After failing my PPL check-ride in August, I almost gave away the dream of flying, but after listening to similar advice, I returned and passed. The best moment of this year was having my family fly with me and sharing the incredible feeling of seeing the world with other's eyes. Thanks for inspiring people, and thanks for the magnificent work. Safe flights.

@JohnBare747

Жыл бұрын

I was expecting to fail both the written and the check ride on my first try and nobody was more amazed than I when I passed them both. Can't let yourself be your own worst critic, this is fun so enjoy it and should you stumble and happen to not pass something realize now that wasn't so bad I actually learned something that needed work and apply it to the Do-Over and show them you can do it.

@KevinSmithAviation

Жыл бұрын

Congratulations Ricardo!

@brucecuratola6389

Жыл бұрын

Good for you! I haven’t given up even though I expected my PPC in 2016!

@JohnBare747

Жыл бұрын

@@brucecuratola6389 All that was long ago I got my PPL in 1978. All those toys are long behind me now as I'm 81 and falling apart at the seams. I was having some issues with things I just was not grasping and simply flew with several instructors other than my regular one and suddenly stuff clicked when explained just a little differently that's what helped me.

@RicSantos

Жыл бұрын

@@KevinSmithAviation thank you so much. Check my channel as well, not great content like here, but I'm trying to share my aviation passion with others.

The best thing that happened to this channel is Chelsea. Never let anything become more important than those you love. The two of you ARE perfection. The best to both of you. I cannot believe it’s been 12 years. Thank you, Sir.

@harryd9579

Жыл бұрын

Make an honest woman out of Chelsea - marry her!

@komrad1983

Жыл бұрын

Stop underappreciating man's work and his path. For a man, the journey is the most important, and that's what he said in his video.

I have been a quadriplegic most of my life, but had a blessed 2022. It was a new record for how many I preached as a substitute pastor, spoke with more kids on disability awareness, and continued in web development. I appreciate your work and showing us your love for aviation. We missed seeing anything when you and Chelsy got married.

Your channel is one of the reasons at age 50 I decided to pursue my dream of flight. I've been toying with the idea of getting my PPL for 10 years but finally bit the bullet and got enrolled and taking lessons. Did some struggling with pattern work today (my 4th lesson) and that probably seems like a long time ago for you, but I want to enjoy some of what you enjoy in the future, with $100 burgers and some cross country work! Hopefully in a few months I will pass my checkride and join you and Chelsea as a licensed pilot. Thanks for the amazing content, your channel has some of the most cinematic content in the youtube world.

@tonyhindle8099

Жыл бұрын

Fast351... Happy New Year!! I will be turning 50 in 2023 (kinda scary). I got my PPL on April 28, 2022. A lifelong dream had finally come true. It was hard work, very expensive, stressful, and truthfully, there were some days that I really wanted to give up. I am certain that you will have some of those very thoughts, and my best advice for you is to stick with it. Now that I am licensed, I don't regret any of it. The cost, the stress, the time.... it is all worth it. I live in SW Ontario, and when I am flying some friends over Niagara Falls for a scenic tour, I am euphoric. Best wishes!!

@irishcurse65

Жыл бұрын

Followed my dream at 56. Got my ppl. Screwed around this year just flying around in a TB10. Started my IR last month. Stick with it. The satisfaction of getting that PPL can not be described

@B4DWrath

Жыл бұрын

$100 burgers? Where is that? Around here it's like $250! Best wishes to you, just don't let the price tag stop you!

@TheRenegadeAV8R

Жыл бұрын

I'm 57 and I finished my Online ground school and received an endorsement to take the written exam.

@tomsnide

Жыл бұрын

I too got my PPL on September 30th, 2022 at the ripe young age of 57. It may very well be the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced. It is easy to beat yourself up or question yourself along the way… just remember: that’s NORMAL! Don’t let the weather cancellations and maintenance delays get you down either - you’ll realize that makes you a safer decision-maker and you’ll learn some about airplane maintenance and solid pre-flighting. GOOD LUCK. Just stay with it and realize that the only potential person stopping you… is you. See you in the skies!

Hey Josh, I've been following you for who-knows how long. My fav video for a long time was your 991 restoration! My big win for 2022 was getting my ATP and starting my first 121 job. My first JET! My goal for 2023 is to get back into General Aviation again and do more of what I love. Happy New Year!

CPL and IA in 2022! So excited for 2023 ❤

@pdoherty

Жыл бұрын

You"ve earned every bit of your success Chelsea. Best wishes to you and Josh.

I have said for years, "It is not about perfection, but direction." Happy New Year, buddy. I have been a fan for a long time. Cannot wait to see where you take us in 2023.

In 2023, I started getting the flying bug and began watching KZread videos. I'm about to turn 70. In 2022, I was recovering from chemo and radiation therapy due to cancer the previous year. I did some bass fishing and took a trip to Texas to visit my brother. Then, had sinuplasty surgery and found I had pneumonia and ecoli bacteria in my sinuses and lung. I got my PPL in late 1970's and stopped flying in 1993 because I couldn't afford both flying and golf while raising a family. We retired to Arizona from California 4 years ago. Today, I'm just going to enjoy life, do more fishing, visit family in Kansas and Utah, and enjoy the days of flying vicariously through these videos - thank you!

