Dimitri, Natasha & all their staff is very courteous, kind and helpful! It was our son’s birthday gift to fly 2014 Cirrus SR20 plane with a parachute, it’s probably the most safe small plane with great speed out there! Dimitri has been flying for almost 30 years! We were very happy, will be coming back! Highly recommend!!Can’t thank them enough for the flexibility and great communication skills..

Mason was an amazing instructor who made my husbands and father in laws Fathers Day gift a success! They had so many good things to say about the experience and their teacher. The whole team there made it easy and fun 😊

Mason is an excellent and experienced flight instructor. He did an excellent job making passengers feel comfortable. I would highly recommend Mason. outstanding.....thank you

Can’t say enough good things about Stratos Aviation and their professional team of flight instructors! I’ve obtained both my PPL and instrument rating with them and will begin my commercial training this week. Dimitri, Sarah, Alex, and Mark are all top notch instructors who have taught me to be a safe and professional pilot. Also, the planes are always clean and kept in tip top condition ready to go. Natasha does a fantastic job with all the plane bookings and runs the office super efficiently. Thanks Stratos Aviation for an awesome experience and helping me reach my aviation goals!!!

Excellent !!!! My Grandson Blake described his discovery flight as Awesome !!!

Thanks to the support and training that I received from the team at Stratos Aviation, I was able to obtain my Private Pilot License one year ago today. Throughout this training, I truly fell in love with flying and decided to pursue a career in aviation. I am now an instructor with Stratos, and there is no place Id rather be. From day one, I have been accepted, respected, and treated like family. It is no accident that Stratos has been awarded the AOPA Flight Training Experience Award several years in a row. I would highly recommend Stratos Aviation, with full confidence, to anyone who is interested in learning to fly!

Mark is an absolutely great CFI. He made me feel calm and comfortable during my lessons. The entire staff is very professional and Mark really provides a positive experience. I highly recommend Stratos and Mark as well!

Great people! Lots of fun

One of the most memorial days for me was when I stopped by Stratos Aviation Flight School and spoke with Dimitri Partafyllas. His method was straightforward. 1st start out with the layout of the cockpit. Each gauge was identified and explained. Dimitri explained the rudder pedals, the elevators and how to steer the plane with the yoke and how to use the throttle. We did a through preflight inspection in the Piper we flew. I was able to taxi down to the runway and take the ride of my life. We cruised up to 2500 ft. and took a small tour of the beautiful mountains and fantastic Greenville, SC area. After we landed I had an amazing smile on my face and was hooked on flying. It was amazing. Check them out and you will be glad you did.

Had a fun time flying with Stratos Aviation. The instructors are very professional and emphasize safety, but also make sure to make flying a fun experience. Definitely recommend!

I recently spent 3.5 months dedicated to earning my private pilot license with Dimitri and cannot say enough positive things about him as a person and a flight instructor. While doing his absolute best to keep lessons affordable for me, he went well above and beyond basic requirements so that I would become not only a safe and solid pilot, but an aviator who has the confidence to continue flying once the check ride is over. From fundamental maneuvers to emergency procedures, his meticulous attention to detail inspired me to keep my mind sharp and uphold a high degree precision in my flying. Some instructors might just be there to log hours for themselves or to push their students through as fast as possible in an effort to make money but I honestly felt like Dimitri wanted me to be the absolute best pilot I can be. He was genuinely interested in my future goals as a bush pilot in Alaska and tailored my lessons to focus on getting the most out of challenging conditions when they were available. These invaluable experiences will no doubt save my life one day. His unique teaching methods, forged through the test of time, had me developing a feel for the airplane as if it were an extension of myself. Night and day, he showed me how to use all of my senses to analyze and react to every situation. I not only gained an incredible new skill and mentor that completely transformed my life into a dream world of flying, but I made a great new friend as well! Thank you Dimitri!

