Flying to Sporty's Pilot Shop

Clermont County Airport in Batavia, OH, is home to Sporty's Pilot Shop. I was there recently to record an episode of Sporty's "Pilot's Discretion" podcast with John Zimmerman, and afterwards John gave me a little tour of Sporty's - the shop, the warehouse, shipping, the flight school, and: Sporty's very own barber shop (yes, you read that right!). Come along on the flight and on the tour of Sporty's in this video.
Listen to the "Pilot's Discretion" podcast at www.sportys.com/podcast
The episode with Martin will be published on Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Flight stats provided by FlySto: www.flysto.net
Review the flight from this video here: www.flysto.net/logs/64zj17yf
N70TB instrument panel installed by Gardner Lowe Aviation: www.gardneravs.com
0:00 Start and Clearance
2:17 Taxi and run-up
4:34 Take-off and climb
8:27 Approach and landing
12:48 Welcome to Sporty's
14:37 Warehouse
17:05 Shipping
17:35 Barber shop and pilot shop
18:38 Flight school
19:38 Oshkosh AirVenture 2024 schedule
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Web: www.martin.aero
Instagram: / n70tb
FaceBook: / n70tb
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Martin's Bonanza on FlightAware:
flightaware.com/live/flight/N...
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[@christinewunder1672]

Thanks Martin for the tour!

[@williambeatty7781]

Very interesting tour. I've been buying from Sporty's for 30 years and have always been happy with their service.

[@martinpauly]

My situation is similar, William. That made the behind-the-scenes tour so special for me. - Martin

[@garyakers6010]

I flew to Sporty’s after leaving the fly in at Knoxville last year. They used my plane for a backdrop for pictures of jackets they put in their catalog.

[@martinpauly]

Very nice! 👍

[@azcharlie2009]

I've bought lots of stuff from Sporty's over the years. Thanks for letting us fly along. I'm currently at Sandy Beach campground, which is just southeast of Cedar Rapids. We're here to see our niece's new baby, born 3 months premature, and other family before we head up to Oshkosh next week. Maybe we'll get to see you there? Rick from Tucson.

[@lesb3481]

My first purchase at Sporty's was in 1984 when I bought a David Clark H10-40 headset, in preparation for my Commercial check-ride. It's hard to believe that was 40 years ago this year.😕

[@martinpauly]

Time flies when we're having fun, right? - Martin

[@kevincollins8014]

Wow you was only about 25 minutes from my house look me up next time you're in the area and lunch is on me. Sportys is definitely a one of a kind place. I hope you enjoyed your visit to the area Martin. As always thanks for sharing the videos with us all.

[@martinpauly]

Thanks, Kevin! - Martin

[@kenstevenson4133]

Nice flight to Sporty’s. They really have a great customer focus and efficient operation there. Thanks for sharing.

[@martinpauly]

Thanks, Ken.

[@brianb.2398]

Being based in Central Ohio, I've made the Sporty's trip many times. Was also one of my first cross country destinations as a student pilot years ago. Fun place to visit, especially if you go on Saturday for a free hotdog! Hey John, cheers! We met during EAA9's visit last month!

[@williamkennedy2069]

Hello Paulie, thank you for the video, I just love your plane it is very beautiful

[@mikeryan6277]

I have given Sporty’s a respectable amount of money and have never had any regrets.

[@sheldonstutzman88]

My son is at the flight school and working there as well. I think he made the right decision in choosing Sporty’s to continue his flying career. Thanks for sharing this video. Always enjoy going along for the ride wherever you go and really appreciate the time you take to put these videos together. Extra bonuses like the Sporty’s tour are really great. Fly safe!

[@RusscanFLY]

You just gave me another airport destination! I order from sporty all the time, so it makes sense that after stopping in Pittsburgh to see my mom, that I should fly out there and check it out as well. Thanks for the flight video, keep doing what you’re doing! Fly well!

[@martinpauly]

Thanks for the comment, Russ. Remember if you want a clothing item that's not in the showroom in the right color or with the right embroidery, they can make pretty much everything right there while you wait for it. - Martin

[@RusscanFLY]

@@martinpauly good to know! Definitely gonna go check them out!

[@NathanBallardSaferFlying]

Sportys customer service has always been top-notch, when it came to products. I had a handheld radio go bad and they fixed me up immediately. I can totally see why now, what a great group of people. Thanks for sharing the inside look!

[@JustPlaneSilly]

NATE!!!!!!! What's up man!

[@NathanBallardSaferFlying]

@@JustPlaneSillyBT in the house! Hope all the flying stuff is kicking butt! 🫡😀

[@lee.schulz]

Another great video and editing, Martin! Thanks for bringing us along. -Lee

[@johnfitzpatrick2469]

G,day Martin from Sydney Australia. That's a business success story. 🌏🇦🇺

[@aldohattonduran5227]

My friend.. on of the best panels/ avionics I've EVER seen. Beautiful work much respect 💯 ty for the video 📸 🛩️🇺🇸

[@frankward67]

Marty, great video. I've spent quite a bit of money from that warehouse. Enjoyed the video, see ya in OSH!!