Proudest 2022 moments are, Finishing IFR training after almost 2 years, Then completing commercial, CFI, and multi. And finishing the year with a job offer, truly seems like I’m living in a dream that I’ll be able to fly for a living!

As I'm sure most of us do, I watch a lot of aviation related channels. I can tell you, the amount of work that you put into making and editing videos does not go unnoticed. You have by far the best production quality out there. Not that everyone else is bad, you've just got a filmmaker's eye. Your videos are truly cinematic. While I'm not a pilot yet, my goal for this year is to get my PPL. I was watching a Trent Palmer year-in-review video one time and he said that he heard someone say, "Life is too short to eat dessert last. Don't wait until retirement to do the things you love." That one stuck with me.

I’ve spent the last 6 or 7 years of my life building my flight time the HARD way (I.e not as a cfi). I finished my commercial rating earlier this year and finally landed my first professional pilot job flying cargo out of DFW starting tomorrow! I’m stoked!!! I’m a native central Texan and been subscribed to you for years. It’s so awesome to share this experience with someone as prestigious as Josh who also happens to be another proud Texan flying in the same airspace as me. My dream one day is to sit down with you at a bbq joint in the middle of Texas and swap flying stories.

@kenthompson3730

Жыл бұрын

I’d live to be at that lunch. Sounds like a good mission for my Ercoupe and me. Lockhart!

Josh. I found your channel while suffering from a back injury in 2021. I spent March and April in bed. Your coast to coast series kept me sane. I vowed I’d do something adventurous when I healed up. I had surgery in late 2021. This summer i flew my C182 with my son from Nova Scotia to attend Oshkosh for the first time. We came with the C2OSH formation group which was an amazing experience. We Camped out for the week. Then flew out to Wyoming before heading to British Columbia and Alberta then back home to Nova Scotia. You inspired me to make this trip and showed how accessible GA is. The sights, Mt. washington, the finger lakes, vfr past Chicago at 1800’, Oshkosh, Mt Rushmore, Glacier Park, the VFR corridor through the rockies past Banff AB. And the trip back across Canada was amazing. Thanks for your content and keep it ip in 2023! Bruce.

Couldn’t agree more. Seize every opportunity to spend flying with your Dad and making memories. 2022 taught me that life can change very quickly. I lost my Dad in 2022. We learned to fly together and I have flown most of my last 18 years as a pilot flying with him. I didn’t know or ever think that our last flight together was going to be the last. Now the challenge for 2023 is getting comfortable flying solo. I enjoy your content and envy your new panel!

My best 2022 was becoming an Aircraft owner. Purchase my first Cessna 172(H) from Riverside, California to Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Solo, VFR only, no autopilot, 2300 nautical miles, with a total of eleven stops along the way. Right now, just a few days before New Year. I finally found a hangar in Quakertown airport within 3 months of ownership after dealing with a few maintenances. Tackling it all and coming out at the end of the tunnel. Never thought I'll do a Coast-to-Coast flight in a recent purchase plane. The best part of it all was hugging my mom at the end of the Grand Cross-Country trip. For those of you who want to buy a plane, go for it. Don't dwindle your thumbs, be patient, and the right plane will come for you. Thank you, Josh, for the many videos you'll have done, you're my number one inspiration about everything Aviation has to offer. See you in 2023! Fly Safe!

I was a farmer in my days, the best advice a friend gave me when I started farming was. " Don't seek perfection seek results" in many cases when you work for perfection, you don't get any results or to late for success.

You’ve come such a long ways Josh. Your content has truly evolved into something great. Thank you for being an ambassador for our industry. You’re making a big difference out there.

I'm most proud of being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in this past year, and starting my education and continuing my flight training at Embry Riddle. In this next year, I plan on earning my Private Pilot certificate and starting on my instrument, after going through Part 61 flight schools on and off since late 2019.

I passed my CPL-H last year and been sitting on it due to low hours and being low on funding. My dad passed away this April and I can't help but think I was meant to hear that phrase too. He loved flying with me, the best way I can honor him for introducing me to aviation all those years ago would be to finish up and find a place to land my feet to fly and build a career. Thank you Josh. Fly safe as always.

“Never let perfection be the enemy of good!” Have a happy new year and hope to see you around HYI sometime!

Your channel is the reason I decided at 63 years old to pursue my life-long dream of getting my private pilot license. I retired after 37 years of working in corporate America and I'm on my 4th training flight...your channel and your approach to what you do are a great and needed reminder to all of us to PERSUE YOUR PASSION! You inspire us all!!

@tmshaffer

Жыл бұрын

Nice

As your viewers, we truly appreciate all of your efforts in posting these wonderful adventures in Aviation. Happy New Year Josh and Chelsea.

