Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

Author: Sporty's Pilot Shop Language: English Episodes: 127
There’s a particular kind of conversation that happens in the cockpit or after a flight, where the real stories and honest opinions come out. Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's captures that feeling, sitting down for genuine talks with some of the most compelling people in aviation. You’ll hear from flight instructors breaking down the real challenges of training, alongside airshow performers sharing the moments that truly tested their skill. Each episode goes deeper than the usual hangar talk, aiming to connect with anyone who feels that pull to the sky. Wrapping up every conversation is a favorite segment, “ready to copy,” a rapid-fire round that cuts past the cliches to reveal what each guest truly believes. This podcast, presented by Sporty's Pilot Shop, is built for those who live and breathe flying, offering a mix of grounded advice and unforgettable stories from the people who know aviation best. It’s about the shared language and passion that defines the flying life.
Episodes
27. Filming Top Gun's incredible flying scenes, with Kevin LaRosa II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:27
As one of Hollywood's top aerial coordinators, Kevin LaRosa has been around plenty of big budget movies—but Top Gun: Maverick was a completely different experience. He takes us behind the scenes to explain how they got a…
25. Unleaded avgas and flying taildraggers, with Paul Bertorelli [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:11
Finding a replacement for 100LL has been a "galactically slow train wreck," according to longtime aviation journalist Paul Bertorelli. In his famously blunt way, he explains what's going on with GAMI's unleaded fuel cand…
23. Inverted flat spins and airmanship, with Spencer Suderman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:41
What's it like to complete 98 inverted flat spins from 24,000 feet in a Pitts? Spencer Suderman is the only person in the world who knows, and he describes that incredible experience in this fast-moving episode. He also…
22. An astrophysicist learns to fly, with Dr. Katie Mack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:59
As a theoretical cosmologist, Katie Mack (better known as AstroKatie online) isn't afraid of a little math—so when she learned to fly, she dove right into physics and aerodynamics. What she didn't expect was how much fun…
21. Lessons learned as a pilot and mechanic, with Chelsea Smith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:13
Pilot, mechanic, social media influencer - Chelsea Smith stays busy, but her passion for aviation is the common thread in all that she does. In this episode, she talks about how to do a better preflight inspection, why p…
20. Living in the age of electric airplanes, with Joby's Greg Bowles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:13
"We are living in the age of electric airplanes," says Greg Bowles. He would know, since he works at eVTOL pioneer Joby Aviation. Greg, an airplane and helicopter pilot, explains why this time might really be different f…
19. Writing America's story from a Cirrus, with James Fallows [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:21
Flying a small airplane is “like being in a skyscraper that moves,” according to award-winning author James Fallows. He used that view to research his latest book, Our Towns, flying his Cirrus SR22 to more than 50 Americ…
18. How technology has changed flying, with Max Trescott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:09
As one of the premier Cirrus flight instructors in the country, Max Trescott has strong opinions about pilots and technology, including: "the debate about the parachute is over" and "the autopilot is the glass cockpit."…