Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

77
Leisure #152Aviation #9

Pilot's Discretion brings you authentic conversations with some of aviation's most interesting people. From honest discussions about flight training to fascinating stories from airshow pilots, this podcast is for anyone who loves to fly. Stay tuned for our rapid-fire "ready to copy" segment at the end of every episode, where we go beyond the cliches to find out what each guest really thinks. Brought to you by Sporty's Pilot Shop, training and equipping pilots worldwide since 1961. Have a comment? Email us: podcast@sportys.com

Recent Episodes
  • Becoming an educated aircraft owner, with Larry Anglisano
    Apr 22, 2025 – 00:34:37
  • Don’t forget the rudder pedals, with Wally Moran
    Apr 8, 2025 – 00:43:48
  • 100. Celebrating 100 podcast episodes, with John Zimmerman
    Mar 25, 2025 – 00:47:07
  • 99. Pursuing excellence in aviation and business, with Chuck Surack
    Mar 11, 2025 – 00:32:50
  • 98. From taildragger to Cirrus, with Shane Vande Voort
    Feb 25, 2025 – 00:42:40
  • 97. DC-3s, warbird pilots, and the art of flying, with Martha Lunken
    Feb 11, 2025 – 00:52:44
  • 96. What young pilots want, with Clay Simmons
    Jan 28, 2025 – 00:34:18
  • 95. How to be a good airline pilot, with Steve McNeilly
    Jan 14, 2025 – 00:38:00
  • 94. Lessons learned from the T-38, with Matt Johnson
    Dec 31, 2024 – 00:39:08
  • 93. Modern day hangar flying, with blancolirio's Juan Browne
    Dec 17, 2024 – 00:40:58
  • 92. Why new avionics require new skills, with Garmin’s Jessica Koss
    Dec 3, 2024 – 00:35:35
  • 91. Why owner-performed maintenance is essential, with Jeff Simon
    Nov 19, 2024 – 00:48:07
  • 90. How to abolish the 3rd class medical, with Brent Blue
    Nov 5, 2024 – 00:38:51
  • 89. The state of the homebuilt market, with Marc Cook
    Oct 22, 2024 – 00:42:44
  • 88. What’s new in flight simulators, with Evan Reiter
    Oct 8, 2024 – 00:33:20
  • 87. Preventing loss of control accidents, with Randy Brooks
    Sep 24, 2024 – 00:42:16
  • 86. Airline industry predictions, with Courtney Miller
    Sep 10, 2024 – 00:44:28
  • 85. Flying seaplanes in the Bahamas, with Paul Harding
    Aug 27, 2024 – 00:34:29
  • 84. Living the Cirrus Life, with Todd Simmons
    Aug 13, 2024 – 00:47:44
  • 83. New flight control technology and helicopters, with Matt Thurber
    Jul 30, 2024 – 00:37:06
  • 82. Modern engine management, with Martin Pauly
    Jul 16, 2024 – 00:39:05
  • 81. Automation airmanship and Coast Guard flying, with Chris Lutat
    Jul 2, 2024 – 00:35:22
  • 80. ATC from both sides of the mic, with Kevin Plante
    Jun 18, 2024 – 00:33:20
  • 79. Checkride pressure and flying piston twins, with Jason Blair
    Jun 4, 2024 – 00:42:54
  • 78. Young pilots and ditching tips, with Amy Laboda
    May 21, 2024 – 00:39:39
  • 77. Airport kids and CRM lessons, with Kevin Garrison
    May 7, 2024 – 00:34:06
  • 76. Pilot hiring trends and corporate jets, with Mike Martin and Sean Richey
    Apr 23, 2024 – 00:42:48
  • 75. Bush flying in Alaska, with Patrick Carter
    Apr 9, 2024 – 00:32:24
  • 74. Electric airplanes, drone delivery, and personal jets, with Ben Marcus
    Mar 26, 2024 – 00:37:55
  • 73. Flying a vintage airplane across the country, with David Tulis
    Mar 12, 2024 – 00:50:51
  • 72. Why most airports are poorly managed, with Mike Jones
    Feb 27, 2024 – 00:37:41
  • 71. IFR proficiency and remote flight instruction, with Ryan Koch
    Feb 13, 2024 – 00:36:44
  • 70. How musicians and pilots are similar, with Randy Waldman
    Jan 30, 2024 – 00:32:16
  • 69. Engine failure lessons and flight simulator tips, with Josh Harnagel
    Jan 16, 2024 – 00:33:37
  • 68. Business aviation trends and new technology, with Brian Foley
    Jan 2, 2024 – 00:39:23
  • 67. Year in review, with John Zimmerman and Rob Reider
    Dec 19, 2023 – 00:46:23
  • 66. Flying like a pro in a Boeing and a Bonanza, with Don Wykoff
    Dec 5, 2023 – 00:38:25
  • 65. Why learning to fly can be lonely, with Patrick Chovanec
    Nov 21, 2023 – 00:39:03
  • 64. Safety lessons learned at the NTSB, with Robert Sumwalt
    Nov 7, 2023 – 00:41:24
  • 63. Epic Cub videos and entitled airline pilots, with Joe Costanza
    Nov 3, 2023 – 00:32:54
  • 62. Why angle of attack is overrated, with Ed Wischmeyer
    Oct 10, 2023 – 00:36:03
  • 61. Safety theory and restoring a Cessna 172, with Sidney Dekker
    Sep 26, 2023 – 00:46:48
  • 60. Surviving a plane crash on a frozen lake, with Tom Comet
    Sep 12, 2023 – 00:53:50
  • 59. A reality check on eVTOL aircraft, with Elan Head