The past seven years have been the roughest of my life. But 2022 found me flying my first solo, my first cross country, my tail wheel endorsement, and beginning the great transition into what I actually want to do in my life. 44, and looking forward to the next 44.

@brennenfitzgerald

Жыл бұрын

@Natasha Thank you!

When I started building my Velocity, perfection was the goal. After a couple of years, I was way behind, and I had another long-time builder tell me something similar "Perfection is the enemy of completion. After adopting that philosophy, I finally completed my Velocity and have been flying it for several years. If I still dwelled on perfecting every single detail, I'd still be building and probably never complete the project...as several have done.

I passed my PPL ride. Then failed my IR ride twice, and almost gave up on it. Then I got a call from another CFI at another school who heard my story and offered to help. He ended up being the best CFII I ever had, and I passed the ride with the same DPE after some retraining with the CFII who had called me. Next year hoping to do my tailwheel endorsement, complex, commercial single, and starting training for my control tower operator certificate.

I want to say thanks. I started my pilot journey July 13th of 2022. I started it for my commercial license as a second career at 40. Also to inspire my little brother 36, who loves aviation and just never had the motivation to go at it as well. On July 23rd he tragically died in a motorcycle accident. I had already flown about 12hrs at the time. I planned on not telling him till I was done. Something told me one day to let him know. Couple days later he called asking questions about how hard it was to get into. I encouraged him. Nudging him to join me! A day later he told me he was proud of me and to stay the course. The next day was his last. As you can imagine it was tough. He left 2 kids and a wife. I remembered what he told me. His words rang out in my head. Two days later I was back into training. It was my way to cope, I buckled down even harder. Oct 28th 2022 I passed my PPL check ride!! Coincidentally that was my late step sisters birthday… (yes, I’ve lost 2 of my 3 siblings) So the saying IS true. Perfection is rarely if ever achieved and you cannot let that dictate you starting a goal! I’m currently training for my instrument rating, it’s been amazing and bittersweet the whole way through. Channels like this and hearing your struggles and victories keep people like me going. You may not realize it. However what you do, has inspired me and many others. For that, I say THANK YOU!! God bless you and your beautiful family. May you see exponential growth and success in 2023. ❤❤❤

Josh, I wanted to open this up by first saying I really hope you see this comment. You have been a huge inspiration to me throughout my 2.5 year flying career. Not only through your videos, but also through certain things and phrases you have said that have rung a bell in my head, just like what Chelsea's dad's saying did for you. I hope you know you have a gift, one that means so much to so many people (all 286K of us). Your ability to make such a captivating film truly does transform people and light a fire in them (and in myself), one that we never knew existed. At least 5 times during this video, as well as pretty much throughout all your videos, I found myself checking how much time was left because I simply did not want the video to end. I write this comment as I am 3,000 miles away from home, receiving training to fly the King Air as my first flying job, at 21 years old. Your video gave me (as they usually do) a sense of motivation and comfort. Motivation that will propel me through this two week long training journey and comfort in knowing that everything is going to work out for the better. (Learning a new airplane aint easy you know! Especially a King Air!) So thank you. Thank you for not only providing the things mentioned above, but thank you for doing what you do, and doing it well! I believe I have commented this before but I will again...I find it strange how after every video I am able to say "Damn, that was his best video yet", you just keep out-doing yourself and you surprise me with your ability to produce and publish such amazing pieces of art. I wholeheartedly wish you and Chelsea the best in 2023. I hope you plan many more amazing trips (you might consider filming them...just saying :)), and I hope you guys get that Alaska trip in! Come out to the Los Angeles area again! I would love to meet you and perhaps grab a buffalo burger at the Airport in the Sky! Till then, take care, and please, keep doing you! Never change!

I am not a pilot, but I've followed you for a couple of years. It did my heart good to see your reaction to the absence of fuel at Fordice field. Part of the enjoyment in your videos is the precise and concise construction. But seeing you in an honest moment of adversity really made your video real. Thanks.

In 2022 I joined the army as a Combat Engineer, I thought during my training and all through last year, "man this really sucks." But now as I look back at the courses I have done and all of the really cool things that I get to do in the army, I have done many things that the average person will never do. And all of the friends and memories I have made along the way. I'm still considering what I want to do career wise, I am torn between going to flight school and law enforcement. If I had any recommendations or ideas for the future, it would be to keep the environmental storytelling that you do. There's something unique about your videos that I don't find anywhere else. Keep being you, and happy new year to you and Chelsea!

