Aviation Content Creators and Productized Market Opportunities

When listing aviation content creators, it’s valuable to include both high-profile channels and niche creators. Large creators (100K+ followers) provide broad reach and credibility, while niche creators (50K+ followers) often have high engagement and loyal audiences. In fact, micro-influencers (roughly 10K–100K followers) tend to see much higher engagement rates (around 6%) compared to mega-influencers (~1.97%). This means a smaller aviation channel with a dedicated fanbase can drive significant interaction and trust, complementing the wider exposure of bigger channels.

Therefore, an expanded list should feature a mix of both mega influencers and strong niche voices in aviation, as long as they have a following above ~50K. Below, we cover notable aviation creators on YouTube and TikTok, reflecting this balance.

Top Aviation YouTube Creators (50K+ Followers)

• Mentour Pilot (Petter Hörnfeldt) – An airline pilot sharing detailed accident analyses, pilot tutorials, and industry insights. His channel has over 2 million subscribers, making him a go-to source for aviation enthusiasts and aspiring pilots.
• Captain Joe (Joe Diebolder) – A commercial pilot who demystifies cockpit procedures and aviation concepts for over 1.6 million YouTube subscribers. His educational videos on how airplanes work are both accessible and highly popular.
• Sam Chui – One of the largest aviation YouTubers with 3.6 million subscribers. Sam is known for high-production flight experience vlogs, airline reviews (especially first-class cabin tours), and exotic air travel adventures.
• 74 Gear (Kelsey Hughes) – A Boeing 747 pilot who combines professional insight with humor. He has about 1.25 million subscribers. Content includes reacting to viral aviation videos and explaining “Hollywood vs Reality” in flying.
• DutchPilotGirl (Michelle Gooris) – An airline pilot offering an inside look at flying passenger jets, with ~382K subscribers. She shares cockpit footage of takeoffs/landings and tips on becoming a pilot, engaging a younger audience with her relatable style.
• (Other examples) Just Planes (professional cockpit and spotting videos, 3.5M+ subs), Airforceproud95 (flight-simulator comedy, ~1M+ subs)beacons.ai, DJ’s Aviation (aviation news channel, 361K subs), FlightChops (GA flying vlogs, ~360K subs), Steveo1Kinevo (private TBM pilot vlogs, ~430K subs), and Premier1Driver (corporate jet pilot vlogs, ~201K subs) are also influential independent creators. Each of these channels has a distinct niche – from general aviation adventures to airline operations – ensuring a well-rounded list that goes beyond just follower count to include specialty content and engagement.

Top Aviation TikTok Creators (50K+ Followers)

• Captain PilotAmireh (@pilotamireh) – An airline captain and instructor with a massive TikTok presence (over 4.5 million followers). He delivers quick aviation tips, cockpit POV clips, and humor, ending videos with his catchphrase “Fly safe, see you in the next video!”.
• Pilot Patrick (@pilotpatrick) – A German long-haul pilot known for travel and cockpit vlogs (~1.6 million followers)fastercapital.com. He showcases the pilot lifestyle (pre-flight prep, layovers around the world) and often collaborates with peers on fun challenges.
• First Officer Charlotte (@pilotcharlotte) – A first officer on Airbus jets who has attracted 1.3 million followers by sharing her journey as a female pilot. Her TikToks explain flying procedures and break stereotypes with a mix of education and trending soundsfastercapital.com.
• FlywithGarrett (@flywithgarrett) – A certified flight instructor using TikTok (2.3 million followers) to highlight gorgeous cockpit views and student pilot experiences. He makes flying feel accessible, answering common questions and inspiring newbiesfastercapital.com.
• FlyJake (@flyjake) – A U.S. airline pilot who infuses humor into relatable skits (over 1.5 million followers). His content ranges from parodying TikTok trends with an aviation twist to serious behind-the-scenes looks at pilot life.
• Pilot Maria (@pilotmaria) – A Swedish pilot and TikTok star (1.4 million followers) advocating for women in aviationfastercapital.com. She combines travel footage from 70+ countries with educational tidbits and motivational content, leveraging her dual roles as pilot and influencer.
• Additional niche examples: AlmostCaptainMorgan – an airline pilot sharing day-in-the-life videos (~650K TikTok followers, also active on YouTube/Instagram); Pilot Yellow – a regional pilot with comedic takes on flight operations; Corporate Pilot Ryan (@pilotryan) – a private jet pilot showing the luxury jet-set life while educating on bizav operations. Including these mid-sized creators (50K–500K range) ensures representation of specialized content (e.g. bush flying, helicopter pilots, flight attendants) that resonates strongly within sub-communities.