This is officially the first google review Ive ever completed. Ive not had an experience worth coming online to tell people about until I took lessons at Stratos.I recently finished my training with Dimitri and have successfully obtained my private pilots license. From the beginning, Dimitri was honest and fair. He is adaptable to many different learning types and held high standards for expectations, yet strongly facilitated the achievement of those expectations. He is very fair with billing and accommodating with regard to scheduling. I had several lessons with one of the other instructors and spoke with the others who all seem to be good people. Dimitri made every effort to ensure my success throughout this process, even at personal sacrifice to himself. He even allowed me to bring friends/family along on my lessons if I wanted.The aircraft fleet at this flight school is also mechanically maintained at higher standards than the FAA requires. Additionally, I had numerous lessons with Dimitri on days when the other flight schools were not operating due to weather. The real life experiences with variable weather conditions were invaluable and true aviation lessons (no better time to be in those conditions than with a ridiculously skilled instructor!)Im completely satisfied with my experience and wont consider any other options when I choose to add additional ratings to my license.

Had a great experience with everyone I met at Stratos when I came down for a familiarization flight in the Diamond. It wasnt a typical intro flight, since Im already a pilot, but they worked to tailor it exactly to what I needed, and were friendly at every step of the way. Very professional people with obvious skill at what they do, and a good relationship with their students.

I have been in flight school four weeks now with Dimitri. Very knowledgeable and very good at explaining/teaching. I had no expectation of what flight school would be like but am doing so to fly with my family and travel the country. I like to read ahead and naturally, I ask a lot of questions, many of which topics we have not yet covered in training. However, he patiently and thoroughly explains and confirms my understanding before moving on. In flight, he is careful to instruct and allow me time to build confidence. He commends and corrects but never in a demeaning way. His teaching methods are mixed, from text books, examples using model planes, videos, and in the place both on the ground and sky.Billing is reasonable and never abused.Anyone on the fence or unsure about where to go, give him a shot. Reminds me of a family oriented restaurant setting if that makes sense. You wont regret it!

Choosing Stratos Aviation was the best decision Ive made since I decided to begin flight training. Dimitri has been an excellent instructor to fly with during my private pilot training, and I hope to train with him for my instrument rating as well! First and foremost, Dimitris top priority in training his students is safety. In my first few lessons, he did a great job of letting my fly the plane as much as possible without compromising our safety. Second, Dimitri has excellent training techniques that pushed me to do my best in the cockpit, and gave me confidence to try again if I wasnt excelling in a certain area. If you have any interest in flying, I would highly recommend giving Dimitri a call and arranging an introductory flight. I have no doubt youll be pleased with the results!

I have been flying at Stratos Aviation for over 3 years. From the first time I walked into the flight school office to the day I got my commercial pilot’s license, my experience with Stratos Aviation has been and continues to be nothing short of phenomenal. It is no surprise that they have been named as a Distinguished Flight School by The Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) for 3 consecutive years (2017-2019).I have earned my private pilot’s license and commercial license and even my instrument rating while training at Stratos Aviation. When I first got serious about learning to fly, I was looking for a flight school and instructor who would be just as committed and exacting as I was. Stratos Aviation and Dimitri were the perfect match in that regard. When I first met with Dimitri, his professionalism and knowledge truly impressed me. He took the time to understand my goals and took me seriously as a then 15-year old who wanted to get her license, which was something I found extremely rare when looking at my options for training.Stratos Aviation has a wonderful staff of instructors and a fleet of well-maintained planes that allowed me to train around my busy schedule. Even though I was juggling a number of time commitments, the instructors at Stratos Aviation made scheduling a breeze and never hesitated to answer a question or offer guidance throughout my training. The fleet is maintained to a high standard and all of the staff at Stratos Aviation place a focus on safety throughout all operations.As a flight instructor with over 8,000 hours of dual instruction given, Dimitri is an extremely effective teacher. He made each lesson throughout my journey interesting and challenging, and always put a paramount focus on safety. Throughout my training, he created a learning environment that was open, honest, and engaging. Dimitri’s candor was key to much of my development as a pilot, as he didn’t just tell me what I wanted to hear. He gave me an honest assessment of my skills in a constructive form throughout my lessons. One of his talents lies in the way that he did so in a manner that was not disparaging, but rather one that motivated me to do better. One of the things that I feel has shaped my flying the most and made me into the pilot I am today is Dimitri’s own vast experience and knowledge. His guidance is sapient and invaluable and truly molded my journey. His skill and wisdom are evinced by the fact that he has been named by the FAA, for 2 consecutive years, as the Flight Instructor of the Year for the South Carolina District (2018 and 2019).I cannot recommend Stratos Aviation enough to someone in the Upstate who is looking to learn how to fly or even just scheduling an intro flight. When looking for a flight school in the Upstate, you will find a number of options, but will return to Stratos Aviation for a host of reason including its incredible staff of instructors and well-maintained fleet.