I don’t recall how long I have been subscribed to your channel but I love it. I am a school bus diesel mobile technician for a dealership and my father is a Vietnam war veteran with the USAF and I absolutely love aviation because of his dedication to being aviation technician in the USAF. He spent 20 years in the USAF, retired twice retired from the USAF and again with Orange County Florida in the wastewater treatment plant facility department. Your videos give me not only encouragement but hope that with my medical history I maybe able to fly myself one day. I am a TBI survivor

In 2022, at the ripe young age of 70, I finally realized and took advantage of the home runway and hangar I'd installed in 2021. Maybe a bit late since it's been my dream since I first got my license in 1980, but you know the saying. Having the hangar, strip and my Champ in the back yard makes it all too easy to just hop in and fly whenever the urge hits me, which is quite more often with it being this accessible. 2023 and beyond goals?: Keep flying more for as long as I can and enjoy it. Fly the Piper i own with a group more also. It's pure fun to hop in the Champ at home and fly to the airport to fly the Piper. Beats driving to the airport--that's for sure

Have to say this Josh... This is one of your best. An aviation video that comes with a powerful message we all needed to hear. Thanks for passing these important words on! As I've lived, I've learned. It use to be all about making money, working two jobs and all the overtime I could. I know now the most precious and more important than gold commodity one has is time. You can't "work over" and make more. Spend it wisely... friends, family, flying, loving and being loved. At the end of the day, it's those things alone that make it all worth it. God bless and wishing for you and Chelsea a fun and adventureous '23. If you two are ever in the Foley, Alabama area, I'll treat you to a meal at a restranut where they throw rolls at you! :-)

2022 was the biggest year of my 24 years in aviation when I purchased my own motorglider and completed my CFI-G. I’ve been watching you for years and hope you continue blessing the world with your phenomenal content. If you’re ever in Virginia stop by and go for a glider flight.

This year I turned 73. I began building an airplane in April 2022. My goal for 2023 is to get to the end of this year still excited about the project. Sites like yours are the reason I began this project. Your content help me to realize aviation is a long term life style. What's ahead for me? Learn to fly; finish the airplane; Fly!!!

Wow. This one was inspiring. My son and I started watching your channel back in 2015, right around the time that I decided to get back into aviation after a 15 year hiatus. My son was a junior in high school. We actually met you when you flew to the AOPA fly-in in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I never thought you'd be where you are today. Your channel has helped my son and I fuel our passion for aviation. Watching how you and your father enjoyed flying with each other was inspiring, to say the least. I learned to fly when I was enlisted in the US Navy, supporting the P-3 Orion as an AT IFT, (avionics and weapons systems tech). The Navy had a program that allowed enlisted to get their private pilots certificate. After leaving military service, I continued to fly GA, but a few years later, decided to stop to help raise my three children with my wife. Aviation was no longer a priority. Fast forward to 2015... I decided to start flying again when I started watching KZread videos of other aviators out there. Your channel was one of my favorites. I attended an AOPA Rusty Pilot seminar, booked a flight review with a local flight school, and regained my currency once again. I was finally back in the air and able to share that experience with my son and other family members. About that time, my son started showing more of an interest in flying. I had always taken him on flights ever since he was a baby and we often frequented air shows and airport open house events when they came to town. When we traveled via commercial airline, I made it a point to get him to sit on the flight deck before or after our trip to experience what that was like. That solidified his love of aviation. When I regained my currency, he enjoyed flying with me in the Cessna 172 that I often rented. In 2016, we purchased our first GA aircraft.... a 77 Grumman AA-5B Tiger, which we still own and fly today. That airplane has been a life changer. My son used it to get his private, instrument, commercial and CFI ratings. In 2016, he enrolled in college at Metro State University of Denver in their professional pilot undergraduate program. He studied hard while doing his flight training in our Tiger. We even flew the Tiger from KBJC to KOSH to EAA AirVenture in 2017. It was an epic adventure. Despite the hassles that COVID brought upon our nation, my son graduated on time and with honors in 2020 and landed a job as a CFI and tour pilot with a tour company out of Lihue, Kauai. Being born and raised there myself, he was able to stay with family who live there, while he built up the 1,500 hours that the airlines need for new hires. He just returned in August of 2022. After getting his multi-rating in Texas in September, he returned and was hired by SkyWest in October. He completed his ATP in November and just returned from indoc training at SkyWest headquarters. He's now waiting to start type rating training to fly the Embraer E-170. I know this is a long winded message, but I just wanted to share the impact your channel has had on both my son and I. We often watched your videos together and, again, were inspired by your talents both as a videographer and a pilot. It's been an awesome ride! Thanks for doing what you do. As for 2023, I plan to get out and fly more often and also take advantage of the opportunity to fly with my son both in our Tiger and using the flight benefits that we'll have access to. There are many places I've yet to see in this world and I want to visit as many as I can before my time is up. Happy New Year!

Josh, your channel was a major source of inspiration for me to return to flying after a 29-year hiatus (life really got in the way!). In 2022 I regained my PPL currency at age 65 and bought my first airplane, a humble 1966 C150F. I am constantly working on restoring the cosmetics of the plane, have upgraded her with ADS-B, and am now trying to fly regularly to return to a decent level of proficiency. Your stunning aerial photography and clear presentation of piloting techniques have been educational and motivational. Thank you from a fellow Texan!

Love your content Josh! Always look forward to your videos. “It’s not the plane it’s the pilot.” You are a very talented storyteller.

