Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

The legendary T-38 Talon has been the aerial classroom for generations of Air Force pilots, and Matt Johnson spent many hours teaching there. He shares what he learned from that time, including the benefits of standardization, the importance of pre-flight briefings, and when to let a student make a mistake. These days Matt flies a Citation and a Lancair IVP, so he talks about applying those Air Force lessons to GA operations, and some mistakes he’s made along the way. In the Ready to Copy segment you’ll learn how to give a good discovery flight, what SR-71 pilots called the airplane, how cold it really is in his hometown of Fargo, North Dakota. SHOW LINKS: Matt’s articles on Air Facts: https://airfactsjournal.com/author/mattjohnson/ Matt’s recent article at Aviation Safety: https://www.avweb.com/features/behind-the-airplane/ Sporty’s Pilot Training+ membership: https://sportys.com/pilottraining

Juan Browne has flown everything from Air Force jets to vintage biplanes, but he’s best known for his accident analysis channel on YouTube, blancolirio. In this wide-ranging episode, he describes his unique approach to researching crashes and explains why he thinks all pilots can learn from others’ misfortunes. Juan also talks about his varied flying career, including fighting fires with the US Forest Service, flying C-141s all around the world, and life as an international airline pilot. In the Ready to Copy segment, Juan tells us what he’s changed his mind about since starting his channel, flying the open-cockpit Waco, and the best place to eat in Sydney, Australia. SHOW LINKS: Blancolirio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blancolirio Juan Browne on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/787639 Sporty's Pilot Training+ membership: https://sportys.com/pilottraining

Advanced avionics are changing GA airplanes, but all that technology is useless if you don’t know how to use it. Jessica Koss, Garmin’s chief flight instructor, shares her time-tested tips for avionics mastery in this episode, from understanding integrated panels to managing autopilots. She also talks about the latest Garmin technology, like Emergency Autoland and touchscreen panels in jets. In the Ready to Copy segment, Jessica describes what it’s like to land with auto-throttles, explains how to teach better ground schools, and shares her pick for the best barbecue in Kansas City. SHOW LINKS: Garmin Aviation Training: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/aviation/training/ Garmin ESP: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/aviation/understanding-garmin-electronic-stability-protection-esp/ Sporty’s 2025 Pilot Training Courses: https://www.sportys.com/learntofly

A critical shortage of A&Ps means airplane owners have no choice but to get involved in maintenance. Mechanic, pilot, and writer Jeff Simon explains how to get started, how to find the right shop, and what the impact could be from proposed FAA rules on remote maintenance. Jeff is also the founder of SocialFlight, so he shares his tips for keeping flying fun and involving family in the adventure—including his “no magenta line” trip. In the Ready to Copy segment, Jeff talks about why you should never jump start a dead battery, why the compass is no longer needed, and his lessons learned from building an airplane in his living room. Remote maintenance rules: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2024/october/17/faa-puts-disruptive-determination-on-hold Five rules of engine monitoring: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2022/november/07/aircraft-maintenance-the-five-pillars-of-engine-health-monitoring SocialFlight on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialFlight Sporty’s 2025 Pilot Training Courses: https://www.sportys.com/learntofly