(By featuring both mega influencers and niche creators above 50K followers, you capture wide audience reach and high engagement niches – striking the balance you asked about.)

Productized Market Segments in the Small Aviation Business Space

Beyond content and sponsorships, independent creators and small aviation businesses are productizing their brand and expertise into sellable offerings. Below we outline key segments – from merchandise to online courses – with real-world examples (including live URLs) and a brief go-to-market workflow for each. These examples focus on individual creators (ICs) and small businesses, rather than large corporations, as requested.

Branded Merchandise (Apparel & Accessories)

Many aviation creators turn their personal brand into merchandise that fans can purchase. Branded apparel, hats, models, and accessories allow followers to show support and feel part of a community. For example, YouTuber Greg Mink (Premier1Driver) runs an official online store selling t-shirts, caps, and other branded gear featuring his logo and even aircraft tail numbers. The Premier1Driver store (built on Shopify) frequently runs promotions like seasonal sales (e.g. “25% off clearance” code) to drive engagement. Another creator, Baron Pilot, offers a merch shop that extends into pilot supplies – his site sells not only clothing (hoodies, hats, etc.) but also aviation watches and cockpit gadgets curated for pilots. These stores demonstrate how a creator’s persona can evolve into a small e-commerce business.

Go-to-Market Workflow – Merchandise:

1. Design & Sourcing: Creators design aviation-themed products (logos, catchy pilot phrases, aircraft illustrations) or partner with designers. They often use print-on-demand services or local suppliers to produce items with minimal upfront cost.
2. Online Store Setup: Launch an online storefront (commonly via Shopify or similar platforms) to showcase the products. For instance, Premier1Driver’s site is a dedicated Shopify store for all his merchandisepremier1driver.com.
3. Promotion: Leverage the creator’s existing audience to announce and advertise the merch. This includes YouTube video shout-outs, Instagram/TikTok posts modeling the gear, discount codes (as seen with Premier1Driver’s promotions), and limited-edition product drops timed with milestones (e.g. “100K subscriber” special merch).
4. Fulfillment & Support: Use print-on-demand fulfillment or manage inventory for orders. Ensure reliable shipping and customer service, often handled via the platform or a small team. Creators maintain engagement by encouraging buyers to share photos in merch, thereby creating a feedback loop that promotes the products organically within the fan community.

Aviation Marketplaces (Hangar Listings & Small Aircraft Sales)

Some aviation entrepreneurs carve out a niche in facilitating the buy/sell of aviation assets – for example, online marketplaces for aircraft hangars or parts. A prime example is HangarTrader (HangarTrader.com), a small business founded to connect people looking to buy, sell, or rent airplane hangars. HangarTrader launched as a free classified site in 2001 and grew to become a premier platform for hangar commerce across the U.S.. It offers free listings with photos/videos and even has features like a “waiting list” that notifies users of new hangar postings meeting their criteria. By focusing on this underserved niche, HangarTrader now boasts thousands of users and top Google search rankings for hangar listings. This exemplifies how a small aviation business can productize a marketplace service – essentially turning the need for hangar space into a scalable product (the website/platform itself).