Started 2022 as just a private pilot made it all the way through the instrument rating and now have my commercial checkride coming up in just a few days. I learn something new every time I watch one of your videos one of the best aviation channels without a doubt. Can’t wait to see what’s next

I started watching your videos when I was about 13 years old living in a trailer park. After seeing countless airplanes fly over my house it caught my curiosity to become a pilot. That’s how I found your videos. Your videos allowed me to see what aviation has to offer. Now I’m 23 years old and as of the end of 2022 I graduated with a bachelors degree as well as passed my CFI checkride. Just landed my first pilot job as a CFI here in Alaska.

"It's never gonna be perfect, so stop waiting for it" thank you, I needed to hear that right now!! 😊 Happy 2023, to you and Chelsea!

So, I started my PPL journey in 2009 at an airport in southern California (L67) that has since closed. After about 10 hours, life happened (promotions at work, marriage, kids) and I stopped flying. Fast forward to 2021, I slowly got back into it, and in 2022 I finally solo'd! I'm at 52 hours and I'm getting ready for my check ride. It's channels like this that keep me motivated to push through the rough patches to see the end goal, and the world of possibilities that will open up once I'm licensed.

As I mentioned when we met at Osh Kosh a few years ago, anyone can string some GoPro footage together. Josh, your true talent is…you’re a great story teller. I’ll finish my Commercial within the month and start CFI training. All the best in 2023 to you and Chelsea.

I just happened across your KZread channel in 2022 and, although not a pilot, have thoroughly enjoyed your videos. You do a great job. You are absolutely right about taking advantage of the moment. Make those plans, take that trip, marry that gorgeous girl, and enjoy life. I often hear my Mother say that life is short, enjoy what you can. I am now 74 years old and she is right. Time slips by too quickly.

Thanks for what you do Josh. Your channel helped me decide to take the plunge into my PPL at 46 with nothing but the dream of flying since I was a boy. Keep doing what you're doing brother.

This kind of story is really inspiring to someone like me. A newer general aviation pilot who dreams of living all over the country out of my plane. It shows that maybe it's not impossible, and the hardships and joys I'll get out of the journey there are much worth it.

I like your profound life changing statement! One that changed my life profoundly as a young Naval Communications Systems Engineer was this "Better is the enemy of good enough"! For most engineers, this is very difficult as they tend to never be satisfied with their design and try to keep "perfecting" it! The problem in the real world where time = money, is this rapidly leeds to bankruptcy! It is a rule that I have applied over the last 38 years of my life and it has really worked for me! Wishing you and Chelsea an amazing and Blessed 2023!

Brilliant reflection! As someone who is transitioning into retired life and seeking new projects, I can't agree more with the expression Perfection is the Enemy of Delivery. Trying to get back into creative hobbies I used to love to do and indulged in years ago before raising my kids and raising up my "other kids" during my teaching career, I found myself stymied by the thought that I'll just not be good enough anymore to enjoy it. But as I try things again, I find that the doing is far more important than the product,…and the payoff is that each effort is an incremental rebuilding of past strengths but each step adds a drop more joy to my life. So thank you for a lovely video and such a thoughtful reflection. Cheers!

In early 2022 I started my training for my PPL. I’m now starting my physical flight training. In 2023, I plan to finish obtaining my ppl and start instrument.

Man I've been watching you for years, and I am still in awe of your ability to connect and convey a message through your editing and honest commentary. May God bless you with much favor brother and Godspeed. Hopefully I see you in the skies one day as I begin my journey. " PERFECTION IS THE ENEMY OF DELIVERY" P.S God bless this Channel with 1 million SUBS. Amen

Got my PPL in 2022 - lots of exploring in 2023!

I’m most proud of completing my freediver and scuba opened water certifications. I look forward to finishing my PPL and going to have some adventures!

2022 was a big year for me. I completed my Private Pilot License back in May exactly a month before I graduated High School. I then went on to do tons of flying trips with family and friends all across Alberta, Canada. I got to do so many cool flying experiences over the summer from flying into lakes and spending the day on the boat to flying into to get lunch. Being able to fly has really changed my life and helped me to be able to explore. Now I am working on my Commercial License and am hoping to get that done within the next few months of the New Year. I first started watching your channel about a year and a half ago just before I started my flight training and you inspired me so much back then to fly and to explore the world and you still inspire me today to go out and fly somewhere new or to go out on an adventure with my airplane. So I just wanted to say thank you for being such an inspiration in my life and flying career. Cheers, Tait!

Josh, thanks for all the inspiration you've given me over the past 2 years. In 2022 I was inspired to go and get my IPC after several years lapse of my instrument license. I'm now only 20 hours away from my commercial check ride and have set a goal to become a CFI if only to instruct my 14 year old son who is so enthusiastic about making aviation a career. Can't wait to see and share your adventures in 2023.

