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