Go-to-Market Workflow – Aviation Marketplace:

1. Identify Niche & Build Platform: Develop a user-friendly platform tailored to a specific market need (e.g., hangar classifieds). In HangarTrader’s case, the niche was hangar real estate, and they built an online classified solution dedicated to that. A simple interface for posting ads and searching listings is key.
2. Value Proposition (Often Free): Attract the initial user base by lowering barriers – HangarTrader made listings free for listers, which helped quickly populate the site with ads. Free basic listings or trials are a common strategy to seed a new marketplace.
3. Community Outreach & SEO: Market the platform through aviation forums, social media groups, and industry events to reach pilots, airport managers, and airplane owners. Simultaneously, invest in SEO so that anyone searching “hangar for sale/rent” finds the site. (HangarTrader’s success in ranking #1 on Google for relevant searches shows the payoff of this approach.)
4. Scale and Monetize: As listings and traffic grow, maintain quality and trust. Introduce revenue streams like premium listing placements, advertising partnerships (with insurers, manufacturers, etc.), or affiliate links. For example, HangarTrader likely earns by featuring related resources (insurance companies, door manufacturers, etc., as linked on their site) while keeping basic ads free. Keeping users engaged with extras like email alerts (the “waiting list” feature) also builds loyalty and repeat visits.

Online Pilot Training Courses & Educational Platforms

Another way content creators and small aviation businesses productize their expertise is through educational content – specifically, paid online courses or training memberships. A notable case is MzeroA (Jason Schappert’s platform). Jason started by sharing free flying lessons and tips on YouTube (his “MzeroA Flight Training” channel has over 210K subscribers). He then converted that following into a thriving business selling online ground school courses for private pilot, instrument, and commercial ratings. On MzeroA.com, students can subscribe to a comprehensive e-learning program with video lessons, quizzes, and live webinars. The courses use the “Aviation Mastery Method” and even include interactive simulators and weekly live Q&A sessions to add value beyond static videos. MzeroA offers a free 2-week trial and a money-back guarantee, lowering the risk for new customers. This combination of free content marketing and a premium course offering is a proven model in the aviation training niche.

Other examples include Gold Seal Online Ground School (another independent CFI-led platform) and traditional DVD-course veterans like King Schools (though larger scale). Even individual creators sometimes package their knowledge into products – e.g., a bush pilot YouTuber selling an e-book or mini-course on backcountry flying techniques, or a flight instructor on Instagram offering a paid mentorship group via Patreon. These are all productized knowledge.

Go-to-Market Workflow – Online Courses:

1. Build Credibility with Free Content: Demonstrate expertise and build an audience through free channels (YouTube tutorials, blog articles, podcasts). This establishes trust and creates a pool of prospective customers. For instance, MzeroA’s hundreds of free YouTube videos on flight training formed a marketing funnel for his courses.
2. Develop a Compelling Course Product: Create a structured curriculum that addresses a clear need (e.g., “Pass the Private Pilot FAA Exam” or “IFR Made Easy”). Incorporate multimedia (video lessons, PDFs, quizzes) and interactive elements (live sessions, community forums) to differentiate from just free content. The course should promise tangible outcomes (license exam success, improved piloting skills) backed by the creator’s personal experience.
3. Offer Trials or Guarantees: To overcome skepticism, provide free trials or satisfaction guarantees. MzeroA, for example, gives a 2-week free trial with no credit card required and a 30-day money-back guarantee for subscribers. This reduces friction and builds confidence in the value of the course.
4. Conversion and Community: Convert engaged followers to paying students by regularly promoting the course within free content (e.g., YouTube video mentions “check out my full ground school”). Use email newsletters and social media to share success stories of past students, creating FOMO and social proof. Once enrolled, keep students engaged via community features – live Q&As (as Jason does weekly), discussion groups, or progress tracking. An active student community adds value and encourages word-of-mouth referrals, completing the cycle of growth.

Each of these productized segments — merchandise, marketplaces, and courses — illustrates a workflow from leveraging an existing audience or need, developing a tailored product, and marketing it effectively in the aviation niche. By focusing on independent creators and small businesses, we see how authenticity and community trust play a huge role. A YouTuber with a loyal following can successfully launch a merch line or a training program because fans perceive high value and relevance. Likewise, a tiny aviation startup can dominate a niche like hangar listings through community focus and clever go-to-market tactics. The key is aligning the product with the specific interests of the aviation audience and using the creator’s or company’s unique position in the community as a springboard.

