How Your First Flying Lesson Should Be | C172

I love doing discovery flights. I like to make them as interactive as possible to show the student a true version of how to fly an aircraft. This is their first opportunity to get behind the controls and see if being a pilot is what they truly want to do!
Trevor came down to Florida from Canada to take his first flight with me. He revealed that his Grandfather was a Private Pilot which made this all the more special.
Enjoy the flight!
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Disclaimer ⚠️
LewDix Aviation videos are edited to be as entertaining as possible. This may remove context. Many procedures, situations, explanations and flight phases have been edited out. Do not use for instructional purposes. This video is for entertainment purposes only.
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[@trevorporritt2938]

This was one of the best days of my life, I LOVED LOVED LOVED Every single minute of it. Lew was an amazing instructor, he made it fun, informative and most of all made it feel like I could do it and be successful. I am currently undertaking ground school and hope to have my PP within the year. Thanks Lew, for making this just an awesome experience.

[@Mattymoneyboy276]

Good luck with PPL :D its alooooot of fun!!!

[@hattrickpsh]

Great job! I enjoyed watching this video. Good luck on your PPL!!

[@ArkansaDave1]

Stoked for you! Good luck on the PPL, based on this video you’ll get it!

[@brucefox6580]

Well done Trevor, great job. All the best for your PPL.

[@loveoneanotherasihaveloved8327]

So happy for you as I can see the genuine joy at lift off!!!!!

[@StormChaser290]

Pax should always be given the best possible intro experience. The Discovery flight should NEVER be used to make them uncomfortable! It's not the time for aerobatics/acrobatics. Good on you Lew for carrying forward the positive things! 👏👏👏

[@LewDixAviation]

🙌🏻

[@LilLighT_]

How can i get lessons from youuu​@@LewDixAviation

[@MrScottb2y]

Love how your constantly engaged him and keeping your student thinking and his eyes moving. Even got some slow fight in! Love to train with you. great job

[@LewDixAviation]

Thanks!

[@brianb5594]

As a CFI for over 40 years I still remember my first discovery flight. Nice job sir Lewis! Outstanding!

[@LewDixAviation]

Thank you!

[@Reese_Asher]

I love seeing first timers turn the yoke. Just passed my instrument checkride. Thanks Lewdix

[@LewDixAviation]

Haha thanks for watching and congrats on the ride!

[@rapinncapin123]

🤪

[@AlphaEchoFoxtrot]

Lewis, I might be wrong, but the aircraft you fly on Silver Airlines has the same wings positioning issue. 🤔

[@LewDixAviation]

This statement is absolutely factual.

[@Jbdeloffre]

Seeing the steering with the yoke on taxi made me smile. I remember doing the exact same thing on my disco flight too a couple years ago. And also looking up for the rear view mirror. Comm check ride coming up this summer, it’s been a great journey. Thank you for the fun video!

[@anthonywcsu]

I had my Discovery Flight yesterday on a 172 - my first step towards my PPL! I was lucky my instructor let me taxi and fly quite a bit, including the takeoff. It was incredibly eye opening and showed me my years of flight simulator 'training' is nothing like the feel of actually piloting an aircraft!

[@phillipruda2445]

Flashbacks!!!! Not so long ago for me. Partly inspired by your channel (watched your channel almost since the beginning), and fulfilling a long held desire (I'm 50). I'm now 35 hours into my UK PPL. Your hands-off approach to discovery flights is just amazing. Balls of steel sir! That sense of "alot going on" is so very true. I was reminded of this feeling on my most recent navigation training flight. Timing, PLOG, radio, look-out, checks, I felt like I was back at day one again, or those first days in the circuit. I had to consciously remind myself of this to mitigate that imposter syndrone that grabs you from time to time. Seeing you celebrate all the wins throughout this video is just fabulous, and reminds me of my own journey to date. Your 'student' got a proper taste, and I hope he catches the bug too. Nice work.

[@Acc0rd79]

Recently I took up 2 guys in my plane for their first ever flight. I let them fly the plane around Central FL and handled everything else while I sorta taught them how things work. I was so happy to do it! I knew these guys so I had faith they weren't gonna try to kill me but I knew they were trimmed out and just doing everything properly. It was things like that that gives me the drive to one day go for CFI to continue the fun. I have a brand new baby so training is completely out of the mind right now but in the future I'd really like to do it. I taught so many guys at work to drive the big trucks so teaching was laid back and fun and it's even more fun flying!

