Information Whiskey strikes again!

BIG NEWS: The Thaden Invasion is official—March 13-15, 2026 in Bentonville, Arkansas! Brian confesses his Sheppard Air conversion after weeks of IFR written torture ("The FAA told you to look at figure 71, but you have to memorize it's actually figure 24"), his wife solves compass errors in 8 seconds ("Here, idiot"), and Ted's fuel gauge crisis leads to the ultimate "It's Always Fuel" moment. Plus: Ben kills another twin, navigating without flight following during the shutdown, and why flying different planes makes you better.

In this episode:

• 🎉 THE THADEN INVASION IS HAPPENING: March 13-15, 2026 at VBT, Bentonville, Arkansas!
• Why Bentonville rocks: Frank Lloyd Wright house, Crystal Bridges Museum (free!), mountain biking capital, Fly Oz backcountry destinations, and Flying Magazine's "Coolest Airport in the Country"

• Ben's twin curse continues: "I warned this flight school of my curse and they still accepted me" - switching to BE-55 Baron
• Jekyll Island adventure with red bug rentals and son Evan
• Government shutdown reality: How to fly safely when ATC can't take VFR requests and controllers are on skeleton crews
• Ted's "It's Always Fuel" crisis: "This wing is either full or empty. There's no level in it. I have no confidence that I have fuel at this point."
• Chinese lantern with actual flame floating past Ted's wing at night: "I can hear the FAA: 'So how did your wing catch on fire?'"
• The Hacienda Cherokee: Still out there, still getting refueled mid-air, still haunting Ben's flights

Safety talk that actually matters:

• Ben's wisdom: "See and avoid is ALWAYS our responsibility - 50 hours or 5,000 hours, period"
• Monitor approach frequencies even when not on flight following
• Know arrival/departure corridors at major airports
• "Keep your eyes outside and don't get lazy. Don't start playing on your phone."
• Ben's Cherokee stalker story: Same plane intersected his course twice in one day

Weather nerdery from Erica Gilbert:

• Ted's 30.48" altimeter after atmospheric river: "That is a HIGH number"
• Jet stream troughs create low pressure; ridges create high pressure
• High pressure = stable air, clear skies, but poor visibility from trapped pollution

Listener feedback gold:

• Chris H: Why flying multiple planes makes you better - "I became too comfortable flying just one plane and built bad habits"
• The value of clubs: 180-2, PA-28, and 172 access keeps you sharp and forces proper checklist usage

Fly-in essentials:

• One mile walk to brewery, one mile to downtown (Ben's proud of this planning)
• Grass strip + paved runway available
• Live podcast recording somewhere in Bentonville (street corner? Hangar? Brewery? TBD!)
• Hotels, Airbnbs, mountain biking, art museums, and aviation - something for everyone
• Brian: "Ben has rented us a giant complex with what seems like a slaughterhouse in the back, but I'm sure it's fine"

Mentioned on the Show:

• Legends Air Center - FBO at Thaden Field - Your Bentonville basecamp
• Fly Oz - Thaden Field - Backcountry flying destinations
• VBT Pilot Briefing - Everything you need to know
• Flying Magazine - The Coolest Airport in the Country - VBT feature
• Crystal Bridges Museum - Free American art museum in canyon park
• BE55 - Beechcraft Baron 55 - Ben's new twin
• 48A - Cochran Airport, Georgia - Picked up Evan here
• 09J - Jekyll Island Airport, Georgia - Red bug rentals!
• Hacienda - The 64-Day Flight - Still flying
• Sheppard Air - Brian's IFR written redemption
• Gilbert Aviation IFR Course - Keeping Brian sane
• NOAA - What Is the Jet Stream? - Erica's explanation
• Checkmate Aviation - The best checklists (Chris H approved)
• LGE Flying Club, Georgia - Multi-plane access

Support the Show:

• Patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast - Discord, exclusive content, checkride debriefs
• MidlifePilotPodcast.com - Merch, feedback, stickers for reviews!

New Patreon Members: Andy & Babs, Sierra Tango, Patrick L, Michael R, Michael W - Welcome aboard!