Oh man, i dont even know where to begin. I went out with Dimitri today and got the honor to fly the plane mostly on my own. It was an amazing experience, first of all because it was my first time being on a plane. Not only that, but because i also got to fly the plane on my own as well. I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking to get a start within aviation. He brings an amazing energy and makes sure you get the most out of the experience!

Great Flight school! Highly recommend to anyone looking for the best. Dimitri, Natasha and Sarah are extraordinarily good at what they do!

Came in with no experience at all just based off the stars and reviews from Google and couldnt be more happy with the decision!! Dimitri was extremely friendly and easy to get along with! The whole experience was wonderful! I truly believe this is the first of many reviews to come from me!

Amazing flight school. I got my private pilot certificate in less than 2 months.

I recently got my Private Pilot license with Dimitri at Stratos Aviation, and I couldnt be happier with the experience I had. Dimitri did a great job of bringing me through the process step by step and making it enjoyable the entire way through. He is honest and open with students about how they are progressing, keeping them informed of their deficiencies as well as their proficiencies. The professional, yet comfortable atmosphere he creates gives students a great environment in which to grow. Better yet, it is a perfect model of how pilots should approach flying.Before I started lessons, I knew Dimitri was good because of the AOPA Outstanding Flight School award presented to Stratos Aviation in 2016. Now I know why Stratos and Dimitri were awarded again in 2017.

Dimitri is a passionate instructor. His primary goal is to boost you toward the rating and become a safe pilot. He won´t try to charge you as much as possible for training and hide valuable clues from you. Manny other flight schools do! I earned my instrument rating with him. He did not even charge me for all the ground training.He made me put all the pieces together, that I already knew and showed many more. Go on Dimitri!

Dimitri is an awesome guy and an amazing instructor. He encourages you and would emphasize on minute details and technicality. He will let you explore the plane and never compromise with your safety. The flying lessons are fun and the view from the sky is simply amazing. I highly recommend Stratos Aviation.

Flying with Dimitri is so much fun! As soon as I had my introductory lesson with him, I knew I had to get my student pilot license! He always puts the student and his needs first with a gracious and professional attitude. Hes making a childhood dream possible by providing incredible instruction. I would recommend him to anybody and everybody!

This was an incredible experience! My wife gave me a flight lesson for our one year anniversary gift. We were forced to reschedule twice but the third time was the charm. After our instructor found out this was an anniversary gift he offered a sunset lesson that both my wife and I could ride on. We took flight around 8:15pm and flew till 9:00pm. It was a great experience and worth trying once in your life. Dont miss an opportunity like that! Life is to short.

There is not enough I can say about Dimitri and Corey at Stratos Aviation. They are the best instructors and awesome people to be around! I have been flying with them for about 6 months and continue to love it more and more each day! They make the lessons so enjoyable and fun. Thanks Stratos.

We first visited Stratos Aviation in July of 2014. My son loved flying with Dimitri so much, he wanted to continue and earn his pilots license. I could not ask for a better instructor! Dimitri is very patient, gracious, and experienced. My son cannot wait to return for his next lesson. I would recommend Stratos Aviation to anyone interested in a delightful and rewarding flight experience.

Haven’t been in many years, but Dimitri is a top of the line CFI. He makes you feel at ease and makes SURE you know all aspects of aviation. I hope to return for my license one day!