Real-World Examples Summary (with Live URLs):

• Merch Stores: [Premier1Driver Official Store】 – Branded apparel and accessories from YouTuber Greg “Premier 1 Driver” (e.g. hats, shirts with his jet’s tail number). Uses Shopify for e-commerce.
• Merch/Pilot Gear: [BaronPilotShop.com】 – Creator-run shop selling pilot apparel and flight gear (sunglasses, GoPro mounts, etc.), expanding a personal brand into a broader online pilot supply store.
• Hangar Marketplace: [HangarTrader.com – Free Hangar Classifieds】 – Niche platform for hangar sales/rentals, started as a small business project and now a leading marketplace (#1 Google result for “hangars for rent”). Revenue via ads and industry partnerships while keeping listings free.
• Online Courses: [MzeroA.com Online Ground School】 – Subscription-based pilot courses (Private/Instrument/Commercial) created by a YouTuber-CFI. Features interactive lessons and live webinars. Notably offers a free trial to convert followers to subscribers.
• Online Courses: Gold Seal Ground School – Another independent CFI’s online ground school with FAA-approved training modules. (Demonstrates multiple small players can succeed in the pilot training market by differentiating on teaching style and personal brand).

In conclusion, combining an expanded creator list (YouTube + TikTok, 50K+ followers) with these productized market examples gives a comprehensive view. We not only acknowledge the major and mid-tier influencers engaging the aviation community, but also show how those creators (and other small aviation entrepreneurs) are monetizing their influence or filling gaps in the market. This dual approach addresses both the audience-building aspect (through content creators of various scales) and the revenue-generation aspect (through merchandise, marketplaces, and courses), providing a well-rounded foundation for further strategy or research in the aviation niche.

Mentour Pilot (YouTube)

• Top Content Examples:
  1. “A NEW Trace! The FULL MH370 Story, so far..” – In-depth investigation of the MH370 disappearance (≈6.5M views)youtube.com.
  2. “The REAL Story of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17!” – Explains the MH17 incident with analysis (≈3.4M views)youtube.com.
  3. “My Pilot is DECEASED!!! I NEED HELP!” – Interview with passenger-turned-pilot Doug White (King Air emergency landing)youtube.com.
  4. “Is THIS a Passenger’s Worst NIGHTMARE?!” – Recount of Air France 1414’s dive incident, examining what went wrong (viral incident analysis)youtube.com.
  5. “The Crash that Killed Concorde – The Real Story” – A detailed breakdown of the Air France Concorde crash and its causes (popular historic case study).
• 5 Content Ideas (Inspired by Mentour Pilot’s Best Performers):
  • Crash Course Explainer Series: Simplify famous air accidents for a general audience – e.g. a short animated breakdown of what caused a well-known crash and how aviation changed afterward (inspired by Mentour’s MH370/MH17 deep-dives).
  • “Miracle on the Hudson” Retold: A dramatic retelling of an incredible successful emergency landing (like Flight 1549 on the Hudson) with insights into what the pilots did rightyoutube.com – to reassure and educate flying-curious viewers.
  • Cockpit Q&A on Scary Scenarios: A video of a pilot answering common “What if” fears (engine failure, turbulence, etc.) and debunking myths in an accessible way (playing off the “worst nightmare” scenario interestyoutube.com).
  • Behind the Scenes of Investigation: Take viewers through how pilots study crash reports (e.g. walk through a simplified investigation of a minor incident) to show the industry’s safety processes (building on the analytical style of Mentour’s content).
  • Learning from Close Calls: An educational series highlighting near-miss stories (times when disaster was narrowly avoided) and what changes they spurred – packaged for entertainment and awareness (inspired by real incidents Mentour covered).