[@tby4242]

Great stuff! Thank you for the video and all the positivity and excitement!

[@poxcr]

This was so fun to watch! It was evident you both were having a blast!

[@youhadmeatflying]

This was so flipping cool to watch. I’m hoping to do my discovery flight very soon. I love how you let the student fly! The excitement is palpable. 😅

[@DangerBruce]

Love this. I trained for my PPL back in 2002 at Naples. Had a great young Dutch instructor who was hour building for his CPL…great pilot who made every flight a pleasure. Very happy memories.

[@enricomarzolla]

So he was an instructor but without cpl?

[@idekav.]

@@enricomarzolla he meant atp rating

[@n1msu]

Great video! Great that Lew acknowledged a bit of sim time can be beneficial, when I was flying between age 12-16, my once every fortnight flying lesson, I'd always be tolf to keep my head up, whether it was because of my age or whatever, I do think as good as some sims are, they can sometimes give a sense of false confidence to some people, and in my case forgetting that VFR means keep your head out of the cockpit! P.s in my 4 years of having flyinh lessons and clocking up at least 80 hours, I was never given as much control of the plane as your 'student' has.

[@JVDFlyingDrummer]

I will never forget my first discovery flight back when I was 13. It was in 1993 at KISM back when they used to have air shows. I was a Boy Scout passing out programs and there was a Young Eagle tent that was giving away free Discovery Flights. Finally had the opportunity last year to start my aviation journey and got my Private Pilot Glider Certificate at age 42. (Well I guess technically it was when I became a Hang Glider pilot in 2021). Hope to start SEL training this Summer where it all started. I am looking forward to the many “first flight lessons” (for new ratings and endorsements) along the way towards my goal.

[@6582rg]

I wish I was closer to you. Your confidence and enthusiasm are infectious, and, of course, your competency is outstanding.

[@SingleEngineAviator]

I literally had the same experience yesterday with the turbulent climb out. I took my discovery flight out of SNA in SoCal and I was getting tipped back n forth quite a bit and it made me super nervous. I needed a little assistance and then we started to have a smoother ride around 1,200 feet.

[@papapapalima_scotland]

bucket list for whenever i get around crossing the big pond to go to Florida. You are a king man. Thanks again for all your hard work.

[@LewDixAviation]

Thank you so much mate!

[@smck2753]

My discovery flight was a NIGHTMARE. My CFI was changed on me three time in two weeks. When I showed up to the school, I had a 4th new CFI. She was extremely kind, but she initially hesitated to bring me up because the weather was terrible. It was a beautiful sunny August day (2023), but EXTREMELY TURBULENT due to rising thermals. After she sat in her own thoughts for a minute, she said "You know what, if you want to go I'll take you up." I said "Yeah, if you think its okay, I'm okay with it," because I really didn't want to reschedule and wait for another month. That was a bad idea. First off my door wasn't sealed properly and it opened on me during take off. I called for her to abort the take off and she did, thankfully. Second time around we took off and holy shit, about 800ft up the plane dropped 10ft out of the sky, went up 15ft, shuddered, and did this continually for my entire 20 minute flight. Insane turbulence!!! One of the wildest rides Ive ever had in a plane. When we were landing we dropped out of the sky and got kicked off course due to some crazy strong winds from the run way and had to do a go around. We landed on the second attempt. When we landed my CFI said "Well, thats some of the worst conditions Ive flown in, so if you want to come back, just know you've been through the worst of it." I've decided to go with a different flight school altogether.

[@SojaOnaMission]

This was pretty cool to watch, entertaining! I am taking my first flight today after 9 months of online ground school study.

[@nicko7238]

Genuine reactions, genuine content! Amazing man, I love any video you make

[@LewDixAviation]

Thank you so much mate 🙌🏻

[@randc47]

Had a blast on my disco! Was hooked! Sadly never finished my PPL…fn Covid…and never gone back. Feel like I wasted 30 hrs. Still got the itch to get back!

[@mrsaskriders]

Another Canadian here. Also a flightsim guy. Dad was a air ambulance pilot and I got to fly with him many times over the years. Love your channel and your teaching method. Have 9 plus hours logged but lost my leg above the knee. Can't use toe brakes on the left side but 1350 hours in the sim. Just started flying the Longitude. Super fast. Super high. I use Navigraph and Simbrief and fly with Vatsim, vitual air traffic control. Love it.

[@mikemayfield487]

This is Wonderful! Well done LewDix!

[@LewDixAviation]

Cheers!

