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
67. Year in review, with John Zimmerman and Rob Reider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:23
In this special year-end episode, host John Zimmerman sits down with producer Rob Reider for a behind-the-scenes look at Pilot’s Discretion. They talk about what traits make for a good guest, the two rules for podcast ho…
66. Flying like a pro in a Boeing and a Bonanza, with Don Wykoff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:25
From F-16 to 737 to Citation to Bonanza, Don Wykoff has flown a lot of different airplanes in his 50-year flying career. In this episode he explains how he stayed safe by approaching every flight with professionalism, us…
65. Why learning to fly can be lonely, with Patrick Chovanec [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:03
After a lifetime of riding on airplanes, economist Patrick Chovanec decided to learn how to fly them. In this episode, he explains how a combination of Covid-19 and Microsoft Flight Simulator started him on a path to ear…
64. Safety lessons learned at the NTSB, with Robert Sumwalt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
The point of an accident investigation is “to find out what happened, so that we can prevent it from happening again,” says longtime airline pilot and former NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. He shares what he's learned afte…
63. Epic Cub videos and entitled airline pilots, with Joe Costanza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:54
Mist swirls as a yellow Cub touches down on a grass runway—Joe Costanza (better known as @Bananasssssssss on Instagram) is the man behind those viral videos, and in this episode he takes us behind the scenes. He explains…
62. Why angle of attack is overrated, with Ed Wischmeyer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:03
Loss of control accidents are a problem, but longtime pilot and engineer Ed Wischmeyer says there simply isn’t a miracle cure. He explains why angle of attack indicators, stabilized approaches, and energy management are…
61. Safety theory and restoring a Cessna 172, with Sidney Dekker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:48
As a professor, Sidney Dekker has spent his career studying safety processes in industries like healthcare and mining. As a pilot, both for an airline and in his Carbon Cub, he has put those theories into practice. In th…
60. Surviving a plane crash on a frozen lake, with Tom Comet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:50
When the airplane engine quits over a remote part of Canada, your options are limited. For Tom Comet and his friend, this was just the start of an incredible adventure—one packed with lessons for all pilots. In this rive…
59. A reality check on eVTOL aircraft, with Elan Head [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:32
The headlines about eVTOL aircraft are optimistic right now, but veteran aviation reporter Elan Head says there’s a lot of work to be done: "the customers don't really exist." In this episode, she dives deep into the wor…