Captain Joe (YouTube)

• Top Content Examples:
  1. “Where do PILOTS + FLIGHT ATTENDANTS sleep on PLANES?” – Explores crew rest areas on long flights (viral explainer, ~11M views)youtube.com.
  2. “Can a PASSENGER land a PLANE?” – Answers the classic emergency question in detail (~9.2M views)youtube.com.
  3. “WATCH this video before BECOMING A PILOT!” – Shares tips and truths for aspiring pilots (~5.2M views)youtube.com.
  4. “Why do PILOTS DUMP FUEL???” – Explains an important safety procedure in simple terms (popular educational topic)youtube.com.
  5. “Pilots answer 50 MOST Googled Passenger Questions” – A collaboration answering rapid-fire common questions (wide appeal)youtube.com.
• 5 Content Ideas (Inspired by Captain Joe’s Best Performers):
  • Airline Secrets Revealed: A series unveiling “hidden” parts of flying – e.g. pilot rest bunks (inspired by the crew rest video) or how in-flight meals for pilots work – to satisfy viewers’ curiosity about life aloft.
  • Could You Land the Plane? (Simulator Challenge): Create an engaging simulation where an average person tries to land a virtual airliner with guidance, highlighting the challenges (playing on the popular passenger-landing questionyoutube.com).
  • “So You Want to Be a Pilot” Mini-Guide: A fun, myth-busting checklist for aspiring pilots, covering training, lifestyle, and career tips (building on Captain Joe’s pilot career advice videos).
  • Why Do Pilots…? (Quick Answers): A rapid-fire series addressing questions like “Why do pilots dump fuel?”, “Why lights dim on takeoff?”, “Why hold patterns?” etc., each in under 2 minutes, to educate and entertainyoutube.com.
  • Google Autocomplete Challenge (Aviation Edition): Have a pilot answer the internet’s top aviation questions (similar to the 50 Googled Questionsyoutube.com but in a challenge format), bringing factual answers with a touch of humor to engage a broad audience.

Sam Chui (YouTube)

• Top Content Examples:
  1. “Inside The World’s Only Private Boeing 787 Dreamliner!” – Tour of a $300M luxury BBJ 787 (ultra-viral, ~71M views)youtube.com.
  2. “The Complete Emirates A380 First Class Review” – Lavish first-class flight experience on Emirates A380 (~42M views)youtube.com.
  3. “The $20,000 Residence on Etihad A380” – Exclusive 3-room suite in the sky (luxury flight review, ~17M views)youtube.com.
  4. “EXTREME Flight – Flying Aerosucre’s 44-Year-Old Cargo Plane” – Riding in a shaky old cargo jet in Colombia (adventure vlog, ~8.3M views)youtube.com.
  5. “First Class From Start to Finish – Emirates A380 Dubai to Cairo” – Day-in-the-life style journey on a short first-class flight (luxury + behind-scenes, ~7.2M views)youtube.com.
• 5 Content Ideas (Inspired by Sam Chui’s Best Performers):
  • “Luxury vs. Budget” Flight Showdown: Film one trip in an ultra-luxury private jet or suite (inspired by Sam’s private 787 and Etihad Residence toursyoutube.comyoutube.com) and another in standard economy, comparing the experiences side by side to entertain viewers with contrasts.
  • Cockpit Access: Cargo Adventure Edition: Take viewers on a day as a cargo pilot, flying an old aircraft or to a remote destination – echoing the thrill of Sam’s Aerosucre cargo plane video, but with more educational narration about the differences in cargo operations.
  • Airline Unicorns: Spotlight rare aviation experiences (like flying on the last passenger DC-10 or a special historical aircraft ride) – tapping into viewers’ fascination with unique flights similar to Sam’s exotic trips.
  • First-Class Behind the Scenes: Create a mini-documentary of what happens behind the curtain in first class – from menu planning to cabin crew training for luxury service – to capitalize on interest in luxury travel and satisfy curiosity about how it all works (inspired by Sam’s first-class reviewsyoutube.com).
  • Around the World Challenge: Vlog a journey using 5 different classes of service on 5 airlines (from private jet to low-cost carrier economy) in one trip. This idea, inspired by Sam’s range of content (from private jets to commercial cabins), would be entertaining, educational, and globally engaging.

