I can’t tell you how many aviation tradeshows I’ve attended over the years: Oshkosh, Sun ‘n Fun, AERO, NBAA, EBACE and all the rest – they’re all starting to blur together. Not that I don’t enjoy going. Getting to talk to all of the current and prospective customers that come to our booth to “test fly” our EFIS and autopilots is the best part of any event.
After making the rounds at this year’s AEA, SnF and AERO, one thing has really struck home with me and that’s just how much more prepared and knowledgeable our booth visitors have become.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that they came in with a brochure or a magazine ad and a list of questions. Today, they come in with an iPad full of information they’ve downloaded from various sources across the Internet. Of course, not all of it is correct. I hate to break this to you, but not everything you find on Google is worth the time it takes to find it.
That being said, one place on the web that is increasing in its value as an aviation information hub is YouTube. I can only guestimate, but there must be hundreds, if not thousands, of individual YouTube channels devoted to all things aviation.
And like any other subject under the sun, if you have an interest or a question about how something works, chances are there’s a YouTube video covering it.
Avaition101, Baron Pilot, 310Pilot, and Matt Guthmiller’s channels are some of my YouTube aviation favorites. What I really like is these videos are produced by airplane people who obviously love flying a variety of GA airplanes to a bunch of interesting places and events. Ride along and you see the good and bad of GA travel. And even if they’re “sponsored” they don't push products – much.
Speaking of YouTube ‘celebrities,’ our facility in Mineral Wells was recently highlighted in a series on 310Pilot. Kevin and wife, Jaime, flew their Cessna 310 to Texas so we could do some fine-tune some gain settings on his new Genesys Aerosystems S-TEC 3100. You can check out the videos at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9K9o0x3J0M
We are extremely proud that they chose our autopilot as part of their avionics upgrade. And, no, we did not give them anything other than lunch. We are confident in our products and think their performance, features and value speak for themselves. Kevin and Jaime just wanted to be treated like any Genesys Aerosystems customer. In today’s world, that kind of credibility is hard to find.
So what does Mr. 310Pilot think of his S-TEC 3100 autopilot? Well, you’ll just have to YouTube-in and find out. But I can say, had we paid him for the review, we certainly would have gotten more than our money’s worth.
Until next time, fly safely,
Jamie