The beginning…
I'm Lewis! I created LewDix Aviation in 2015 when I was going through my instrument training out of a small airpark north of Orlando, FL, aptly named.... Orlando North Airpark. During that time I was heavily into watching aviation videos on YouTube when there weren't nearly as many aviation channel as there are today. I noticed that nobody really made flying look fun and I thought I can fill that gap! In reality the first videos weren't funny at all. Tragic is the right word, I think. I recorded in the cockpit with 1 GoPro & 1 Sony HandyCam that I got for Christmas the previous year. Those that have used a Sony HandyCam will know that it's not fit for a cockpit and the viewer was left with a terrible close up shot of mine and my instructor's faces as we flew. We all have to start somewhere and thus, LewDix Aviation was born!
Over time, the videos got better as I was teaching myself how to edit what helped the content immensely was meeting my best friend Otto. You don't see him much on LewDix Aviation anymore but he is deeply ingrained into the foundations of my channel. With him I would go on cross country flights to build time where we would split the cost and each fly a leg. He had a channel called "Flight Creations" at the time so he would record his flight leg to put on his channel and I would record mine to put on LewDix Aviation. The term "good old days" doesn't cut it to explain how incredible those experiences were, not only for our friendship but for our growth as pilots. Our channels grew (slowly) too as we showcased just how much fun we had flying. That was what I wanted my channel to be - the place where people came to watch pilots having a great time doing the best thing on earth. That was the springboard for what was to come next!
Fast forward to 2016 when I became certified as a Flight Instructor (the most difficult checkride I have ever taken by the way) and a new vision for my channel started to take shape. I began to record my flights with student pilots and showing their progress (good & bad). One thing was different than the rest of the flight training content on YouTube though. You guessed it... FUN. I showed students laughing, joking and most importantly celebrating successes throughout their training. LewDix Aviation evolved into the place to celebrate pilots and in turn welcome new people to the aviation world. From the outside, aviation can seem inaccessible and an impossible dream. People who watch my channel are given the license to dream and access aviation as they see how human it is. I hope you will forgive my self indulgence but I am proud to say that I pioneered this style of video on YouTube. You don't come to LewDix Aviation to watch a boring, empty video. You come for the fun and stay for the information.
Current day..
It's over 10 years since I started LewDix Aviation and presently there are over 600 videos on the channel spanning a wide range of styles and topics. There are fun flights, flight training videos, subscriber flights, cross country adventures, pilot vlogs, airline flights from the cockpit of an ATR, podcasts, aviation "mockumentaries" and so much more. My channel is truly a place for pilots of all experience levels. In a way it's a historical look at what I've done in my aviation career. What started as a journey through my instrument training has moved through commercial, CFI, multi-engine, instructing students and life as an airline pilot, which is what I do full time these days. I'm currently a First Officer at a seriously nice airline which is the second company I have flown for.
It's been an incredible journey so far. I've had the opportunity to meet so many people that have made a difference in my life and journey and I thank all who have watched and supported through the years. We aren't stopping here! I'll see you in the next video!
WELCOME TO THE SKY
Lew