Introducing the aircraft mechanic who skyrocketed to fame by linking aviation with... 'The Lord of the Rings'?

What do hobbits and the leading edge of a Boeing 737 wing have in common? Not much, really.

However, that hasn’t stopped a dedicated airline professional from highlighting a connection.

Max Comer is an aviation maintenance technician at a maintenance facility for a prominent U.S. airline. If you're active on social media and follow aviation-related accounts, you probably know him as @airplanefactswithmax.

(He requested that we refrain from disclosing his employer's name or the location of his base in this article, as he is not authorized to speak on behalf of the company.)

Over the past year, Comer has soared on social media, gathering more than half a million followers on Instagram and hundreds of thousands more on TikTok. With a dry, deadpan demeanor, he gazes directly into the camera as he shares fascinating insights about commercial passenger jets — then hilariously contrasts these technical features with elements from "The Lord of the Rings" movies and books.

Feeling puzzled? That’s completely reasonable; it’s utterly ridiculous.

And also incredibly funny.

He highlights everything from the obscure to the mundane aboard an airplane as he works. For instance, he clarifies how a plastic piece known as a "window reveal" constitutes the interior part of the window in the passenger cabin but has no impact on the structural safety of the exterior window; so, you don’t need to fret over scratches or dings on that clear inner section.

He’ll then highlight how airplane windows have nothing in common with "The Window on the West" — the fifth chapter of the second part of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," where Frodo faces questioning from Faramir after the Rangers of Ithilien successfully ambush a group of Haradrim marching toward the Black Gate to reinforce Sauron's army. Still, airplane windows are pretty cool in their own right.

(He occasionally posts videos that focus solely on aircraft maintenance, too.)

You probably wouldn’t think to compare an airplane to "The Lord of the Rings." You might not even grasp what he’s referencing. Yet somehow, it all clicks. With Comer's impressive follower count and the enthusiastic responses to his videos, this absurdity strikes a chord with viewers.

"It’s been wild to see this take off; I never saw it coming," Comer shared with TPG during an interview.

Comer began making videos with lighthearted one-liners, sharing them with friends to elicit laughter. In his first video, he humorously pointed out that the tires on a commercial airplane differ from those on a car simply because... they’re on an airplane, not a car. With his friends' encouragement, he began posting these videos publicly on TikTok (and later Instagram), and each one attracted more views than the last.

A few months and several videos later, while revisiting "The Lord of the Rings" books, he came up with the idea to incorporate a reference into his next video.

Humor and sorrow

Initially, Comer’s videos attracted only a few views, and even some casual acquaintances unfollowed him. However, about a week later, one of his videos somehow caught the attention of Instagram's algorithm. Suddenly, views began flooding in — and they haven’t slowed down since.

Comer explained that he never intended to create educational content about airplanes or become a key figure in the online J.R.R. Tolkien community. In fact, he hadn’t planned to make content at all. The whole endeavor emerged from a place of grief: he started making videos to distract himself during quiet moments after the unexpected loss of his wife.

"I was at work and just needed something to take my mind off things during lunch breaks," he shared.

As the videos gained traction and the "The Lord of the Rings" theme expanded, they transformed into more than just a means for him to process his grief; they fostered connections that went beyond that.

"I’ve encountered some truly incredible individuals through this journey — people I admire, including artists and musicians," Comer remarked. "I’ve even met coworkers and friends I wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise."

The videos’ popularity is striking, considering the unusual niche Comer's content occupies. It exists at the intersection of geeky aviation mechanics and specific references to a fantastical universe born from a 70-year-old book series that was adapted into a trilogy of films over two decades ago.

Comer believes part of the appeal lies in the humor that resonates with anyone who has even a slight interest in aviation or "The Lord of the Rings," regardless of their level of investment in either. There’s something inherently amusing about the sheer volume of absurd information being presented.

Another factor contributing to their charm is the minimal production quality. Comer's videos primarily feature him in a single shot, holding his phone and using the selfie camera to speak for about 45 seconds, occasionally showcasing an airplane component with his other hand. He calls it "low effort."

"I feel like over the past few years, especially for me, I've noticed a lot of influencer-type individuals engaging in typical influencer behavior, and it feels like it’s become stale," he shared. "People start to get bored with it."

Reflecting on how his videos have been received, Comer believes that the authenticity of his simple, casual approach, paired with his passion for sharing quirky facts, really resonates with viewers.

"I think this strikes a chord because there’s so much content out there that’s overly polished," he noted.

Yet, Comer mentioned he has discovered an unexpected crossover between certain aviation fans and aficionados of "The Lord of the Rings."

Take me as an example. I initially reached out to Comer to share my own content — Instagram stories featuring "The Lord of the Rings" puns that I create while watching the movies during flights. (I even crowdsourced a hashtag: #LordOfTheWings.)

'There and Back Again'

For Comer, content creation and maintaining a social media presence serve as a fun way to indulge his passions during his free time. He records his videos during lunch breaks to avoid accidentally capturing coworkers in the background, respecting their privacy while staying focused on his work.

Most of his videos are shot on narrow-body jets, which are the aircraft he primarily works on. While he occasionally features a Boeing 777 or 787, he mainly focuses on smaller planes due to how aviation maintenance technicians at his facility bid for schedules. As a solo parent to two young children, he opted for a narrow-body maintenance line to secure a prime daytime schedule that aligns better with his childcare needs.

Comer described his job as enjoyable, noting that the schedule suits his current lifestyle. His online persona has flourished, opening up new opportunities. (As a hobby, Comer writes and performs music, and he recently self-produced and released an extended play that gained exposure through his social media channels.) However, he has no intentions of leaving the hangar to pursue content creation full-time.

"I never set out to be an internet personality," Comer remarked. "But as I continued, it became enjoyable, as I can introduce aviation enthusiasts to 'The Lord of the Rings' and vice versa."

"I genuinely enjoy being a mechanic," he added. "Just the other day at work, we were removing a bunch of spoilers — it’s greasy, it’s messy, and it’s a blast, you know?"

With his posts going viral, Comer has relished the chance to highlight the often-overlooked maintenance aspect of aviation. Even as aviation influencers and content creators have emerged alongside general travel creators, the maintenance side is crucial for ensuring that passengers can catch their next flight.

"Aviation maintenance, in particular, is really underrepresented online," he stated. "When I tell people I’m an aircraft mechanic, many don’t even realize that role exists."

Despite his lively personality and approachability, Comer considers himself more of a homebody. While he has a passion for airplanes and aviation, he seldom takes advantage of his flight benefits or travels otherwise.

Of course, he does make exceptions.

Recently, Comer was a guest at San Diego Comic-Con, representing Amazon's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" series, which draws from various Tolkien writings about Middle Earth.

"Honestly, it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life," he reflected. "I met so many amazing people from the Tolkien online community and aviation enthusiasts... it was a whirlwind of excitement."

He even had the chance to chat with Sean Astin, who portrayed Sam in the film trilogy.

"I never imagined when I started this that I'd be invited to Comic-Con as an aircraft mechanic," he remarked.

No matter the initial intentions — or the lack of them — Comer is relishing the path he’s taken.

Ultimately, it’s about enjoying a great job and having fun. It’s also about highlighting how the windows on a Boeing 787 dim electronically instead of using physical shades — and how their fading is nothing like Frodo's gradual disappearance after being stabbed by a Nazgul on Weathertop in "The Fellowship of the Ring" (since the window dimming isn't caused by the darkness of the Morgul blade).

"If I can chat about airplanes and 'The Lord of the Rings,' those are my two favorite topics," Comer said. "I could discuss that endlessly."