Midlife Pilot Podcast

Latest Episodes:

EP129 - Debriefing the Debriefs: Part 1 - Private Pilot Checkrides May 20, 2025

Show notes

In this first installment of their two-part check ride series, the Midlife Pilot Podcast crew mines gold from their community's private pilot exam experiences through intimate Patreon debriefs. Ben, Brian, and Ted tackle everything from the anxiety-inducing oral exam (which Ben likens to "walking into the delivery room") to those heart-stopping landing attempts on check ride day. The hosts share candid stories of forgotten keys, unexpected teaching moments, and the surprising feeling when a DPE says "you ought to know you passed." Whether you're contemplating your first lesson or preparing for your own check ride, this episode offers both practical wisdom and the reassurance that even type-A personalities sometimes "completely forget how to land" - and still earn their wings.

Join our Patreon for access to all the debriefs, Discord, and much more: www.patreon.com/midlifepilotpodcastMentioned on the show:

* Ted's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@flysport_tedder

* GGG - Longview, Texas: https://www.airnav.com/airport/GGG

EP128 - Two Bounces and a Skip: Planning vs. Reality May 13, 2025

Show notes

Join the Midlife Pilot Podcast crew as they return from their epic Texas fly-in adventure with tales of triumph, near-misses, and one unfortunate set of wheel pants. Ted recounts his 28.3-hour post-fly-in journey that somehow went east instead of west ("Look, you can only chase tailwinds for so long"), while Brian shares his VFR limits revelation ("I have now taken VFR flying as far as one can take it"). Ben confesses to "two bounces and a skip" on one of his worst landings in recent memory, and the guys discuss the wisdom of testing boundaries safely: "Go up and have a look, but be fully prepared to land again." Featuring an impossibly flowery listener message that has Brian nearly falling out of his chair, frequent tangents, and what the hosts themselves describe as "an episode that is apparently all appetizers."

80V - Airmail Airport, Medicine Bow Wyoming: https://www.airmailaviator.com/
4R9 - Dauphin Island, Alabama: https://www.airnav.com/airport/4R9
Cap'n Todd flying to the Texas Send: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLQ14WrGWXc
Fedex fast talking commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeK5ZjtpO-M
Micro Machines fast talking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLP6oT3uqV8
Avemco- increasing taxi crash rate outside of the Killing Zone: https://www.avemco.com/news-events/pirep-blog/taxiing-one-of-the-first-skills-you-learned
SRB - Upper Cumberland Airport, Sparta Tenn: https://www.airnav.com/airport/SRB
Plan continuation bias: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost#Plan_continuation_bias
Ted's Rockies turbulence video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GC-5BnhILU
Erica Gilbert, May 21, "When Mistakes Happen: The Flight Instructor's Response" https://my.nafimentor.org/events-calendar/mentorlive/mentor-live-92/704
Vans RV15 development video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtsJVNx72a4

EP127 - Big Texas Send Live from T82: Between Two Wheelpants May 07, 2025

Show notes

The Midlife Pilot Podcast hosts the Big Texas Send fly in at T82 in Fredericksburg, TX and lands with a thud (but "didn't dent the runway") at the gorgeous TAC Aero hangar. Ben, Brian, and Ted swap harrowing journey tales involving everything from Brian's "measured scud running" to Ted mysteriously ascending to 15,000 feet in a light sport ("Try a German-engineered plane built in Ukraine!"). While celebrating their adrenaline-junkie passenger Hope flying with Ted and losing a bird-strike battle with Ted's wheel pants ("Suicidal Sparrow would be a good band name"), the crew raises their glasses to those who made the toughest decision of all—not flying. As Brian says about the fly-in pressure, "We never actually have to fly anywhere, ever...except for this Sunday because we don't have hotels anymore." Between "advanced VFR flying" (which apparently means "leave the day before") and zip-tie engineering miracles, episode 127 captures why aviation friendships are "like meeting family for the first time, except you like them."

