained within the book were extraordinary and positive, Schiff tells it straight. "The ailerons are heavy, relatively unresponsive, and create considerable adverse yaw," he says of the Spirit of St. Louis replica.
Price: $19.95
Contact: www.asa2fly.com; 800-426-8338
Quick hits
ZD Publishing recently released a new pilot manual for the Garmin G1000W glass cockpit system. The manual covers all functions of the integrated electronic flight information system, including the autopilot, navigation information, datalink, and systems pages. This is the seventeenth manual ZD Publishing has created, and each brings a unique and user-friendly approach to learning systems.
Price: $54.95
Contact: www.zdpublishing.com; 888-310-3134
Can't find that pen in the cockpit? The Pen Pal is a metal clip with a circular spring loop that keeps extra writing tools handy by attaching them to your kneeboard, pocket, or flight bag. The device is constructed to hold one, two, or three pens.
Price: $3.95 one pen, $4.95 two pens, $5.95 three pens
Contact: www.pilotmall.com