74 Gear (YouTube)

• Top Content Examples:
  1. “2AM Call to Fly a 747” – Vlog of an abrupt duty call and overnight cargo flight (gripping day-in-the-life, ~5.2M views)youtube.com.
  2. “21-Hour Day as a 747 Pilot” – Exhaustive journey through a long-haul work day (pilot vlog, ~2.2M views)youtube.com.
  3. “We’re Flying WHAT?!” – Surprise assignment to an unusual aircraft or route (fun vlog, ~1.7M views)youtube.com.
  4. “747 Slams Landing and Bounces (Viral Debrief)” – Reaction/analysis of a hard landing clip (pilot reacts format, ~1.7M views)youtube.com.
  5. “Hollywood vs. Reality: Pilot Reacts” – Series where the 747 pilot critiques movie/TV flying scenes (popular reaction content).
• 5 Content Ideas (Inspired by 74 Gear’s Best Performers):
  • Midnight Scramble Vlog: Recreate the energy of a sudden late-night call – film a “pilot on standby” scenario where within hours you go from home to cockpit. This would deliver the spontaneous, authentic feel of the 2AM call videoyoutube.com and give insight into cargo operations.
  • Longest Day Challenge: Document an extreme duty day but add viewer interaction – e.g. live updates or Q&A throughout a 20+ hour day in a pilot’s life. This invites the audience into the experience (building on the 21-hour day content) and educates about fatigue management.
  • “Fly This!” Unusual Aircraft Test: A series where the pilot tries flying simulators of unusual or old aircraft (or actually visits them) – inspired by the “We’re Flying WHAT?!” excitement, it entertains viewers with rare aviation experiences through a 747 pilot’s eyes.
  • Landing React Mashup: Do a special reacting to the top 5 scariest landings caught on video, pausing to explain what went wrong or right in each. This leverages the viral appeal of hard-landing clipsyoutube.com and provides professional commentary that educates viewers.
  • Movie vs. Reality – Interactive: Expand the Hollywood vs. Reality concept by letting fans submit movie scenes to “bust.” The pilot can then react in short segments (TikTok/shorts style) to each submission, boosting engagement and tapping into the same niche that made the original series popular.

Airforceproud95 (YouTube)

• Top Content Examples:
  1. “747 Pilot LOSES HIS MIND in FSX (Multiplayer ATC)” – Hilarious flight sim role-play where a pilot character goes berserk (viral gaming skit, ~11M views)youtube.com.
  2. “FUNNIEST Flight Sim MOMENTS of 2018” – Annual compilation of comedic mishaps in Microsoft Flight Simulator (~8.1M views)youtube.com.
  3. “FUNNIEST Flight Sim MOMENTS of 2017!!” – Earlier year’s best-of montage of trolling and chaos (∼5.2M views)youtube.com.
  4. “FUNNIEST Flight Sim MOMENTS of 2019” – Another yearly highlight reel of ATC laughs and fails (∼3.2M views)m.youtube.comyoutube.com.
  5. “Air Traffic Control gets INTENSE in Microsoft Flight Simulator” – A scenario of escalating chaos with virtual ATC (highly engaging for gamers and avgeeks alike).
• 5 Content Ideas (Inspired by Airforceproud95’s Best Performers):
  • “Flight Sim Trolls IRL” Series: Film real pilots reacting to Airforceproud95’s funniest sim moments. Their commentary on the absurd ATC dialogues would be both informative and hilarious, blending real-world insight with the channel’s comedy style.
  • ATC Comedy Skits: Create scripted short skits where live ATC (played by creators) handles outrageous scenarios – essentially bringing the multiplayer ATC chaos to a wider audience in a quick, shareable format (building on the viral ATC moments that define AFP95’s contentyoutube.com).
  • Annual “Top 5” with a Twist: Instead of standard clip compilations, present the year’s funniest sim moments as an award show (e.g. “Simmy Awards” for categories like Worst Pilot of the Year, Funniest ATC Quote, etc.). This keeps the beloved compilation formatyoutube.com fresh and extra entertaining.
  • Real Pilots Try Flight Simulator Challenge: Invite an actual pilot or instructor to attempt one of AFP95’s chaotic flight simulator scenarios (like a crazy approach or emergency) and film the results. This idea merges simulation humor with real-world piloting skills in an engaging way.
  • Community Multiplayer Mayhem: Host a live-streamed multiplayer event with followers, setting funny objectives (like everyone tries to land at once). Highlights from the event can be edited into a “funniest moments” video, tapping into the participatory vibe of AFP95’s content and fostering community engagement.

