How to make $$$ as a jet pilot | + free flight lessons 

I feel like it’s rare to find guys that are super successful AND super down to earth like this guy. You could tell this is genuine, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d do this kinda stuff off camera too. Mad respect helping these guys out. So cool! Big bucks and a big heart.

I smell the beginnings of the “Gear Down Foundation”. Love watching people give back. Keep it up kind sir.

My grandson is currently finishing up his instrument rating at Fullerton. He is also working his way through the $150 per flight to get his license. His plan is going all the way to either Commercial or Private depending on whatever opportunities arise. He is a hard working kid and started a business at 10 years old with his sister in Vegas. He does that part time job in Yorba Linda, works in a concrete tool shop as a welder and sharpening saw blades, takes classes on line and finish up flight school as we speak. This 19 year old is a special individual that will be successful in life. A work ethic has always been a major part of his upbringing. Great Vlog!

8.5 hrs into my PPL and this completely made my turkey day brother… im fortunate to be able to fund my training, but there’s a lot of pilots to be struggling. Love your channel and content, and I LOVE that such a successful dude remembers where he started. It’ll come back 10 fold man, good on you! Blue skies and nothing but success. Keep the awesome content coming! Happy Thanksgiving

watching you network while helping those guys out was pretty slick. That’s the shit i aspire towards !

Love the wholesome content! Just passed my commercial multi-engine checkride last week, and its content like this that's helped me get through. You're doing great work out there man!

Mannnn I wish there were people like you in my area 😭 free flight lessons is a gift from god

I absolutely love your content. As a want to be pilot, I live vicariously through your channel and others, such as CitationMax, Fly With Owen and JR Aviation. Thanks for sharing all your adventures and giving back to pilots in-training. God bless you and safe travels!

Your channel has resparked my love of aviation.

Congrats on living your best life! I'm corporate/contract pilot my self, been contracting for 17 year's.. Typed in the Falcon 2000 and 4 Citation Jets.. You can definitely make some decent money and have a great life... There's definitely more than airline flying. Nothing wrong with the airlines to be clear!

Mad respect. By far my favorite aviation channel.

Saw your video a year ago. Finally worked the nerve to go for a flight. I LOVED IT. So excited to do this!

I wish there was more individuals like you out there. I have a met a few. Not many. - I've done the same in the film world for aspiring actors, writers and producers. It is my hope to one day to be able to have a similar lifestyle in the aviation world, while still making films, and give back in the same manner. - Keep up the great work. - Lots of good energy in your life.

Got my private 30 years ago and was just a few hours shy of taking my instrument check ride. About that time, my wife gave birth to our daughter and life just got busy. I stopped flying and concentrated on my engineering career. I still miss flying and many times wish that I had changed careers. Too late now…I’m 64 years old! But, I’m grateful that I can watch these videos. I get a lot of joy just watching. Thanks for the content!

I really want to get into aviation. So many genuine people and relationships you can. Huge fan of this channel and the motivation you provide. Helping Kyle find a job once he has his ratings is huge and a connection he may not realize how lucky he is to have. Evdrytime I watch gear down videos. I really want to get into aviation. Have things I have to clear up financially and definitely have to hit a diet and the gym 😆😆

When I start making that pilot paycheck I would love to do this also, aviation is an awesome community to be a part of, I will definitely be helping some pilots that don’t have a lot and will help them keep that dream alive! Trying to finish my multi and it’s hard when you got other responsibilities, can’t wait to help some others I’ve been there!

Awesome content man per usual! Currently wrapping up my commercial multi, really wanting to start in the corporate industry. Huge inspiration man thank you.

Love it! Reached out to you a few months ago right before I started my PPL journey at KFUL and currently at 42 hours and passed my written a few weeks back. Now I just have to knock out my two XC solo’s and a handful of hours for checkride prep and then schedule my checkride. Can’t wait to be at this point you’re at in the future. Keep the content coming brotha!

Wow, man I love to see such great stuff from this channel! It’s an entire world of flying I’m not familiar with but I love the content! - A legacy airline pilot.

Yeah I’m into that. True testament of the core of this fella 👍🏿 To be successful after the graft you put in to get there means you understand what it means to get a lift along the way. Big bout ya gezzer.

Yo, fantastic video today! I’d imagine you really made the students’ day. This is quickly becoming my favorite channel. You and Owen are both super inspirational. Happy Thanksgiving!

That’s so sick man glad I found your channel. I’m new in aviation 41 yrs old got in some trouble when I was younger but getting ready for my 1st class medical exam. 🤞

I just found your channel and I've got to say I really enjoy the videos like this where you show in detail all the buttons and procedures. I am a rotorcraft pilot and I often wonder what it would be like in the private fixed wing world.... Keep up the great videos and god bless you and your passengers.

