AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2022 - 112

PILOTS
Josh Flowers
Mr. Aviation 101
BY JULIE SUMMERS WALKER
LOGBOOK /
HOURS / 2,100
CERTIFICATES AND RATINGS / Airplane
single-engine land/sea, CFII, tailwheel
FAVOR I TE AIRCR AFT / My favorite aircraft is
whatever fits my current mission. I'm very partial to
any high-wing Cessna simply because that's what
I was exposed to at a very early age, so there's a
subtle fondness attached to a Cessna.
EXTR A / If I filled a big hangar with my desired
" fleet, " I'd want a high-performance, heavy-hauling
backcountry aircraft; a high-and-fast cross-country
airplane; and a sporty aerobatic airplane.
but had hung up his headset when his family of four
and life made their demands. When his son decided
to learn to fly, Bob Flowers was right there, recording
the introductory flight. " My parents did video as a
side gig. Weddings and such. I watched them film and
then was there through the editing process. Filming
and storytelling is as deep a passion of mine as flying, "
Flowers says.
His evolution to become Mr. Aviation 101 was
gradual. He started simply by sharing his flying experiences,
but as he earned ratings and turned from
student to CFII (he helped his father earn his instrument
rating) and the father/son duo bought another
Cessna 172, Flowers found his purpose: to set a good
example and be a role model by chronicling his growth
in aviation. " I do believe that social media is a new way
to get young people into aviation, " he says. " This is a
way for me to show off the beauty of GA, to show that
flying is a blast, that flying can get you to see friends
and family. It's also a creative outlet for my filmmakSOCIAL
MEDIA INFLUENCERS come in all shapes and sizes, and
this one-with more than 250,000 followers-isn't even sure he is
one. Josh Flowers doesn't remember a day when he didn't have a
camera in his hand, nor does he remember exactly how old he was
when he first heard the crackling voice from ATC in a cockpit.
" I'm not sure if I'm a pilot who happens to make films, or if
I'm a filmmaker who is also a pilot, " says Flowers, a YouTube producer
also known as Mr. Aviation 101. His channel, aviation101, is
a delightful mix of travel, lessons, retrospection, and safety advice.
His mission wasn't clearly defined in the beginning. His father had
been an active Cessna 172 pilot when Flowers was very young,
112
AOPA PILOT / November 2022
ing, but as a safe pilot-the rules and regulations are set in blood. "
Flowers despairs that many social media influencers do stunts
and unsafe practices simply for notoriety. " I strive not to produce
for clicks, " he says.
He just completed two months of travel and gathering stories,
flying his 172 from Oshkosh up and down the East Coast, and back
to his base in San Marcos, Texas. " My job is to make it look fun
and glamorous, but after we gather all the stories, I'll be in front
of my computer drinking a lot of coffee trying to stay alive. "
julie.walker@aopa.org
Aviation101
DAVID TULIS
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2022

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