[@weiniesail]

commercial pilot now (for fun, not work) and i think about how my discovery flight was such amazing experience for me. I still talk to my ppl CFI who's now flying the big birds.

[@LewDixAviation]

They mean a lot, discovery flights! Glad you had a great experience.

[@GameFightLove]

That must be so scary and yet exhilarating, I would love to get to do this one day. Well done both the student and instructor.

[@mypilotpro]

Good stuff Lew! Loved the look on your passengers face during the flight...priceless! Beers on me if you're in Osh again this year.

[@LewDixAviation]

Hahaha thank you! Hopefully I’ll make it up there 🙌🏻

[@ericcampman5382]

Great stuff ! New student, 25 hours in, and love your channel. Frustrating lesson today and this video pumped me back up! You two reminded me of Tommy Boy 😅

[@LewDixAviation]

Those days happen! Believe me I still have some of them. Learn from your mistakes and push yourself! I’ll be here with my videos to help along the way!

[@sleepy_RL-]

Lewis!!! I just wanna point this out to prove how much your videos really help. Had my private pilot oral this morning and the dpe asked me about what do you do if your passenger gets motion sickness? and I completely blanked, even when i should have been able to answer it easily. But what came to my mind instantly was the video on how you handled the situation when your girlfriend was experiencing motion sickness. I know it’s something small, but it ended up helping things move along quickly, so THANK you!

[@LewDixAviation]

That’s unbelievably cool! This tells me that I’m doing the right thing showing my flights on KZbin. I’m blown away at this. I’m glad that you were able to recall the video and answer the question. So so cool. Thank you for sharing! 🙌🏻

[@23249997]

so nice Lew!

[@TM-tw1py]

Absolutely awesome video!!

[@LewDixAviation]

Thank you!

[@michael9016]

The fact you made the airlines and still instruct, says you truly care about students and are not just using them for an end goal. High time, experienced Instructors like you are getting hard to find. Keep up the good work.

[@LewDixAviation]

Thank you so much man. I never used instruction as a means to an end. I enjoy seeing and helping people succeed. I was in their shoes once, fighting to make it through my certificates/ratings. The least I can do is support them.

[@ronalddavis8256]

Great video!!!!

[@mountainsonthemind5795]

Wish you worked at Blackpool for my 1st lesson coming up ,your so chilled and makes it comtable

[@dwighttaylor5107]

Fabulous video.

[@farmgene]

Nice! Been awhile since I saw a video of yours. Glad you’re still doing fine...and not bending metal.

[@LewDixAviation]

You’ve got a lot to catch up on. Welcome back 🙌🏻

[@jimgoldfuss525]

😅love the Intro to the Cessna with the wing placement and door! Same experience here…. Prefer Pipers, but both are fine 😊

[@craigcromer]

I heard over controlling more than I heard right rudder. Love the "Welcome to the Sky" great videos Lew

[@LewDixAviation]

Cheers mate!

[@bubbaman12289]

Man I live in central fl and to do a discovery flight right now with this wind....let's just say that would be a fun first flight haha

[@LewDixAviation]

I had to cancel a flight for the wind this week 😂

[@luke.thedrifter2281]

I’ve heard a ton of folks say that they barely even got to touch the controls for their first few lessons, thankfully my instructor is like you, he let me have the controls, of course he had hands on just in case I messed up.

[@truthhurts1339]

What an excellent video. Nicely done.

[@LewDixAviation]

Thank you! 🙌🏻

[@imota1]

Awesome video, Lewis! And with a fellow Canadian to boot! I got my PPL last year in Ontario, Canada and am currently working towards my CPL, with the goal of becoming a CFI in my retirement years (I am 41 now). I guess I missed the boat on becoming an airline pilot :) This brings me back to my very first discovery flight also. You have done your part in exciting this soon-to-be student, and that is massive props to you, sir!

[@LewDixAviation]

Thank you so much! I'd be doing a disservice if I wasn't so excited to welcome someone to the sky. There's no other way to be!

[@crooked-halo]

At 41, with the aviation job market desperate, you should be able to get a corporate job (or something else) if you'd like. I also wouldn't put it past an airline really needing pilots to hire you in your early-mid 40s. Maybe you _want_ to instruct (I do, and at 55 I'm working on getting my CPL/Inst current then training for CFI), and that's fine, but just don't close your mind to something else if you want! My nephew is a corporate pilot and told me last year that at 55 I could get a corporate right-seat at his company. He said pilots are rare right now so age doesn't matter as much.