Simple video with quality content man! Glad to see you paying it forward where you started. The video is a good example of the community you find on the ramp. Just dudes wanting to talk about flying.

Where are the v-neck tees for the aviatrix? Give us some love! Super nice of you to give back like that! The guys were turning red, so cute. Serious traffic on Wednesday. I had an IR flight lesson and was circling around at PDZ for a while. Wish I could've met you at OSH...next time.

If you feel like blessing a flight student in AZ for Christmas, I’ll be at my apartment heating up my third ramen for the day.

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...left seat. You see Tommy...I do watch your stuff.

You seem like such a g to fly with. The first officer is clearly new yet you're chill, laid back and encouraging him. I take my hat off to you!

This is super dope! Folks don't know how much coin these flight lessons hit for so the free lesson is definitely a blessing ! I'm working on my Private out of Chino, its dope seeing the private jets flying out of there! Keep it up brotha!

Gear down merch is absolutely sick

That's awesome. Way to give back like that. Just ordered me a "What Notam?" shirt, thanks for the discount code!

As someone scraping every extra penny to try to pay for lessons, i know those guys appreciate what you did for them. Awesome man gitting my sub

I love the insight to this side of aviation. Everyone always talks about airlines but this looks like an exciting job! Working on my private now just passed the knowledge test.

Aye happy thanksgiving. I have about 5 more months of A&P school and then plan to start pilot training. I’m 22 years old, AAS degree, so glad I chose the A&P route first after watching your videos.

Came to watch the rockstar pilot life, subscribed because of the great human being giving back to the school he started with.

Super wholesome! Loved it as always Tommy

Every time I watch your vids I get even more excited about aviation. I want to fly jets like that one day once im done with all my certifications and ratings. Keep it up man🔥🔥

I think it’s great that you helped out those guys on thanksgiving I’m looking into getting my license with my goal being commercial

Just wanted to drop a comment and say I landed my first two contract flights. I currently have a salaried flight position so this extra contract work will be a nice bonus. A 2 day trip followed by a 3 day trip shortly after. Watching your content inspired me to go grind out my network and find contract work on top of my regular flight gig.

You're a great guy Thomas! I'm from another country and have recently found your channel, subscribed and watched quite a few of your videos! Good on you for the amazing videos, filling and life into an aviation world. I am currently in the airforce and planning to leave soon to start my career in the commercial flying world too! Hope to get in touch and meet you one day!

Good on you, when you can give back, it is fantastic to do so. God bless and happy thanksgiving

thats awesome. I'm from Jamaica searching for flight schools and scholarships right now so hopefully I can live the dream like you one day

Super nice of ya man to give back! Need more pilots like you who are super chill. When ya making your way to the east coast? I’m a 650TT CFI in NJ just building time to 1500

You’re quickly becoming my favorite RU-vid aviation channel. It’s as if Bradley Nowell didn’t decide to be in a band and wanted to become a pilot instead 🤟🏼

Great video! I can't wait until I start flight training in March!

Top shelf guy you are man! I would love to be in a financial place to randomly do the same. Great stuff. Just being able to access you for networking would be infinitely valuable.

thats pretty wholesome dude kudos to you for making those students day. just completed my commercial, working on all my cfi's and multi engine! keep up the good content!

Happy thanksgiving GD! Much love from Colorado (APA) 🤙

I appreciate this video even though it wasn’t me. I know what it is to not have enough money to fly, you don’t see this everyday. Some pilots won’t even give you the time of day. God bless you!

Found you through researching about the licenses needed to make money. Always wanted to get one. Planning on it once my bachelors is done and I have more money saved for it. Keep up the great content

One of the best vids i've seen! I'm older and working (slowly) to get my private, but look forward to seeing these motivating videos! Good stuff!!

This helps people so much it’s such a blessing to have someone like you doing this. Thanks Tommy ! Currently 50k debt lol

Love this video man. I’m a CFI in van nuys and when I was a student and if I got a gift like this I would have cried. See you around in the skies Thomas!

Small world I went through that flight school and still use their planes, wish you came around when I was there!

Happy Thanksgiving!! Gear Down,, I’m looking forward to checking out in your Arrow in my area

Currently flying the GIV PIC - 91/135, fresh .297, extensive (recent) Int'l exp. PHX based, 2wk on/2wk off rotation. Looking to further branch out the Networking for more Contract work. Happy to help out on availability.

Idk why, but I love watching the auto-throttles do their thing. Maybe one day I'll jump into a cockpit.

The rawest flight line interview ever nicely done sir! Thanks for encouraging those guys… Checkride prep I was selling stuff to finish my ppl! Super cool and raw thanks for sharing bruh! Btw I too am 61.55 typed 🤣

Damn I would love flight lessons. So good to see you giving back!

