Airplane Academy
The BEST Thing You Can Do In Aviation Right Now (And Where)
updated
Complete Private Pilot's License Process (Full Beginner's Guide) explained in this video!
Imagine this: you pull up to the airport, open your hangar, and your very own airplane is waiting for you. You take off, meet a friend a few hundred miles away for lunch, and you’re still home before dinner. That dream is 100% possible—and in this video I’ll walk you step-by-step through how to make it happen.
I’ve been a pilot for 18 years and owned an airplane for 9, and in this video I’ll break down:
✅ How ground school and the written exam work
✅ What flight training looks like (Part 61 vs. Part 141)
✅ Medical certificate considerations
✅ How the practical/checkride works (oral + flight test)
✅ What it costs and how long it takes
✅ Next steps once you’ve got your license
Whether you’re just dreaming about becoming a pilot or ready to start training, this guide will give you a clear roadmap of what it takes to earn your Private Pilot Certificate (often called the PPL or Private Pilot License).
📚 My Private Pilot Flashcards: airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
📝 Part 61 vs. Part 141 explained: airplaneacademy.com/part-61-vs-141-flight-schools-requirements-differences
💬 Want to discuss any of this with me 1:1? Book a call here → airplaneacademy.com/hire-charlie
👨✈️ About me: I’m Charlie, a commercial pilot and airplane owner who’s been sharing aviation lessons and resources through Airplane Academy for years. My goal is to make flying more approachable for aspiring and student pilots—without all the overwhelm. More here airplaneacademy.com/charlie-gasmire
#kodiak900
#turboprop
#daher
#PPL
#aviationflashcards
#pilotstudy
#Kodiak900
#Daher
#kodiak900
#daher
I have made every single mistake covered in this video. I'm sharing it in the hopes that it can help you avoid the same mistakes and be safer as a result.
✈️ Check out my Private Pilot Flashcards here: airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
Want my help 1:1? More info at airplaneacademy.com/hire-charlie
#Kodiak900
#daher
Turboprops can be confusing at first with the new terminology and equipment. But in this video I'm going to explain it to you in plain english. This is what I wish someone would have explained to me at the beginning of flying turboprops. I hope it helps you in your aviation journey!
This video is based on the Kodiak 100, so there may be differences in the plane you are flying.
Link to my video explaining constant speed propellers in plain english: youtu.be/CPrsIGI7ATQ
✈️ Check out my Private Pilot Flashcards here: airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
Want my help 1:1? More info at airplaneacademy.com/hire-charlie
@textronaviationinc @CessnaAircraftCo #cessna #cessna182
@textronaviationinc @CessnaAircraftCo
#pilatus #pilatuspc12
#eaaairventure #oshkosh2025
@TextronAviationInc
Becoming a pilot is one of the most rewarding things you can do—but it’s not always easy. In this video, I walk through some of the hardest parts of learning to fly and share actionable tips to make your training smoother and more effective.
From studying for the written exam to building cockpit muscle memory, dealing with radio intimidation, and staying motivated through the long haul—it’s all here. I’ll also share some personal stories from my own journey, like barely passing my private pilot written test at 15 years old, and the mindset shift that helped me finally finish my commercial rating after two failed attempts.
One of the biggest takeaways? Studying smarter matters. I’ll explain why passive methods like reading and highlighting aren’t nearly as effective as active recall, and how tools like flashcards can help you actually retain what you’re learning.
If you’re a student pilot—or thinking about becoming one—I hope this video gives you both practical help and some encouragement to stick with it.
✈️ Check out my Private Pilot Flashcards here: airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
👉 And if you're just starting your aviation journey, watch this next: youtu.be/zC039nSFKtg
#pilottraining #studentpilot #learn2fly #aviationtips #airplaneacademy
Want my help 1:1? More info at airplaneacademy.com/hire-charlie
Monday: YouTuber meet & greet, 2:30-3:30pm, Forum Stage 7
Wednesday: Co-event meet & greet with Chris Palmer from Angle of Attack, 11:30am-12:15pm, Textron (Cessna) display
Hope to see you there!