[@martinpauly]

Thanks, Frank. Yes, many pilots (myself included) have spent a small fortune there over the years. Part of our addiction, right? 🤣 - Martin

[@sircrapalot9954]

Any pre-visit checklist should include securing your wallet in the aircraft!

[@martinpauly]

@@sircrapalot9954 Yes, no kidding! Just like going to Oshkosh or Sun 'n Fun! - Martin

[@tedsaylor6016]

VFR to Corona (AJO - Aircraft Spruce) now that's a workout!

[@Ed-hz2um]

Another informative video, Martin. I really like your habit of putting your checklists on the screen during ops. Mine pretty much match yours, except for one item. I select the fullest tank on startup and leave it selected throughout the takeoff. My concern is that reselecting a tank just prior to takeoff introduces the possibility that there might be a fault in that system (bubble, blockage, etc.) that can run the engine ok at low power, but might cause fuel starvation right after takeoff. Just my own preference. Thanks for the great coverage of Sporty's for those of us who order gear from them, but never get to see where it comes from.

[@martinpauly]

Thanks, Ed. The way I do it is I start on the tank with LESS fuel, then switch to the FULLEST tank before the run-up. That way, if there is any air in a fuel line I will have purged it, while feeding the engine from the fullest tank during take-off. I will not switch tanks just before entering the runway; I make my last switch before the run-up. Regards, Martin

[@Ed-hz2um]

@@martinpauly Roger that, Martin. I missed that you do the runup on the new tank. I agree...that should assure that fuel feed is reliable. BTW, I noticed that the tower controller at KCID did not correct your readback of runway 27 vs 09, although you did catch it and make the note in editing. Great attention to detail! Wish that I could make it to OSH. I'd love to chat with you.

[@mikercflyer7383]

Great video Martin, it ended kind of fast😊 you are aware that I have complemented you before, your on screen display is the best. I know you started on sailplanes, is there a place I can send you a picture with mine? A new rc sailplane. Safe travels.

[@JustSayN2O]

Did you visit the nearby airport hangar homes? Buy one of the lots & build ! Live with your plane !!

[@aviatortrucker6285]

Hey Martin. Can you do a video on your entire panel and what each unit does and what info it presents? Maybe a basic operation of each? Thanks.

[@mikeblackford994]

I'd like that also, Martin. It's so different from the steam gauge A36 I flew for my dad in the early 80's. As always, another great vid.

[@martinpauly]

Let me see what I can do there. No promises, but I like the idea. - Martin

[@user-iw3mr2lv6f]

Interesting thanks

[@martinpauly]

Glad you enjoyed it! - Martin

[@aviatortrucker6285]

Always wanted to fly to Sporty’s pilot shop ever since I got my license. When I was living back home with my parents in New Jersey, even back in the 1980s it was very expensive to do a flight to Batavia Ohio. It would’ve been somewhere around $400 flight back in 1985. That would be almost $2200 today.

[@martinpauly]

Makes you appreciate UPS and FedEx shipping your orders, right? - Martin

[@aldohattonduran5227]

Greetings from Woodbury NJ 🛩️🇺🇸 my friend ✈️

[@aviatortrucker6285]

@@aldohattonduran5227 back in the 80s I used to fly out of CDW and N07. Come to think of it. I flew the same route as JFK Junior did from CDW to BID.

[@martinpauly]

@@aldohattonduran5227 Thanks!

[@jamess6656]

Did you fly up to OSH today (7/20)? I swore I heard you on Madison Approach Frequency.

[@martinpauly]

Yes, I landed in Oshkosh at noon today, and I did talk to Madison Approach on the way.

[@davestarr7112]

Great video and a great business story as well, Martin. Will any of those OSH presentations be recorded and available online? I'd love to be there in person but right now KOSH is 023 degrees and 6949nm away so it won't happen this year. Happy Landings.

[@martinpauly]

Thanks, Dave. I am not planning to record any of my Oshkosh presentations. Hmm, 023º and 6949NM... Down under? - Martin

[@davestarr7112]

@@martinpauly Manila, Philippines.

[@martinpauly]

@@davestarr7112 You might win the trophy for "farthest travel to attend AirVenture" 😂

[@davestarr7112]

@@martinpauly This might be true but I am so sick of airlines. foreign and domestic that I may never fly trans-Pacific again. Now when my G-V or Longitude gets delivered maybe I'll reconsider. Be well.

[@jameswebb2856]

Is that pool table FAA certified? Great video and loved the tour.

[@martinpauly]

Yes, the pool table is STC'ed and TSO compliant and comes with an 8130 form for installation. 🤣 - Martin

[@jameswebb2856]

@@martinpauly Awesome

[@michaelmonce1053]

Were you there while Kim was taking her lessons?

[@martinpauly]

"Kim" as in "FlyingSIC"? No, I did not see her during my visit to Sporty's. - Martin

[@user-iw3mr2lv6f]

Martin. Thanks my friend another interesting video!❤🇺🇸🙏🏻😀👍