Great video! Need more content like this of procedures and everything!

Love these videos, keep it up! You’re an inspiration

Love following you and all your adventures and I’m in law enforcement in Northern California and I have my first intro flight next week and so excited and maybe change career

Sick video keep them coming! For someone that has dreamed and is working towards going to the airlines it’s awesome to see a complete other side of aviation that I didn’t really know was a thing!

I went from a curtesy ride to first instructional ride in the same day. I had no plan, just had to fly. I had five lessons before I realized how much money I would be spending to get my Private ticket. I flew almost everyday for 6 weeks. I used all my savings ($200), Hey, I was nineteen it was all I had saved. I decided to get a friend to co-sign for a loan at the bank in order to have all the money I needed. The banker was happy to give me the $500. loan. 1971 Everything cost a whole lot less. Cessna 150 was $15.00/ hr wet or $9.00/ hr dry. Instructor rate was $6./hr 6 weeks later...PPL.

As a student pilot myself, GearDown you’re just awesome! Will contact you as-well once I have my multi! Im in Cleveland

Well done Tommy. Your a top bloke 🤙

Awesome job man! Love to see you truly blessing those guys, and you didn't have to.👍

Everyday you post is a good day 😂. Btw everyone who wants a flight bag or his e book tomorrow they’re going on sale!

this is great man, means a lot

What is stray Baller? I love this channel! It’s not just technical flying. It’s about the entire community. I love it. Keep on keeping on my man. You do a great job. Tommy! And shout out to Garett. Obviously he is totally Baller.

Another inspiring episode. Great Job Gears Down.

Dude thats awesome! I actually also take my lessons here at Fun Outside Aviation and would love to be able to meet you one day. Thank you for inspiring me through your videos and hopefully one day my aviation careers allows us to cross paths!

You seem like such a genuinely good dude. Great video as usually!

Love your style man that’s how you do Aviation. If you need help or need another pilot let me know brother 🤙

awsome to see you do this man !

Top shelf Tommy does it again? Great video broski! Up top no stop!

Love this video!!! I am looking forward to creating similar videos as I continue my aviation journey, Keep up the great work!!

Your humbleness and knowledge much appreciated! Greetings from sunny PR! I would like for you to do a video on the responsibilities and duties of a co-pilot and a Pilot what would be the pay while serving as a co-pilot. much respect for your information and Time -reniel

Thank you for sharing the industry.😊

Awesome as always!!

Great flight many thanks for sharing all the best Paul 🇬🇧in the UK cheers

Love it... Well done Sir,,,,,,

Awesome vid as usual! 👍🏼 One request: Can you add what Dep/Ariv you used on the flight in the description for us flight sim nerds? 😊

Brilliant video love the detail to follow check list keep em coming 😁

Great video as always! I just got a GoPro to start recording my flight lessons and document my journey, currently at 14 hours!

Happy thanksgiving Tommy great video as always

Great content. You’re a generational inspiration.

You are such an inspiration to me. Your videos are amazing please keep up these videos. I hope to meet you one day. I have so many questions I want to ask you.

I got a DWI wayyyyy back in 2009 when I was a dumb college kid. As I've come to understand, the FAA never forgets and I was under the limit of .15 so the AME would likely issue after getting background info from me on the incident but my initial concern was not being able to get into the majors. Now, after watching your channel I am just thinking of going private route and forgoing the majors altogether..

Always enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing

Totally loving the videos, would love to go on a flight in a private jet one day.

Super calm teacher!

Hey I see you went in threshold hangar I worked right next door socal MRo many years ago anyways shout out to Mark from Threshold small ass world I do my flight lessons there at chino im currently studying for A&P. Anyways thanks for the good content

Another banger!!!

Synthwave+sunsets=a vibe

Thanks for taking us little guys with you on your adventures. Working on my instrument. Hopefully I'll be your co-pilot one day!😅

Good for you. Thanks for sharing.

Love at. Good job man Maybe I meet you day and need your help in aviation

I bought the e book thank you for your content! You are on it would love to learn from you

Love the channel. I do have to say it's very hard to get into private flying. I'm currently building hours to get to about 1000 hours, and it's not easy. I've looked around to get some help from part 91 operations to meet that 61.55 requirements and there are just so many people trying to do the same. There are some facebook groups filled with people trying to do the same. I'm leaving a 100K job to get back into flying (got my certs almost 17 years ago) but it seems like it's not going to be as easy as some of my friends have put it. I looked at volato which wants 1000 hours and 250 multi. 1000 TT is doable, but 250 multi is nearly impossible to build unless you get CFI/CFII/MEI then build. When I was trying to do this the 1st time, you needed like 50 multi, 750TT and off to regionals you went. so it's easier, but harder right now it seems. You really need to know someone and have them take you under their wing if you want to go private route.