Monday: YouTuber meet & greet, 2:30-3:30pm, Forum Stage 7
Wednesday: Co-event meet & greet with Chris Palmer from Angle of Attack, 11:30am-12:15pm, Textron (Cessna) display
Hope to see you there!
If you're preparing for your private, commercial, or multi-engine checkride, this video is for you. I've passed 5 checkrides so far—and I’m sharing every hard-earned lesson I’ve learned along the way. This isn’t theoretical advice. It’s stuff I’ve done wrong and regretted… and things I did right and was glad I did. If you’re feeling nervous, overwhelmed, or unsure about how to mentally and practically prepare, you’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.
In this video, we’ll cover:
✅ How to deal with checkride nerves (and why it’s okay to feel them)
✅ A simple mindset shift that takes the pressure off
✅ The “cleaning the china” study method for the oral exam
✅ How to use active recall to study more effectively
✅ Why you should talk less during the oral—and how to mentally prep for that
✅ Practical flight test tips, including maneuver setups, documentation, mock checkrides, and emergency curveballs
✅ My biggest regret from a checkride (so you don’t make the same mistake)
I also share how I personally organized my logbooks and study materials to make a great impression on the examiner—plus a behind-the-scenes story of a surprise engine failure on a checkride.
👀 Want help with oral prep? Check out my 350+ flashcards reviewed by CFIs:
👉 airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
Good luck on your checkride—you’ve got this!
#CheckrideTips #PrivatePilot #FlightTraining #PilotCheckride #PilotAdvice #StudentPilot #OralExam #FlightTest
Want my help 1:1? More info at airplaneacademy.com/hire-charlie
#shorts #cessna182
Check out my set of 350+ private pilot flashcards here! airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
More about me: airplaneacademy.com/charlie-gasmire
Want my help 1:1? More info at airplaneacademy.com/hire-charlie
Check out my set of 350+ private pilot flashcards here! airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
More about me: airplaneacademy.com/charlie-gasmire
Want my help 1:1? More info at airplaneacademy.com/hire-charlie
Second video explaining how to use it in each phase of flight: youtu.be/-Ba_IpCyKIw
Check out my set of 350+ private pilot flashcards here! airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
More about me: airplaneacademy.com/charlie-gasmire
I'll be honest... talking with Air Traffic Control really freaked me out at first. But over time it got WAY easier and in this video I wanted to share some encouragement and practical tips that help make it easier.
Here's the video linked at the end where I took a flight and experienced like 90%+ of what you'll encounter as a private pilot in regards to ATC: youtu.be/i2PqLEvV-Qo
More about me: airplaneacademy.com/charlie-gasmire
Here are some links mentioned in the video:
PHAK Download: faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/faa-h-8083-25c.pdf
Airplane Academy Flashcards: airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
Engines Book: amzn.to/4koMdQ9
Flying the Weather Map Book: amzn.to/4j1Xd4P
Aircraft Systems Book: amzn.to/3GSgdFx
Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links, meaning if you purchase I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Study about accountability: https://www.dominican.edu/sites/default/files/2020-02/gailmatthews-harvard-goals-researchsummary.pdf
Text to your friend: "Hey - I’m going to do a 30-day aviation study challenge and spend 15 minutes a day studying aviation ground school. This is important to me and I could really use some friendly accountability to make sure I stick to it… would you be willing to set a reminder to text me Monday mornings for four weeks and ask if I studied last week, and if I didn’t, ask me what is standing in the way? It would mean a lot to me. Feel free to join me in this challenge if you want and do something meaningful to you for 15 minutes a day as well and we can do it together!”