[@alextitanium3177]

This is the best aviation video I have ever watched🤩😘

[@LewDixAviation]

Sweet!

[@jsprague2453]

The flight school at which I did my instrument had two 172SPs. I designated one of them as local flights only because I had trouble getting the door to close.

[@BeholdSevenWoes]

I just yesterday decided I want to get my privet pilot license. So I looked for a discovery flight video.

[@MarcusSkyVentures]

I remember my first and the CFI let me take off. That was the craziest thing I’ve done so far at that point in my life.

[@LewDixAviation]

Surreal isn’t it?

[@roddog24]

The GA industry needs more instructors like you!

[@LewDixAviation]

Ah thank you so much!

[@SuperTexasBlues]

now THAT dood is an instructor!

[@flyhalf2]

Amazing how much control you let your student have on a first discovery flight

[@LewDixAviation]

I take that as a massive compliment!

[@BjoernKarlsson]

I wish all CFIs did this! Perfect way to get your head in the game from the start if you ask me :) Go LewDix!

[@WX4CB]

i went down to X07 today for my XC and heck it was windy as heck... but was a nice flight above the clouds

[@LewDixAviation]

I like X07! When they aren’t parachuting haha

[@WX4CB]

@@LewDixAviation i feel the same way about kded when the meat missiles are dropping lol

[@crooked-halo]

At 8:06 it sounded like he said, "that's how DICKScovery flights go," while apologizing for reaching between his legs! I know it's Dixcovery flight, a parody of "LewDix Aviation, but do I just have my mind in the gutter thinking "dicks?" I am dying! At 55, with a commercial/instrument I haven't used in over 20 years, I'm back in the cockpit getting current, about to start training for my CFI (and more after). Thanks for your great, informational teaching videos!

[@Leon-qc7fe]

My first flight with an instructor. We took off and got away from the airport (airport traffic area with an active tower) and then he had me take the controls. After doing straight and level flight for a while I noticed my instructor looking around and spending a lot of time looking at the ground. I did not say anything, just kept trying to maintain alt and heading. I looked at my 1 o'clock position and there was a DC3. Yep, old plane with 2 massive engines coming straight at our airplane. I seen the DC3 pilot's face. I loudly said "OH SHIT" That got the instructor's attention. He looked up, saw the DC3 and quickly shoved the control wheel all the way forward. My head turned left and went all the way back as the airplane pitched straight down. I could not move my head and was looking at the inside roof of our airplane. I remember thinking he better do something or we are going to crash into the ground. After leveling off and climbing he told me to take the controls again. I said no, let's go back to the airport. I never went back to that place again. I did find a better instructor who was great and I got a PPL. True Story.

[@komrad1983]

I remember my discovery flight 12 years ago, it was a Beechcraft c23

[@lilcracky111]

I like how he called out 69 for best glide immediately 😂 Very proper for a DIXcovery Flight 👌🏽

[@LewDixAviation]

He’s been watching the channel long enough to know what goes on here 😂

[@user-dv6ch4ox2u]

How do you set up a discovery flight at Orlando exec? my husband would love this.

[@TM-tw1py]

"I just don't want to kill us." Priceless!

[@CraigFortune]

8:05 Yeah I heard it ;)

[@oldglory1944]

As this was a first flight, when does one introduce, the rudder to the ailerone YAW please ?

[@Dewey_Boondye420]

do people typically get to taxi on their discovery flight? mine, on mine the instructor handled 98% of the flight including all the ground stuff, taxi, takeoff, etc. they let me take control once we were safely at altitude for a few minutes, then flew us back in the right direction amd landed us. i have a fair bit of simulator time on Microsoft flight sim (i know its not entirely the same) but i have a good idea of whats going on. now im halfway through my online ground school, im hoping my next flight is a bit more hands on.

[@lauragregory1467]

I wish you had been my instructor, I felt so nervous on my discovery flight here in England and the whole time I was in the air too, maybe flying isn't for me :(

[@LewDixAviation]

With the right instructor that helps you through your nerves, I think you’ll be fine. Don’t give up!

[@SashaBlake]

How do we book a discovery flight & lessons?

[@FullSendPrecision]

LOL the f'in door handles. I love a cessna but the door handles... first thing I struggled with..

[@LewDixAviation]

They are awfully finicky 😂

[@FullSendPrecision]

@@LewDixAviation slam that trash. Cessna likes it rough.