Thank you Josh for an excellent review of your 2022. I am a perfectionist, so I too, am re-evaluating my goals. At 73 something about teaching an old dog comes to mind... This year I discovered AQP and have devoured your videos on that philosophy. I now follow Dan and the AQP and Coffee Facebook Group. I sincerely believe that AQP is saving lives. In my early PPL daze, I nearly killed my self and several passengers on three separate occasions. With AQP those events would never have happened. From 1974 to 1994 I flew in the air force. In many mission briefings the briefer would end the briefing with, "...and Fly Safe." As you can imagine much of the mission requirements of military flying is inherently not safe. That really bothered me. Around 1980 I realized that our best course of action was to Fly Smart. Every day work smarter, not harder. Be Smart, educate, train, and add Smart tools into your toolbox. With that improves safety. Now I advocate; Fly Smart - Fly Safe, Do the 1st, the 2nd comes Naturally. Have a great 2023

The two biggest things that I'm most proud of that happened this year, was being able to find a good school that trains A&P mechanics near where I live. And then being able to start my flight training, and putting 6.6 flight hours in my logbook. I have made it very firm with myself that I'm going to fly a minimum of 3 to 4 times a month to plow through my flight training, because I'm currently working full time in a maintenance hangar, and be the best pilot I can be. Yes it will be expensive, and yes it will be a tough grind, but I'm willing to put in the work. And I know once all that effort is done, once my check ride is finished, the work will be worth it in the end. I can also remember back near the end of 2021, I decided I want to leave the automotive industry, and go into the aviation industry as a mechanic. And from that point, I started looking for a college that has an aviation maintenance program in the state I was moving to. And in April, I managed to find a school, and I've already completed my first semester, with only one more class needed for my general technician certification, and then I'll get my general cert for my A&P license. And I did all this as I'm already working in a general aviation maintenance hangar as an apprentice to help me gain hands on experience. 2022 has been an absolute rollercoaster, I unfortunately lost my father back in February, and I was down for a little while, but I didn't let it keep me down. My dad was also a pilot, and he probably loved aviation more than I do. And I know he would want me to keep pushing forward to achieve my goals.

2022 has been a super challenging year for me …. I became an officer in the USAF after being enlisted for 11 years in aircraft maintenance and then after training all year became a rated pilot in the USAF.. 2023 is a year of challenges to come and proud of what has been accomplished

Josh, you said your life is 90% work and 10% joy, 😢 that’s the whole world. We work 40 hours to spend 2 hours watching a soccer game where your son scores the winning goal. Do reruns in your head of the 10% when possible and anticipate your next time of joy. Happy new year, you are truly blessed appreciate it.

I too have been blessed to be at the right time at the right moment a few times . One of those times a AED was used to bring me back after I fell over dead in a Publix grocery store in Crestview,FL. My heart went out of rhythm and like that I was gone. But Angels around me saved me. The next was a night where I was watch America got talent and a perform name nite bird was about to perform and she made a statement before she started to sing . She said….. “ You can’t wait til life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy ! “ Josh….that my friend spoke to me more than you will ever know. I have followed you for a long time…. I wish you all the best and hope you have a great new year. But most of all I wish this for you aswell. “ You can’t wait til life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy ! “.. Take care my friends…. You are loved and look up to more than you could ever know…..take care…Chris

My 2022 was one hell of a ride. Was fired from my full time flight instructor job due to downsizing, then got an awesome job in the IT business, and just as everything was going great at the new job, I was accepted into the airlines. Starting my type on the 737 late January. Wish you the best 2023 Josh. Thanks for your inspiration.

Wow, what an amazing year you and Chelsea have had. It was great meeting you both at Bowman Fest this year. Jennifer and I wish you and Chelsea a very happy New Year and we hope to see you both again in 2023!

Thing I’m most proud of in 2022 is finishing the restoration on my Navion after 6 years. Second to that is finally knocking out my CFI after years of talking about it. Hopefully 2023 brings a formation card and more war birding and teaching.

Wow, what a great sound piece of advice for life. As a model builder, those words ring true as we trod along building the model kit trying to be perfect and realistic as possible only to find we run out of time due to the desire of perfection! Nothing in life is perfect, perfect is only achievable when you try AND accept the best you can do as being enough. THAT'S your perfection!

In spite of the sometimes technical nature of your content, your real talent lies in creating emotions in your audience. I still go back and look at your episode of what I call the Valley of the Angels in Alaska. Your presentation created deep emotion in me so I guess that's why I keep going back. I watch many KZread channels and most, if not all, of them seem to have a finite life cycle. But if you can continue to find that intangible spark which moves people to action, not just in aviation but in a broader sense, then you can be a film maker as long as you want. And by the way, my mantra has become: "It's too late to die young."

I bought my first plane, a 1969 Arrow, in Feb. After that, got my IRA, CPL, CFI, CFII, and MEL all in 2022, and flew over 300 hours!! I had my first semester of teaching new Purdue students and that was very rewarding. Goals for 2023 are to hit 900 hours and train my dad on IFR flying (he got his PPL this year :) )

My proudest moment in 2022 was getting my PP Certificate at 61. Your videos were a great inspiration and helped me a great deal! Meeting you at the Lakeland show and being able to exchange experiences was a highlight! Thank you!🛩

Passed my PPL Checkride 8/18/2022.. started flying in August of 2016 & have followed you since. After many setbacks over that 6 years, I nearly gave up. Your content helped keep me inspired to keep pressing on. Thanks, Josh.