This week I had an amazing opportunity to fly with Dimitri across the country from California to South Carolina. I began with the meager expectation of accumulating flight hours. What I ended with was an experience of a lifetime and an education in flying that surpassed all expectations. From the outer rim of the Grand Canyon, to vistas of snow capped mountains, my desire to see the country from a private plane was met. We experienced breathtaking views and were able to visit some amazing places. I have an entirely new appreciation for the great country in which we live after seeing it from the air. Flying gives you a new perspective and appreciation. The best part of the trip was the excellent flight instruction I received along the way. We covered everything from flight planning to actual instrument conditions, and failed equipment while night flying. We managed to traverse a weather front that few students would have the opportunity to appreciate. The hours I spent hand flying was supplemented throughout the trip with dissertations of fuel mixtures, clouds and freezing conditions, radio work, and navigation with a variety of crosswinds and moderate turbulence. Dimitri was a teacher, not a lecturer. As an educator myself, I cannot begin to express how thorough he is with a subject. Many can train, but few can actually teach. Dimitri is a master at both. He breaks down complex issues into tiny units and assimilates until the lesson is grasped. His personality is always calming and incredibly patient. Nothing ruffles him, believe me I tried. I am truly blessed by this experience and incredibly thankful to Dimitri for the knowledge he shared with me. It only further fueled my passion for flying.If you are entertaining the idea of learning to fly, I would only consider Stratos Aviation. Since beginning flight school in August, I have had the best flight instruction and experience I could have ever hoped for and am on my way to becoming a licensed private pilot.

Where do I begin... I wanted to fly since I was a young boy in high school some 30 years ago. Since those early days I have neither had the opportunity nor the funds to begin this journey. Journey? It was a journey for me in that I learned a great deal about myself along with everything that goes with the privilege of learning how to become a member of this elite group of people who call themselves Pilot. My business required a Pilots license so I was very happy to start this process in June of 2015 by taking a discovery flight with Dimitri. I soaked this experience up entirely and enjoyed every minute. Dimitri was recommended by everyone I spoke to in the field. Even though there were other options available he was was the first name off of their lips. I count my blessings today for those who did recommend him and for the ability of someone like myself to be able to choose Stratos Aviation even though I didnt know the first thing about flight or about training. Even today I cringe thinking what Dimitri must of thought when I walked into his office that first day and asked if I could receive my license within a month. I was in a hurry, as with most things in my life lately, this was another thing on a list of things that needed to be done. From the beginning Dimitri was firm regarding the safety of flight and each lesson contained more than one example in the aspect of flying AND staying alive. It is their belief and mine that larger problems are caused by several not-so-good decisions. There are exceptions to this rule but chances are if bad things happen it was because there were several not-so-good choices made along the way. These small bad choices happen in part by bad habits, not paying attention or trying to rush things that matter. This is the same for flight and maybe even more so. Dimitri and those at Stratos strive to give the best training possible and I believe 100% that their desire is to produce pilots who can not only fly but excel at flying. I received my Private Pilots license today due in large part to Dimitris patience and most certainly his skill. I proved to be a challenge more than once these past several months and I know as a fact that I am responsible for some of his greying hair. I count it not only a privilege to learn under such a great team led by Dimitri but I count it a great honor to have his name in my pilots log as instructor. Time will tell how well I live out this training but I know and feel confident that I have been given the foundation and the right tools that it will take to continue this never-ending journey of learning and being a better pilot. Thank you Dimitri; my 30-year dream of being a pilot became a reality today.Jason C Pilot

Stratos Avitiation was the best choice for me. I really like Dimitris teaching methods and his experienced colleagues. Together they are fulfilling my all round learning perspectives. The focus really lies on precision and safety. He adapts to my learning pace and therefore generates success in learning how to fly. Im confident, that I will be able to fly safely and be able to handle every situation.

Great experience with Dimitri, who took my brother and myself on a first flight. He is knowledgable, attentive, and took special care of each of our individual needs. We will definitely be back.

This was an amazing experience! Dimitri did a fantastic job instructing and also eliminating any nervousness that might have been present. After this experience, I am seriously considering earning my pilots license.