Locations Mentioned:

TAC Aero - Tail wheel training academy at T82 in Fredericksburg, TX ("This is heaven, this is Tail Wheel Academy")
Hangar Hotel - Aviation-themed hotel at T82
Fredericksburg Brewery - Meetup location for the group
Cooper's Barbecue - Lunch spot in Llano
Lockhart BBQ - Another BBQ destination visited by attendees

Aviation Resources:

Checkmate Aviation - Custom checklists offered by Barry (including the upside-down emergency checklist)
Freedom Aviation Network - Anti-human trafficking organization supported by the podcast

Thanks To:

Chris and the TAC Aero team
Hope from the Hangar Hotel (the adrenaline junkie who survived Ted's wheel pants departure)
Erica Gilbert for her weather briefings
Richard (Yankee 88) for his safe no-go decision ("congratulations on not flying here")
Mike (Alpha Golf) for his safe no-go decision
Louis for his safe aircraft choice (opting for A/C over his shiny new Carbon Cub)

Get Connected:

Midlife Pilot Podcast Patreon - Join for $1/month or $12/year ("Friends with Benefits program")
Email: midlifepilotpodcast@gmail.com
Website: midlifepilotpodcast.com
Live on YouTube Mondays at 8PM Eastern (or "sometimes in Texas at weird times")

Words of Wisdom: "Real pilots use the rudder. Tail wheel pilots worship it."

EP126 - Information Whiskey: "Like Oregon Trail Without Dysentery" Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

The Midlife Pilot crew prepares for their "Big Texas Send" fly-in at T82 while navigating spring weather challenges. Brian celebrates returning to flying after a 42-day maintenance hiatus, sharing stories of tower tours and smoke-signaling air tractors. Ted plans his epic 1800-mile cross-country journey in his LSA, which Brian dubs "Oregon Trail without dysentery," while guest weather expert and CFII Erica Gilbert offers forecasting wisdom. The show celebrates both those making the journey and those making smart no-go decisions. As all the best GA adventures play out, "This is not going as planned, and it's awesome."

Mentioned on the show:

* CMD - Cullman Airport, Alabama: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KCMD

* Trent Palmer's smoke system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ4ZDpx2ysM

* Manifest, 2018 TV series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_(TV_series)

EP125 - "What Am I Doing?": Extinguishing Helmet Fires Before They Consume You Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

When your CFI asks for your name and you respond with "standby" – you're experiencing what pilots call a helmet fire. In this episode, Ben, Brian, and Ted dive into the phenomenon of task saturation that affects pilots at every level, from Ben's instrument approach adventures where he made what sounded like "Charlie Brown's teacher" over the radio, to Ted's coastal flight where turning back was the smartest option.

The crew shares practical strategies for extinguishing these cognitive infernos: slowing down both mentally and physically, asking for delay vectors, and constantly thinking ahead by asking "what are the next two things?" They discuss how flying with other pilots can increase pressure, why preparation is critical, and how everyone from students to seasoned pilots can recover when they fall behind the airplane.

Plus, updates on the upcoming T82 fly-in (80 attendees, 39 aircraft!), community milestone celebrations, and a reminder that, as Wendell Geek says, "helmet fires are like exercise – they suck in the moment, but in the long run they make you stronger."Mentioned on the show:

* VLD - Valdosta Georgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdosta_Regional_Airport

* The Underbelly Project: https://viralart.vandalog.com/read/chapter/the-underbelly-project/

* The Towering Inferno: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Towering_Inferno

* M02 - Dickson County Airport, Tenn: https://www.airnav.com/airport/M02

* the Dixie Dregs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Dregs

* L.P. Hartley, The Go-Between, "The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there": https://rylandscollections.com/2015/09/19/the-past-is-a-foreign-country-l-p-hartleys-the-go-between/