Cool to see your journey

That phrase is true. Planning is good… but I learned a long time ago that trying to do nothing is just as hard. Live in the moment. Hope we all have a great 2023.

There were over 400 comments when this was posted. Your drive and passion is what keeps me coming back and inspired when odds are against the norm. You suggested to share what big thing I did in 2022 and what is to come in 2023. In 22 I took a leap of faith to pursue flying, left Powerflow to become an airline pilot. Found the challenge of financing it drove me to get a job during the week and fly on the weekends. So 23 will be the start of a new job in Pamana City Beach as a Quality Assurance inspector for a company called Top Aces. The flying journey will continue and each lesson and flight will be one closer to the 1500 hours of quality experience to one day sit in that airline job...and then I will finally be happy. As for content suggestion look at the companies that keep the planes flying. The stitch and fabric companies, the affordable ways to fly, and show that the pilot of the plane is a culmination of everyone's effort to put them in the air. As always safe travels and wish you well for 2023. Cheers, Brad T-bird Bowen

Absolute perfection. I've been watching your videos for years, Josh. The progression of your content is amazing. I can't wait to see what you have next. Here's to 2023.

At 62 I wish someone would have given me that thought when I was 22. So much time wasted on waiting till all was just right. Great video. Happy New Year Josh!!!

I earned my PPL and for 2023 I'm hopefully going to be getting my IFR and CPL license by the end. I also got to fly my grandfather who is an Air Force veteran and he hadn't flown in sense the 1970's. It was a very humbling experience. Have a good 2023 everyone!!

A fellow Blue Moon drinker. I see you are a man of culture as well. Biggest accomplishment this year was getting my ATP. Your content has been and will continue to be an inspiration to me.

In 2022 I officially lost 100lbs at the 2 year mark since the start of my fitness journey. In 2023 I will finish transforming body and get my flight career back on track in whatever form it takes. I was born to fly, nothing else lives more in my mind and I refuse to waist anymore time not getting to fly!

Thanks for calling San Marcos your home for so many years always love to see you or your dad out here flying 80991 love your videos, hope the fuel trucks didn’t annoy you while you were trying to film your commentary😂. Hope you have the best - berry line guys

I said this many years ago in one of you videos, you are my most inspirational aviation youtuber out there. You make me remember how much I love aviation and whenever I feel like giving up in my career as a pilot I now I just need to watch one of your videos.

I’m new to your channel, just started watching KZread over the last couple years. My 51 year old hadn’t took a check ride in almost 30 years self has his IR check ride scheduled for the 24th. So this once actually accomplished is going to be the kickoff to me taking the little plane on some adventures. Look forward to the next year with you, also love “Perfection is the enemy of delivery”. Hitting home here too think I’ll be saying that to myself a few thousand times this year.

I have always wanted to become a pilot, and your videos inspired me even more when I ran into them awhile back now, but for whatever reason, I kept pushing it back, giving excuses on why I wasn’t pursuing it until 2022, I finally got my pilots license, and tacked on an instrument rating, and I’m so glad that I finally did it!

Thanks so much for all of the great work! It helped push me to start flight training this past summer, and it’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done. Hoping to finish my private certificate in the coming year.

We purchased our Cherokee 140 in San Marcos, flew it to Seattle and still miss it. Now at 87 I have hung up my headphones but still think about flying everyday wishing there was a. way. Really enjoy your videos!! Thank you.

Great stuff. Hope you never stop making videos. They draw you in and make you feel like we’re with you. Thank you for the dedication

Man Josh I’ve been watching you since 2015 and it’s been amazing to see not only you and this channel change and grow but also myself. Then I was merely a kid with a dream and today I’m a CFII. Believe it or not you’ve been there through all of it. I’ve been fortunate to meet you a few times at Oshkosh and its always a pleasure. This year I’m proud of all the experiences I’ve had flying and also having a great start to my Aerospace Engineering degree at KU. Thanks again for everything man. Let’s fly together sometime soon!

Josh, your hard work and dedication to the channel is so much appreciated. I don’t look forward to videos on KZread hardly at all, if at all, but your videos give me something to look forward to. They are so well done and help inspire me to keep loving aviation. I work for a construction company, but own a Mooney TLS Bravo and fly a Citation and helicopters for this company. Sometimes I get complacent and think that further education in aviation isn’t necessary, but these videos and your sign off to “be proficient” remind me that you are always learning in aviation. So thank you for be you and doing what you do.

In 2022 I finally achieved my PPL at 17. Josh, you have been such an inspiration for me throughout high school. Now, as a college student, I am able to watch less but I look forward to seeing what you continue to put out. Thank you.

2022 - refound my passion for flying and got back into flying after 27 years away! 2023 - finish up my instrument rating and fly so much more!