DutchPilotGirl – Michelle G. (YouTube)

• Top Content Examples:
  1. “Extremely GUSTY Crosswind LANDING – Boeing 737-400 at Milan” – Cockpit view of a challenging crosswind landing (≈2M views)youtube.com.
  2. “BOEING 737 Landing – Amsterdam Schiphol RWY36C (Cockpit View)” – Smooth landing at a major airport from the pilot’s perspective (widely watched by avgeeks).
  3. “Challenging 737 Landing – Madeira Funchal Airport” – Turbulent approach into a famously difficult airport (engaging and educational for viewers).
  4. “Epic SNOWY Landing – B737 in Tromsø, Norway” – Cockpit view of landing amid snow at an Arctic Circle airport (visual spectacle).
  5. “Why Would You Want to BECOME a Pilot?” – Pilot’s perspective on the joys of flying and career tips (personal vlog/educational content).
• 5 Content Ideas (Inspired by DutchPilotGirl’s Best Performers):
  • Cockpit View 101: A narrated cockpit landing series where Michelle explains each step of how she executes challenging landings (e.g. crosswind technique, short runway strategy). This builds on the popularity of her dramatic landing videosyoutube.com but adds an educational layer for the curious viewer.
  • Around the World in 5 Landings: A compilation video of approaches into five of the world’s most challenging airports (one could be Madeira like in her content, plus others). She can rank them by difficulty and share what it’s like as the pilot, mixing stunning visuals with insight.
  • Pilot Life: From Cockpit to Home: A vlog that starts with a cockpit landing clip and transitions to her life on the ground post-flight. Fans of her cockpit views would enjoy seeing what happens after the landing – humanizing the pilot behind the yoke and appealing to a broader lifestyle audience.
  • Female Pilot Q&A: Using her platform, Michelle can answer the most frequent questions she gets as a female airline pilot – from training to work-life balance – to inspire others. (This idea is inspired by the personal angle in her “Why become a pilot?” content and her role as an industry role model.)
  • Simulator Challenge – Recreate My Scariest Landing: Michelle could use a flight simulator to walk viewers through the stormiest, toughest landing she’s ever done for real, as seen in her videos, explaining decisions in real-time. This interactive tutorial format leverages her popular real cockpit footage and turns it into an engaging lesson.

FlywithGarrett – Garrett Ray (TikTok)

• Top Content Examples:
  1. “POV: Stunning Sunset at 35,000 ft” – A quick clip of a serene cockpit/airfield sunset lounge view that went viral (~5.1M views)tiktok.com.
  2. “What’s in My Flight Bag” – A short tour of the pilot’s flight bag essentials (relatable behind-the-scenes, high engagement; one clip garnered ~5M views in a week)tiktok.com.
  3. “Day in the Life – NYC Pilot” – Mini-vlog of Garrett’s routine flying and exploring New York, mixing aviation and lifestyle (several posts with 500K–800K+ views).
  4. “3 Tips to Build Flight Hours” – An educational TikTok giving advice to student pilots on logging hours (popular informational content, >300K views)tiktok.com.
  5. “Celebrating Milestones” – Personal milestone or birthday post, tying in aviation (e.g. his 28th birthday video got ~180K views, showing personal side of a pilot).
• 5 Content Ideas (Inspired by FlywithGarrett’s Best Performers):
  • Cockpit View + Motivation Quote: Combine Garrett’s eye-catching sunset or sky views with an inspiring or informative voice-over. For example, “Morning above NYC” with a quick motivational insight about flying – leveraging the visual appeal that earned him millions of viewstiktok.com while also building his personal brand.
  • Flight Bag Surprise Challenge: Do a recurring bit where Garrett pulls a random item from his flight bag and tells a story or tip about it. This piggybacks on the success of his flight bag video, turning it into an ongoing series that mixes practical tips with storytelling (could be humorous or heartfelt).
  • Pilot’s NYC Guide: A TikTok mini-series where he, as an airline pilot based in NYC, highlights one favorite local spot or travel hack during layovers. This blends aviation with lifestyle/travel, inspired by his day-in-the-life content and appealing to a broad “flying-curious” audience.
  • Quick Pilot Hacks: Short videos with one actionable tip each for travelers or junior pilots (e.g. “How to beat jet lag – pilot approved” or “Secret phone apps pilots use for weather”). Garrett’s mix of aviation and daily life content suggests these bite-sized tips would engage both avgeeks and casual flyers.
  • Milestone Reaction/Thank You: When reaching follower milestones (e.g. 500k), film a special cockpit-view thank-you video with a cool background (sunrise or cloudscape) and a fun fact or blooper from his flying career. This idea is inspired by the personal touches in his content – it entertains existing fans and draws in new ones by showcasing the human side of being a pilot.

