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Sporty’s Pilot Shop Founder Dead at 90

Hal Shevers leaves behind more than 60 years of aviation education and innovation and community service.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 03:00 PM ET

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Hal Shevers [Credit: Sporty's Pilot Shop]

Key Takeaways:

Hal Shevers, founder of Sporty's Pilot Shop, passed away at 90, after a 63-year career that transformed aviation retail and education.
He grew Sporty's from a car-trunk operation into a leading supplier of pilot gear and pioneered widely-used remote ground school programs (VHS, DVD, online).
Shevers significantly impacted the aviation community by developing Clermont County Airport into an industry hub and ensuring Sporty's commitment to high-quality, extensively tested products.
Beyond his entrepreneurial success, he was also recognized for his dedication to aviation education and community service, including Scouting America.

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Hal Shevers, the founder and longtime owner of Sporty’s Pilot Shop, died Tuesday, according to company vice president Eric Radtke. He was 90.

Shevers retired from Sporty’s in 2024 after 63 years.

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.