I heard similar years ago and it was life changing... "Do not let perfection be the enemy of good" semantics but same life changing event!

OMG ... has it really been a year? I remember watching you 2021 year end video and it seems like just a few months ago. WOW ... where did the time go? Josh and Chelsea. THANK YOU both for another year of amazing, educational and entertaining GA Aviation videos. I learn something from each one. HAPPY New Year. Wishing you both happiness, prosperity and health. Best wishes from CYQT 👍🇨🇦👍

What happened to me, to us, in 2022. My wife and I both turn 70. We traveled to a place of our choosing. And, 2022 was the year of our 50th wedding anniversary. Again, we traveled to a place we agreed on. Those 3 events made up the best of 2022.

This year, after over a year and a half of working hard, I finally solo'd an aircraft. It was a glider, not an airplane like I'd hoped, but it was every bit as magical. Things happened for a reason and I never would have found the sport of soaring had things not happened the way they did. 2022 started with a devastating blow and ended with a huge success. I'm probably going to be looking to spend a week in Arizona myself to wrap up training (SEA is not the best place to fly a glider in the winter). And then I charge forward to my commercial and eventually CFI tickets so I can share this world and sport with others. Soon enough aircraft ownership will be on the horizon too. This channel keeps me going towards that and more. Happy new year to all! 🎉

In 2022 (December 1st, 2022 to be precise) I obtained my PPL! I started training November 4, 2021, through some COVID restrictions, SOLO'ed on April 11, 2022, and I am currently working on my night rating :) It took me 70-ish hours to get my PPL, over a period of about 1 year, flying on average once to twice a week (most times once a week). It is by far my most proud accomplishment after becoming a father, and probably the hardest since engineering, and I can't wait to continue learning and enjoying adventures with friends and family :) Awesome content Josh, hope to see you at AirVenture 2023!

Thanks for all you do for all the fans and subs on your channel!!! Happy New year!!!

2022 Like most of the people below was the year where I finally broke through and started my PPL training. Your channel was the first channel I ever realized I wanted to fly that badly. Thank you very much Josh for putting out the content you have, and the professionalism you put into your work. A lot of my bucket list airports are ones you introduced on this channel, and I can't wait to visit them. I look forward to 2023 as I will complete my PPL, go on to instrument, and be well on my way to commercial. One of my greatest dreams in aviation will come true next year, I will fly from Apopka over Disney. Thank you again Josh for your content, it was the inspiration I needed to push through the disappointing times of my training.

That was sweet Josh, I learned your lesson when I was about your age too. That was about a half century ago. During the latter 2/3rds of my life, I have been involved in all sorts of endeavors, and I have adopted a methodology that in theory, is pretty simple. When a new project or activity comes along, my first step is to find a quiet spot and it helps if there is a blank wall in front of me. I look at the blank space and mentally fill it with all of the pieces and parts that would lead to a PERFECT outcome. My business is factory automation, so normally I'm designing a network with dozens or hundreds of components and many more devices, systems, backup provisions, etc. That concept is moved to documentation and then the effort turns to what is practical and affordable. While keeping the door open as far as possible, to the Perfect, the path to reality is permitted to reveal itself. I have followed this scheme hundreds of times and it continues to work to this day. And when that inevitable question comes, "Why isn't this perfect or better or what ever" the inevitable answer is that "with a little more of your money and my time, it will be....I know that because it has been part of the original plan that is not yet implemented". Wishing you and the Chelsea a Happy and Prosperous New Year! Oh and you might want to search out a guy named Tyson J Henderson on KZread...he has the knack for what you need to be doing soon!

Thanks, Josh, for these wise words! Wish you all the best in 2023 and many great flying adventures!

Josh, I absolutely love your channel. It’s definitely my favorite aviation channel! I’ve been watching you since the beginning and even tho I no longer fly myself after a skydiving accident left me paralyzed I still get excited when I see you post a new video. The stories you tell and the production value are bar none my friend! I look forward to watching your flying adventures in ‘23!!

I started watching your channel when being a pilot was just a distant dream. This year I earned my CFI, CFII and got checked out in a PC12. I'm so proud of that! Josh, thanks for being an inspiration to me and so many others.

Mr.Josh I met u in Oshkosh 2022 you made me realized I can do this. I was the 14-year-old+- kid that flew out of Springfield. I can't wait to meet u again in OSH 2023. Your the reason I started flight training.

Got my PPL, started my aircraft brokerage; 2023 goals from here is getting my IFR Rating, Multi Engine, and continuing the business

After finding your channel, my love for aviation has grown by far, from an avid flight simmer, now to someone who is going to university for aviation and will (hopefully) be getting a job in commercial aviation in the future.

Finish my multi cpl ,started my737 simulator training in 2022.It takes me five years to get my current position .I am very happy ,I am getting closer to my dream.

Man... you have a massive talent and most importantly headed in the right direction. Just remember to take pauses a long the way to look around and enjoy your life. I wish you and and your loved ones all the best. See you next year! Cheers!