Sport Flying Guide

"The Wright brothers didn't have a flight instructor and they did okay!" Yes, but that was before the FAA and before thousands of other aircraft crossed the skies. Besides, I believe that Wilbur and Orville would have preferred learning from an instructor instead of repeatedly crashing their newborn aircraft. The fact is, you'll need flight instruction. All new pilots do. It's the law. And it's for your own good because many of the things you'll learn from an instructor you might not appreciate until the day you try to make your airplane climb too fast or you have to make an emergency landing or handle an equipment failure at 4,000 feet.

"Oops! I'm low on fuel. Think I'll land on that cloud over there and fuel up." It won't happen! The ground is your last chance to take care of fuel, oil, maintenance, and other requirements. No matter what you've seen on the Wings cable channel, in-flight refueling is not an option! As you fly more and more you'll discover the importance—the necessity—of making sure everything is ready for uneventful flight before you go flying. For now, take my word and the word of your instructor that preflight operations are the most important thing you'll do toward safe flying.

Excited? I hope so. You've completed a preflight inspection, started your plane, and taxied it to the runway. You're ready to fly! he most important component of flying is takeoff and landing at an airport. Your instructor will go over airport pattern flying with you in the specific plane you've selected as your trainer. This flight guide introduces you to the flight process (if you haven't yet flown) and serves as a lesson refresher (once you've flown). If available, also use a flight simulation program to help you practice until you can take off and land in your sleep. It's like driving a car—soon you'll be doing it smoothly and easily.

One of the greatest thrills of flying is about to happen. You're going to solo your sport aircraft—you're going to take off, fly, and land with no one sitting beside you to say, "Pitch, power!"
Scary, huh?! It shouldn't be. In fact, what you're probably feeling is excitement rather than fear. The difference between the two is that excitement occurs when the butterflies in your stomach fly in formation without crashing into each other. And it is knowledge that controls them. This flight guide starts after your first takeoff and moves you toward your first cross-country trip. In this period you will learn many new flying skills. Most important, you will learn confidence in your aircraft and in yourself. Let's go flying!

For many folks, cross-country trips are what flying is all about. Instead of simply flying around their own airport and town they would prefer to fly somewhere for the weekend—or a week; without having to follow winding roads in the family car. They want to travel "as the crow flies"; except faster. Even if you never want to leave your home base, there's much you can learn about flying by preparing for your first solo cross-country flight. You'll learn about using a flight computer, maintaining a heading, calculating your ground speed, and many other vital skills. Besides, a solo cross-country trip is required to get your sport-pilot certificate. Who knows? Someday you might decide to take your new sport airplane on vacation to WallyWorld!

On the scale of things most folks hate, tests are right up near the top—next to root canal work. Even students who have taken hundreds of tests still feel anxiety when someone says, "Ready? Begin!" And anxiety is intensified when the test is taken at 2,000 ft. AGL (above ground level)! Not to worry. Taking a test is an opportunity for you to show what you know. Once it's passed, you'll have additional confidence in your flying skills and in yourself. So let's take a look at how millions of pilots over the years have successfully passed their FAA knowledge and practical tests.