    Aug 29, 2023 – 00:36:32
  • 58. What MOSAIC means for pilot training and airplane designs, with Dan Johnson
    Aug 15, 2023 – 00:42:39
  • 57. FAA medicals and flying as a Top Gun adversary pilot, with Dr. Keith Roxo
    Aug 1, 2023 – 00:37:10
  • 56. Fuel management and flying the U-2, with Tim Decker
    Jul 18, 2023 – 00:44:31
  • 55. Why airplane accidents are not just stories, with Steve Green
    Jul 3, 2023 – 00:48:12
  • 54. ATC for flight simulators and SimVenture, with Kevin from PilotEdge
    Jun 20, 2023 – 00:37:56
  • 53. Airline myths and leadership lessons, with retired airline CEO Bill Ayer
    Jun 6, 2023 – 00:35:23
Recent Reviews
  • Mars Explore
    Very Imfomative
    This Podcast features humble pilots willing to come on the show and tell their experiences so others can learn from their mistakes. It is a valuable service.
  • frewdyby
    Best podcast!
    This is my favorite podcast!
  • Timdeck
    Episode 66
    Great interview with lots of good information and safety advice. Keep up the good work.
  • Brad4467
    Great show for pilots and non-pilots
    Just listened to Ep 24 with Richard McSpadden episode (you will be missed Richard) and it is quite chilling. Even the best, most experienced pilots can fall prey to the impossible turn, something Richard and John have talked much about. This podcast got me, a non pilot, to sign up for an introduction flight at Sporty’s and am so looking forward to it.
  • jimcoyer
    The best podcast around
    Pilots Discretion is my favorite podcast ever. I have yet to listen to a single episode I don’t find interesting, exciting and motivating. Sporty’s has refined a real gem. The Who’s Who list of guests are themselves fascinating to listen to. But it’s John Zimmerman’s measured, masterful cadence, ability to listen, and always thoughtfully insightful questions that make this program soar. The Ready To Copy segment is an aviation version of James Lipton’s famous 10 Questions that’s just perfect.
  • mvelasco07
    A must-listen!
    Pilot’s Discretion has quickly become a favorite in my feed! I'm consistently impressed by the engaging conversations, insightful content, and actionable ideas. I truly learn something every time I listen!
  • happy79912
    Great podcast
    I am a relatively new private pilot hew really loves aviation, I I think that the topics and people that are brought in are really great, and the host and questions are right on, Just a recommendation for the podcast is maybe to bring in avatars from more exotic country’s for example Israel(I am israeli and everything from GA aviation to military aviation is different) or maybe someone from China, it may interest the listeners to hear how aviation is doing in different country’s in the world, and not just in very western country’s like USA and Canada.
  • flyingdoctor111cj
    A hidden gem
    Over the last year or so this podcast has become one of my favorites. Interesting guests, challenging and insightful questions, great discussion. Along with opposing bases this is one of my absolute must listen to podcasts.
  • MartyK2144
    Working towards my private pilot license
    Sporty’s has been great so far and I’m working toward my ppl and would like to work my way up to a multi engine aircraft. Would love to have a 401 one day to be able to fly my family around. This podcast is a great and easy listen and is always around 30 minutes.
  • hhMaine
    New convert, loving current events relevance
    New listener and a student pilot: I came for the interview with Katie Mack and loved it so much, I started listening to the rest of the show. Great tips sprinkled throughout, lots on the impact of culture/tech on the industry. Keep interviewing impactful women, journalists, technologists, and non-traditional pilots! (Contradicting the negative bro-review before me)
  • johnnythegutterboy
    Great podcast except most recent with Katie Mack
    Enjoy this podcast but the one with Katie Mack was very cringe and hard to listen to.
  • Rinjur
    Great stuff but…
    When I get an email from sportys regarding the next episode and click on it, it opens the podcast app. But the episode isn’t there. Just the older one. Why is the newest one missing? So frustrating.
  • Prop_Blast
    Great podcast
    Interesting, educational, a little bit controversial. Great stuff!
  • Ahova11111
    Great for student pilots!
    Episode 3 was packed with great info for student pilots. Great questions regarding EFBs and flight simulators. Well covered topics. Thanks!
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