All episodes

Episode 18 continues the flight simulation journey — this time shifting from nostalgic origins to modern realism. Picking up where Episode 17 left off, host Jürgen Reis and Airbus A320 first officer Stefan Lorenz trace the evolution of flight simulation from Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 through FS2004, FSX, X-Plane, Aerofly FS, Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) and up to today’s Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

The conversation explores what changed — and what didn’t. While graphics and performance took enormous leaps, the true value of flight simulation has always lived elsewhere: in procedures, systems thinking, and disciplined flying. Stefan shares why modern...

Episode 17 launches a new multi-part flight simulation special — and goes back to where it all began. Long before glass cockpits, streaming scenery, and powerful PCs, flight simulation meant floppy disks, one megabyte of RAM, and imagination.

Host Jürgen Reis revisits his very first flight simulation experience at a late-1980s trade show, flying an early simulator on an Atari ST — a moment that sparked a lifelong fascination with aviation. From there, the conversation moves into the Amiga 500 era, where 880-kilobyte floppy disks powered legendary titles like F-18 Interceptor and, later, the groundbreaking A320 Airbus by Thalion —...

In this special 16th episode of aviation-quest.cc – Stories from Above, host Jürgen Reis welcomes Petter Hörnfeldt, widely known as the creator of Mentour Pilot, and today the driving force behind a growing aviation media ecosystem.

What started more than ten years ago as a single YouTube channel has evolved into what Petter now calls the Mentour Group — including Mentour Pilot, Mentour Now!, and The Captain’s Speaking – An Aviation Podcast. Behind these projects stands a dedicated team, clearly defined roles, and countless hours of preparation, research, and production to deliver aviation content at the highest professional level.

In...

Episode 15 of Aviation-Quest.cc – Stories from Above

Few YouTube channels can claim a 20-year history — and even fewer have aged as gracefully as FSClips. In this episode, Stefan joins host Jürgen Reis for a rare, honest, and deeply insightful conversation about what it really means to run a high-quality aviation channel across two decades of constant platform change.
Recorded in January 2026, ahead of FSClips’ 20th anniversary in early July, this episode also serves as a small piece of YouTube history: Stefan explains how the platform worked in its early days, why FSClips didn’t start as a clockwork-style...

Episode 14 of Aviation-Quest.cc – Stories from Above brings a special guest into the cockpit: Christoph Barszczewski, one of Europe’s most experienced seaplane instructors and the founder of Seaplanes.at.
At 68 years old, he continues to fly — and teach — with the spirit of an explorer, splitting his time between Austria, Poland, and floatplane adventures in Alaska.

Together with host Jürgen Reis, Christoph dives into:
- His remarkable journey into the world of seaplanes
- Water flying from Europe to Africa to Alaska
- How pilots can obtain the EASA SEP(sea) rating
- What landplane pilots gain from training...

Episode 13 of Aviation-Quest.cc – Stories from Above concludes the ATPL Insight Series with the phase every flight student dreams of — and often underestimates: turning a frozen ATPL into a real airline cockpit seat.
Airbus A320 first officer Stefan Lorenz takes host Jürgen Reis through the most demanding stretch of his journey: the years after flight school. Recorded with a 2025 industry perspective, Stefan explains why today’s pilot shortage offers unprecedented opportunities — while airlines remain as selective as ever when it comes to screening and selection.
Drawing from his own career during the financial crisis of 2008–2009, Stefan...

Episode 12 of Aviation-Quest.cc – Stories from Above continues the three-part ATPL journey, this time diving into the intense, hands-on flight phase of pilot training. After conquering ground school in Part 1, A320 first officer Stefan Lorenz shares with host Jürgen Reis what it really meant to take his training into the sky — across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Listeners get a vivid look at:

- Winter operations in Canada — low jetstream, freezing temperatures, and the unique challenges they bring
- High-temperature flying in the U.S. — density altitude, aircraft performance, and staying sharp under...

Episode 11 of Aviation-Quest.cc – Stories from Above launches a brand-new three-part series exploring how Airbus A320 first officer Stefan Lorenz worked his way from student to airline pilot.
In this first chapter, Stefan takes host Jürgen Reis back to the very beginning: his time at the Oxford Aviation Academy, one of Europe’s most respected pilot training institutions. He shares what life in full-time ATPL training really looks like — from strict uniforms, long study nights, and 14 demanding theoretical subjects to the discipline, focus, and mindset needed to succeed.
Listeners get a rare behind-the-scenes look at how high-pressure ground...

Episode 10 of Aviation-Quest.cc – Stories from Above continues the deep dive into gliding — focusing on one of its most fascinating aspects: the landing. How can you touch down safely when a go-around simply isn’t an option?
Former glider pilot and host Jürgen Reis shares how training, energy awareness, and constant planning create multiple safe landing options, even without power. Together with A320 first officer Stefan Lorenz, he contrasts glider approaches with those of modern airliners, revealing surprising overlaps and crucial differences.
Jürgen also offers hands-on advice for flight sim enthusiasts on how to configure simulators like FSX or...

Episode 9 of Aviation-Quest.cc – Stories from Above begins a brand-new series exploring the world of gliding — flight in its most elemental form. This time, the microphones are turned around: Airbus A320 first officer Stefan Lorenz interviews his co-host Jürgen Reis, who earned his glider pilot license at just 17, long before getting a driver’s license.
Jürgen shares what it’s like to learn real stick-and-rudder flying at a young age, take full responsibility for the aircraft and the airspace, and experience the thrill of silent flight powered only by nature. Together, they discuss how gliding builds strong foundations for...