EP124 - Parking: The Episode That Goes Nowhere Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Join the Midlife Pilot Podcast crew as they tackle the surprisingly complex world of airport parking that flight schools never teach you. Between Brian's maintenance woes with Lucy, Ted's triumphant return of "the egg" from annual, and preparations for their upcoming Texas fly-in, the hosts share hilarious stories about confusing marshaling signals ("like dance move diagrams"), territorial tie-down spots, and why you should always keep "brakes off." As Ben perfectly summarizes: "The moment I get cocky and say I can fit in that spot... it's just a matter of time before I mess up." From diaper oil-change hacks to avoiding insurance adjusters' scrutiny, this episode proves that even the most mundane aspects of aviation can leave you both wiser and broke for a lifetime.

Mentioned on the show:

* Using a diaper for oil changes: https://vansairforce.net/threads/tip-changing-oil-with-a-diaper.123286/

* DNL - Daniel Field, Augusta, Georgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Field

* 4S2 - Ken Jernstedt Airfield, Hood River, Oregon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Jernstedt_Airfield

* 1L8 - Gen. Dick Stout Field, Hurricane, Utah: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Municipal_Airport

EP123 - The Answer to All Solutions: Level Seven Hangar Living Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Ben, Brian, and Ted dive into the challenges of finding and maintaining hangar space, or not having one. From ratchet straps (BAD) and tornado warnings (ALSO BAD) to the joys of electricity and the sorrows of cold starts, the guys discuss how far they'd travel for a good hangar and why sometimes your plane becomes 'an outdoor pet.' Plus, updates on Ben's annual maintenance adventures and a reminder about the upcoming Big Texas Send meetup at T82.

Mentioned on the show:

* Big Texas Send: https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/rsvpt82

* VPC - Cartersville Ga: https://www.airnav.com/airport/VPC

* Tyler S's personal minimums tool: https://personal-minimums.web.app/

* Example of Tyler's minimums: https://personal-minimums.web.app/profile/8DgOuxvxgxdfiZRpW2W8BMGUJO32

* SISKIND - Life is what happens to you... (the plane that flipped): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EejbxBWsfo

* Gust front: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outflow_boundary

* Wind gradient: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_gradient

* Ted's ShockStrap tiedowns: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/shock13-20708.php

* Switcheon remote power switch: https://switcheon.com/product/switcheon_remote_power_switch/

* Zen and the art of Knolling: https://makezine.com/article/workshop/zen-and-the-art-of-knolling/

EP122 - "I Plan My Stops Around Food" and IFR Training: CFII Erica Gilbert Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

Join us for special guest Erica Gilbert, a CFII and TBM pilot who brings her expertise on cross-country planning and adult learning to the show. While Ben mourns his grounded "Beast" waiting on engine work, and Mark celebrates his impressive 693-nautical-mile nonstop flight in his upgraded Cherokee 235, Erica shares her refreshing approach to flight planning: "I plan my stops around food." The discussion reveals how midlife pilots bring unique strengths to aviation training—they're more motivated, committed, and arrive prepared despite memory challenges that come with age.

Erica breaks down her framework for learning complex aircraft systems into four simple parts (function, components, limitations/failures, and operation), offers weather briefing insights, and introduces her new IFR course designed to bridge the gap between online learning and practical application. The episode delivers aviation wisdom for pilots of all levels while tackling the question of how to maintain confidence as a newly certificated pilot.