Pilot Drew – Andrew D. (TikTok)

• Top Content Examples:
  1. “Keep us out of your videos – #Stitch” – A viral stitch where Andrew responds to a trend, firmly telling people not to use pilots as clickbait (industry PSA that amassed 271K+ likes)tiktok.com.
  2. “Starting a 4-Day Trip, Happy Monday” – A cockpit selfie video kicking off a multi-day work trip, with a upbeat caption (relatable pilot-life moment; ~47.5K likes, thousands of comments)tiktok.com.
  3. “New Apartment Above the Clouds” – A tour of his high-rise apartment view, tying his lifestyle to his pilot career (merging personal life and aviation).
  4. “Health & Wellness: Stay Fit to Fly” – Clips of Andrew’s fitness or diet routine (e.g. him joking about drinking a gallon of water a day to stay healthy), connecting wellness to pilot life (well received by his followers).
  5. “POV: Family Time on Days Off” – Snippets of a family trip or off-duty life, showing the balance between an airline schedule and personal life (adds relatability beyond the cockpit).
• 5 Content Ideas (Inspired by Pilot Drew’s Best Performers):
  • Professional Pilot PSA Series: Andrew can continue leveraging his authoritative voice in short rants or myth-busting videos – for example, “Dear Passengers, please don’t joke about bombs at security” or “Memo to new pilots: don’t do XYZ on TikTok.” His no-nonsense stitch that went viral shows there’s demand for a pilot’s candid take on issuestiktok.com.
  • Work Trip Mini-Vlogs: Do a TikTok for each day of a 4-day trip – “Day 1: Early takeoff from Philly, nearly forgot my coffee!” etc., with a quick highlight or funny anecdote each day. This extends the concept of his popular trip-start videotiktok.com and keeps viewers hooked to see the whole journey.
  • Pilot Life vs. Normal Life: A fun comparison trend – e.g. split-screen of “Monday morning as a pilot (in uniform at 5am)” vs “Monday for everyone else (sleeping in).” Andrew’s content often mixes personal life, so this relatable format uses humor to draw in a general audience while subtly educating about pilot schedules.
  • Aviation + Men’s Lifestyle Tips: Andrew can merge his niches by, for instance, showcasing “What a pilot packs for a 4-day trip” (fashion, grooming, gadgets) or “Red-eye flight skincare routine” in a quick, tip-filled edit. This idea comes from his identity as both an airline pilot and a lifestyle/fitness content creator – appealing to viewers who share those interests.
  • Q&A in the Cockpit ( TikTok Live or Series): Invite his followers to ask questions in comments, then film rapid-fire response videos from the cockpit (on ground). For example, “Q: How do you handle turbulence? – A: … (with a cockpit view for effect)”. This interactive approach builds on his personable image and addresses the curiosity that makes his day-in-life posts engaging.

Each creator and platform above offers proven content themes – from dramatic cockpit footage and informative explainers to comedic skits and personal vlogs. The recommended ideas take inspiration from what works (high views & engagement) in the aviation niche and remix them to help a new aviation creator drive awareness, entertainment, and education for a broad audience. By learning from these top performers, an aspiring creator can craft content that is both highly engaging and accessible to flying enthusiasts and curious newcomers alikeyoutube.comtiktok.com. The key is balancing spectacle (amazing views or thrilling scenarios), storytelling (relatable or humorous narratives), and insights (educational takeaway) – a formula evident in the best of aviation social media content today.