Ryan was am awesome instructor.

After working in the flight training industry with Dimitri years ago, he has always been consistent and professional. If I was seeking flight training, I would highly recommend taking an introductory flight lesson at Stratos Aviation.

Over the course of the 2 years (I moved for work a lot) it took me to complete my pilot certificate, I was fortunate enough to be exposed to a variety of flight schools and flight instructors. The majority of my flight training coming from a part 61 flight program in TN. My landings were inconsistent, my flight knowledge limited, in fact I was afraid at times to land the plane because I was unsure how to do so. I met Dimitri by what I know to be an act of God. I am confident that had I not met Dimitri I am not sure I would have ever finished my flight training for fear of crashing the airplane. After a few (6) flights with Dimitri, I learned how to trust, control and fly the airplane with confidence and skill that I didnt know possible. So much so, that when going to my next instructor, and during the check ride, I was told that I was over proficiency standards, in landing and handling the airplane. I received praise from an examiner who is strict and known to be one of the most meticulous, for being so proficient in my SOPs and Landings. He wanted to know where I learned my skills and I told him Stratos Aviation. Dimitri focused on the fundamentals, giving me tools (readings, experiences, books) and class room training that prepared me to be in the air and to fully think about what was actually going on at the controls of the airplane. Dimitri, is a highly competent, professional flight instructor who has experience and knowledge important to developing the best of pilots. Learn to fly and Fly Stratos!

Clean airplanes. Meticulous instruction. A good place.

I researched Greenville SC flight schools extensively. I spoke with experienced personal and business aviators who led me to Dimitris and Stratos Aviation at GMU -- Greenville downtown. I met with Dimitris and was immediately impressed with his candor and approach. It was patently obvious that he wanted to understand my goals and guide me through the decision making process of whether to start the process of flight training. Once Dimitris was convinced of my conviction to learn, he took me on and our relationship began. Ive just past 10 hours of flight training and more hours of ground school and the experience has reinvigorated my life. Each session is interesting, exciting and challenging and I cant wait for my next lesson (averaging 2 per week but looking to ramp up). As a certified flight instructor, with over 6,000 hours flying, Dimitris is an excellent communicator. He quickly made me very comfortable as pilot in command which in turn has resulted in a faster learning curve and higher absorption rate. Dimitris is complimentary and kind, but his vast experience with students has also taught him to be persuasive and influential, in a gentle and non confrontational manner. One of the attributes I enjoy the most is that Dimitris wont tell you what you want to hear. He doesnt hesitate to question your comments and thoughts, especially if your thinking if off base. One of his many talents lies in his ability to do so with being insulting or denigrating. Dimitris challenges you to the Nth degree, which I know will make me a much better pilot. His advice and counsel is sage and his experience invaluable. I cant recommend Dimitris and Stratos any more highly. If youre contemplating flying lessons in the Greenville SC area, then look around, but youll return to Stratos. You may wish to book Dimitris soon, however, because his time is becoming limited due to demand. Lastly, Dimitris partner is Anastasia, who manages the office and books the students lessons, among many other things. Anastasia is delightful and nicely compliments Dimitris and makes the experience a pleasure. Congratulations to Stratos for being awarded one of the top flying instruction schools in the USA for 2016, a coveted award presented by The Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). This is recognition well deserved! JW -- Greenville, SC

Great Flight School, clean and nice air planes and the best Instructors. I got Flight training from Dimitri and Mark. Both Instructors are very experienced and great Pilots. They always teached me very systematic and with max. effort. I felt very confortable there. They are my Instructors and also my friends. For every step of my training, they gave me the best lessons. I was very good prepared for the check ride. Today Im a Privat Pilot and I found the passion of my life. I will be back in Germany, but I will keep studying with Stratos Aviation and Dimitri for the Instrument RatingAlso thanks to the Stratos Team for organizing everything beside flying.Dimitri/Mark thank you for teaching me and thank you, that you helped me, finding my passion.Alpi

One of the most amazing experiences !