Mentioned on the show:

* Diamond DA40NG: https://www.diamondaircraft.com/en/private-owners/aircraft/da40/overview/

* Erica's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AeroSafe/videos

* One of Erica's weather vids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BFXShZFVGs

* LEX Lexington Ky: https://www.airnav.com/airport/LEX

* LOZ London Ky: https://www.airnav.com/airport/LOZ

* Capitol Drive airport, Wisc: https://www.airnav.com/airport/02C

* UES Waukesha County Airport, Wisc: https://www.airnav.com/airport/WAU

* ERAU paper- Student Engagement in Aviation Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): https://commons.erau.edu/publication/2285/

* Beech Baron 55: https://www.aviationconsumer.com/used-aircraft-guide/beech-baron-55-2/

* Erica's IFR ground school begins Apr 15: https://www.gilbertaviation.com/ifr

* Mark practicing PPL maneuvers after having his PPL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsb6YPyWCQk

EP121 - Information Whiskey: Between Patience and Numbness Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Join Ben, Brian, and Ted for hangar talk about the joys (and pains) of annual inspections in this episode of the Midlife Pilot Podcast. The guys commiserate over their planes being simultaneously grounded, with Ben's Beast down to five cylinders and showing remarkable "patience" (or is it numbness?). Brian dishes on his new book of aviation essays "Make Small Corrections," while Ted smugly reminds everyone his oil-free belly never needs scrubbing. The fellas debate what aircraft they'd come back as in the next life, swap formation flying stories, and remind everyone about the upcoming Texas meetup. Pull up a chair in the hangar and settle in for another episode that'll make you feel right at home in the best pilot community around.

Mentioned on the show:

* Ernest Goes To Jail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Goes_to_Jail

* The Green Mile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Mile_(film)

* Nashville prison: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_State_Prison

* Paul Craig episode 120: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilotpodcast/episodes/EP120---Descending-from-Mount-Stupid-with-Paul-Craig-e30b2sb

* Cessna 195: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_195

* Stinson v77: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinson_Reliant

* Lockheed AC130: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_AC-130

* Continental IO520: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_IO-520

* Georgia Tech Wreck Racing: https://wreckracing.gatech.edu/

* RMG Rome airport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/RMG

* Sam's Burger and Deli: https://www.samsburgerdeli.com/

* XNX Music City Executive: https://www.airnav.com/airport/XNX

* "Cessna 140 Ben": https://flywithben.com/

* Centerline Aviation: https://centerlineair.com/

* Cessna 337 Skymaster: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_Skymaster

* TomAir's Cessna 337: https://www.youtube.com/@tomairtv

* The Green Machine: https://www.retroist.com/p/the-green-machine

* Brian's book, "Make Small Corrections": https://amazon.com/dp/B0DZWQKGJX

* Original Kindle with a keyboard: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Amazon_Kindle_(original_version)

EP120 - Descending from Mount Stupid: with Paul Craig Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

For this very special episode we welcome Paul Craig, author of "The Killing Zone," "Be a Better Pilot," and numerous other aviation books including his memoir "Flight Times: Stories from the Second Best Instructor." In this episode, we explore how aviation has evolved since Paul's last book edition, from the rise of electronic flight bags to the Wednesday before Thanksgiving being statistically the most dangerous flying day. As Paul notes about his writing approach, "I just sit down at the computer and have a conversation with the keyboard. It's just you and me talking on a Saturday afternoon at the hangar."

Paul shares stories from his memoir, including the time his instructor Bill Kirshner yelled "CLEAR PROP!" after 23 spins while still inside the aircraft, and when his student's first solo flight had Air Force One on approach behind him.

Mentioned on the show:

* Ted's new video, "I don't feel heard": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3D4bXBSMiw

* Invisible Hulk piano intro, 1978: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9MysTXM_P4

* CHA - Chattanooga Airport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/CHA

* EP40 - introducing Ben and Ted: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilotpodcast/episodes/EP40---The-Podcast-Handoff---a-very-special-crossover-episode-e29965s

* Cornelia Fort Airfield: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelia_Fort_Airpark

* Cornelia Fort herself: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelia_Fort

* Patsy Clilne was headed to Cornelia Fort: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1963_Camden_PA-24_crash

* Paul Craig, "Be A Better Pilot": https://amazon.com/dp/0830620478/

* Paul Craig, "Killing Zone, Second Edition": https://amazon.com/dp/0071798404/

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