IFR training materials: King v.s. Sporty's
 

I am planning to get my IFR rating and am looking for materials that I could learn myself. I found two major materials available in the market. They are:

King Schools: (US$579.00)
Instrument Rating Training - King Schools

Sporty's: (US$265.00)
Sporty's COMPLETE Instrument Rating Course on DVD - Sporty's Pilot Shop


The differences:
- The completed learning kit offered by King includes two sets of training package: knowledge test course + practical test course. In addition, it comes with other 13 DVD and printed materials related/non-related to IFR.
- The sporty materials is one set of package that, I assumes, includes all material needed to prepare for the knowledge and practical exams.


I am wondering which one is better for a beginner like me. Budget is always tight but if I could same more money in the long run by spending more for the right materials, I will go for it. So your experience and advise is needed.

Neither. In my opinion, they both suck... go with Jeppesen.

Instrument/Commercial (FAA). You can find them cheaper on eBay.

Cessna Instrument Pilot Kit - DVD - King Schools

Actually, the King course produced for Cessna is the best,,, around $350.

If you want to save money and are diciplined in self study (be very honest with yourself), then the Gleim IFR study guide can't be beat for value.

Why not grab the IPH for free and study it?

Aviation Handbooks & Manuals

That just makes too much sense, HSLD.

The free FAA books + a Gleim study manual + good instructor = all you need.

Thanks for all inputs.

I do have the handbook download from FAA website. Although the printed materials provide all professional details, I strongly feel the video can help to reinforce and accelerate my learning process through visual experience. Leaning to fly is a very practical subject and the visual experience just helps me a lot to understand what's going on in real situation.

It seems that every one has different recommendation when it comes to studied materials. Can anyone tell me more your personal experience for those materials, if you have any, such as what you like or dislike about those materials. I would appreciate that.

For the IPH (Instrument Procedures Handbook) and IFH (Instrument Flying Handbook), which one I should study first?

One more question. I found this IFR training audio CD offers by GLEIM
Gleim Aviation: Instrument Pilot Products

I am interested in it as I do a lot of driving in my part time job, but I am curios how much I could learn from listening by paying that US$70.00 dollars. Please advise.

I would suggest that you start with the Instrument Flying Handbook.

You need to be able to focus your time and all of your attention to this, it isn't something that I would recommend you do while driving.

I work at a Cessna Pilot Center and all except one pilot (out of 15) disliked the King's Cessna videos. They look like they were made in the 80s and unless you are in your 40s (no offense to older people learning to fly) you won't appreciate their humor used in videos. I found King's school videos to be boring and distracting. A few of my students tried the Sporty's videos and they were just as boring and distracting as Kings, not to mention the music was annoying.

I prefer my information to be presented in a professional manner, with graphics so I can remember and recall what I see. This way I don't have to re-learn the information that was presented in the video because it wasn't presented correctly or completely the first time (law of primacy) or contained distractions or were so boring that I didn't want to go back to it (law of readiness).

You can watch video samples here:
Kings - YouTube - IFR Exam Course - KING SCHOOLS Video
Sports - YouTube - Instrument Proficiency Check - Training Video from Sporty's Pilot Shop
If you can handle these, more power to you... I know that I can't take this for hours.

If you want videos, save your money and rent them:
- SmartFlix, Jeppesen-Instrument-Commercial-Video-Series
- SmartFlix, Jeppesen-Chart-Training
- SmartFlix, King's Instrument Rating
- Welcome to JUST PLANE VIDEOS Secure Shopping.....Rent Aviation Training Tapes !

If you want, send me a PM, I'll rip a section of a Jeppesen DVD and e-mail it to you. In the end, it comes down to preference. Try them all and see which one you like.

I have a set of 2003 Sporty's IFR DVDs that I used to get my instrument ticket several years ago. A bit out of date, but most of the material still applies. Will sell for $75 shipped. Comes with the two study books. Good condition, PM if interested. I liked these DVDs and I recommend them. Sporty's video production is very high quality although the music will drive you nuts.