The aviation world just got flipped upside down! At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025, the FAA dropped the MOSAIC bomb—the biggest shake-up to general aviation since 2004. Sport pilots can now fly aircraft with stall speeds up to 59 knots, and now have access to four-seat aircraft. But this isn't just about sport pilots—MOSAIC fundamentally reshapes the landscape for ALL pilots.

Our friend Ted, who sits on the ASTM committee and apparently has nothing better to do than read 700-page regulatory documents while camping in 100-degree heat, spent a week at Oshkosh decoding this mess so the rest of us could keep flying instead of drowning in federal paperwork. Fresh from his "undisclosed location in the canned pumpkin capital," Ted breaks down everything you need to know about the most significant expansion of pilot privileges in decades.

What You'll Learn:

• Why sport pilots can now fly Ben's Cessna 182 "Beast" (and thousands of other aircraft)
• How the 1,320-pound weight limit disappeared and what replaced it
• The maintenance revolution that lets experimental aircraft owners perform their own inspections with just 16 hours of training

• What this means for flight training costs and aircraft availability
• How manufacturers like Van's and Sling are ready to start building completed aircraft instead of just kits
• The hilarious story of how the official FAA announcement got the details completely wrong

Disclaimer: We're pilots and podcasters, not FAA officials or aviation lawyers. Always consult official sources and qualified professionals for regulatory guidance.

Show Notes & Links:

Airports & Aircraft Mentioned:

Blue Ridge Airport (MTV): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Airport

Beechcraft Duchess BE76: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Duchess

DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeKalb%E2%80%93Peachtree_Airport

Piper Comanche: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_PA-24_Comanche

Official MOSAIC Resources:

MOSAIC Final Rule (FAA): https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2023-1377-1381

FAA Official Announcement: https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/us-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-announces-improvements-recreational-aviation

EAA MOSAIC Information: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/advocacy/top-issues/mosaic-aircraft-certificate

EAA "MOSAIC Is Done!" Article: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/news-and-publications/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/2025-07-22-mosaic-is-done

Industry Analysis & News:

General Aviation News MOSAIC Coverage: https://generalaviationnews.com/2025/07/23/long-awaited-mosaic-final-rule-released/

AOPA Light Sport Rules Expansion: https://aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2025/july/22/light-sport-rules-expand-dramatically

Kitplanes MOSAIC for Homebuilts: https://www.kitplanes.com/mosaic-is-here-what-it-means-for-homebuilts/

Flying Magazine MOSAIC Coverage: https://www.flyingmag.com/faa-finalizes-major-overhaul-of-light-sport-aircraft-rules/

Flight Insight Training Impact Analysis: https://www.flight-insight.com/post/faa-releases-final-mosaic-rule

Piper Flyer MOSAIC Forum Discussion: https://piperflyer.com/forum/unicom/1219-breaking-news-mosaic-final-rule-and-your-piper.html

Training & Maintenance:

Rainbow Aviation LSRM Courses: https://rainbowaviation.com/15-day-light-sport-repairman-maintenance-course/

Rainbow Aviation LSA Repairman Info: https://rainbowaviation.com/the-lsa-repairman-maintenance-or-inspection-rating/

Infinity Aero Club LSRM Training: https://infinityaeroclub.org/light-sport-repairman-maintenance-lsrm/

Kitplanes Light Sport Repairman Guide: https://www.kitplanes.com/light-sport-repairman-maintenance/

Connect With Us:

Website: https://midlifepilotpodcast.com

Email: [email protected]

Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/midlifepilotpodcast

YouTube Live Mondays 8 PM Eastern: https://www.youtube.com/@midlifepilotpodcast