[@paultshitshi3851]

What's the age limit u need to be to train as a private pilot and are there other cours to pass for u to qualify for the licence? I've been dreaming it for 20 years now, am 50 year old man

[@vampov]

Man that was the hardest thing is it felt like I had to do like 7 things at once it was so stressful.

[@GooberPilot]

Also, doesn’t APT PAT order matter? I noticed you mentioned it in reverse when climbing and descending

[@flyguy1637]

Climb APT Descent PAT.

[@CaptainDuck-qx2xi]

Commercial checkride coming up. Been a fan for a while and I’ve always wanted to fly with you. How easy is it, Do we just shoot u an email?

[@LewDixAviation]

Yea usually shoot an email and if I can accommodate a flight, I will.

[@sullivanscherptong3678]

Can anyone tell me the name of the backround music?

[@coelhocointech9841]

Wish he was my instructor

[@Calvin-xp4qp]

Nailed it, Trevor! Who was your passenger?

[@LewDixAviation]

Some freak

[@Calvin-xp4qp]

@@LewDixAviation🤣Wonderful stuff, thank you!

[@stuartnewcombe9805]

Every time I watch someones first flight, I still get that buzz just as they do.

[@jsprague2453]

Also, ye shall not speak blasphemy about the beauty of the Cessna product. 😂

[@BIGDW-ie8st]

What do you charge for lessons?

[@boba.4316]

I'm 72. Been around aircraft all my life. Financially, I can now afford the flight training. Am I too old?

[@mrmisterno1]

Hm, turning the yoke while taxiing. I guess he doesn't have rudder pedals for his simulator

[@randomstuff8828]

43:57

Trimming is so much easier in the real thing then the sim. It's so much harder to trim correctly in the sim.

[@LewDixAviation]

Definitely. You can’t feel the control pressures on a home sim. Unless your setup is very expensive haha

@@LewDixAviation hey Lew, Canadian PPL here...

[@LewDixAviation]

@ Hi!

[@SoCalFlights]

I noticed the exact same thing about those wing. 😜

[@LewDixAviation]

Crazy!

[@MikeD-qx1kr]

"Is carb Heat important down here in FL"? the question implies that if its hot, the carburetor will not freeze. BIG misconception.

[@daricksta08]

"that's how Dix discovery flight goes", reaches in between legs ...

[@GooberPilot]

I hope he realizes that Canadian and American licenses are different enough that he’d have to choose which to start with. It’s transferable but he’ll have to train under the Canadian system.

[@LewDixAviation]

He will be flying up in Canada

[@rmshivo]

Sometimes i feel those flight sims without the real controls are too unrealistic that they make unlearning and relearning the real stuff quite an uphill task.

[@josephdupont]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqTKhKSiqd2ShLs a safety tip from fellow pilot Deana Martin.

[@flysport_tedder]

talk about having the wrong door design, the smart companies made sure a student wouldn't waste time closing their door and just kept a door for the CFI.

[@CocoEspada]

Didn't you fly an ATR or some shizz? High wing aircraft are your homies for life

[@LewDixAviation]

I do fly an ATR.. doesn’t mean it’s the correct wing positioning 😂

[@hookmaster1109]

At 3.42 into this vid your student applies full right aileron to turn right on the ground and you don't pick it up.. or even mention it. He thinks he's in a car with a steering wheel.

[@LewDixAviation]

At 5:03 I point it out. Relax.

[@michael9016]

It takes some time to get used to steering with your feet. Wait until Lew introduces adjusting the flight controls for wind while taxiing. You could be full right aileron and steering with left rudder. Gets confusing fast.

[@andrewlambert4934]

Why is a northern lad flying in the USA.. and how much for lessons

[@ROBERTSMITH-io7tb]

Pick something in the distance to aim at and florida is the flattest place on gods green earth 😂

[@GLU373]

Jesus loves us God bless everyone!!!!!!!!!

[@crixcus]

awesome to see :)

[@coffee8814]

is $1000 a month too low to expect for flight training, like can i get something relatively good time with that or should i save more?

[@crazy10seven]

10-15k for a private certificate in an airplane these days, closer to 30 for helicopters

[@wilsondoesstufff]

I didn’t sniff the controls until my 3rd flight

[@LewDixAviation]

That’s a bad flight school for ya 👃

[@michael9016]

I'm working on my commercial multi engine. I was taking off and flying everything on my first flight having never flown a seneca before. The instructor should barely be touching the controls. He already knows how to fly, you don't!