More about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
Check out my private pilot flashcards that can make your studying and retention 10X easier! airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
Join my free weekly Insiders Newsletter where I share an honest lesson learned, links to my latest content, and other behind the scenes content: airplaneacademy.com/insiders
Want my help 1:1? More info at airplaneacademy.com/hire-charlie
More about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
Check out my private pilot flashcards that can make your studying and retention 10X easier! airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
Join my free weekly Insiders Newsletter where I share an honest lesson learned, links to my latest content, and other behind the scenes content: airplaneacademy.com/insiders
Link to step-by-step process of buying your first airplane: youtu.be/oIgX89kf6r4
Check out my private pilot flashcards that can make your studying and retention 10X easier! airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
More about me at airplaneacademy.com
Want my help 1:1? More info at airplaneacademy.com/hire-charlie
It took me well over a year to make these but they're finally HERE! These private pilot study flashcards are perfect for pilots of all levels (because everything in aviation builds upon what we learn as a private pilot) and are based on the applicable sections of the:
- Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK)
- Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)
- Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
They're reviewed, edited, and approved by flight instructors, and proudly made in the USA. There's 351 cards separated into six different color-coded sections so that it's easy to focus on particular topics.
Basically, I poured my heart and soul into these cards and I'm so proud of the final product. I hope you'll take a minute to check it out! airplaneacademy.com/flashcards
This is the hardest thing I’ve done in my professional career but they’re nearly ready to ship. I spent hundreds and hundreds of hours on these, worked with a talented CFI panel to spend hundreds of more hours editing and approving everything, built custom visuals for tons of the cards, and nearly pulled my hair out on multiple occasions. But it was so worth it and I can’t wait to share them with you!!
Learn more about my private pilot flashcards launching SOON: airplaneacademy.com/waitlist
Also mentioned in the video, 11 Ways to Instantly Get Better Talking to ATC: youtu.be/007NjHt7rJQ
More about me and Airplane Academy: airplaneacademy.com
Waitlist for the set of 350 flashcards I've been working on for over a year: airplaneacademy.com/waitlist
More about me and Airplane Academy: airplaneacademy.com
Waitlist for the set of 350 flashcards I've been working on for over a year: airplaneacademy.com/waitlist
More about me and Airplane Academy: airplaneacademy.com
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
Link to full flight: youtu.be/yeE_CdpHqEs
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts #pilatus
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
Link to full flight: youtu.be/yeE_CdpHqEs
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts #pilatus
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
Link to full flight: youtu.be/yeE_CdpHqEs
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts #pilatus
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
Link to full flight: youtu.be/yeE_CdpHqEs
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts #pilatus
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
Link to full flight: youtu.be/yeE_CdpHqEs
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts #pilatus
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
Link to full flight: youtu.be/yeE_CdpHqEs
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts #pilatus
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
Link to full flight: youtu.be/yeE_CdpHqEs
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts #pilatus
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts #pilatus
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts #pilatus
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts #pilatus
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts
Link to full tour of the PC-24: youtu.be/0VnpAr1pZA0
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts
@PilatusAircraftLtd
More info about me and Airplane Academy at airplaneacademy.com
#shorts
Join the waitlist for pilot flashcards here: airplaneacademy.com/waitlist
More info on me here: airplaneacademy.com/charlie-gasmire
I recently got to fly the Pilatus PC-24 jet and it was absolutely amazing. It flies 400+ knots, is certified for single pilot operations, cruises at 45,000 feet, and can land on dirt, gravel, and grass airstrips. This airplane is simply unreal. In this video our demo pilot, Gerard, provides a detailed walkthrough of the aircraft and points out its unique features.
Other videos in this series:
My overall impressions/reaction: youtu.be/gDhMSRARdF0
Detailed cockpit tour: youtu.be/7mJ83JqIidY
Full flight: youtu.be/yeE_CdpHqEs
Join my Insiders Newsletter where once a week I share a lesson I've learned in aviation, my latest content, and links to other interesting or helpful content I've found recently -- airplaneacademy.com/insiders
More about Charlie: airplaneacademy.com/charlie-gasmire
Want my help 1:1? More info at airplaneacademy.com/hire-charlie
Today I'm announcing the biggest project I've ever worked on... it will be available soon and is perfect for aspiring, student, and licensed pilots alike. Watch the full video for more info!
More info on Charlie Gasmire: airplaneacademy.com/charlie-gasmire


