Episode 167 tackles the challenge of cockpit organization with real solutions from three very different flying setups.

Brian's still battling the conspiracy to prevent his instrument checkride (spoiler: UPS trucks and snow banks are involved), while Ted shares wisdom from his Miata-sized cockpit about 3D-printed organizers, strategic cup holder placement, and why everything needs "ONE home." Ben discovers that big game hunting expos are surprisingly good aviation networking venues.

From Pivot cases and pulse oximeters to the life-or-death importance of proper seatbelt clipping, plus listener feedback that sparks a deeper discussion about test scores and aviation's competitive culture. Because when you're hand-flying an approach in the clouds and ATC changes your clearance, you need to be flying the airplane, not managing your mess.

Features the guys' real-world tips for everything from "hard-wired" Stratus installations to keeping cash hidden in baggage organizers for emergency out-calls. Plus: why Ted went from zero flight hours to helping rewrite aviation regulations in under five years.

Mentioned on the show:

* Dallas Safari Club: https://www.biggame.org/convention/

* Georgia World Congress Center: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_World_Congress_Center

* Nicholas Air: https://www.nicholasair.com/

* ASTM F37 committee: https://www.astm.org/membership-participation/technical-committees/committee-f37

* DPE and educator Seth Lake: https://vsl.aero/

* Seth's ACE guide: https://vslaviation.myshopify.com/

* TL Sparker: https://tlsportaircraft.com/sparker/

* BRS Parachutes: https://brsaerospace.com/

* Ted's "purse", holds the iPad Mini: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FZL4TZP

* Pivot case: https://pivotcase.com/products/a35a

* Calm Cockpit Podcast: https://calmcockpit.com/

* Flyfisherman Lefty Kreh: The Greatest of All Time: https://www.flyfisherman.com/editorial/lefty-greatest-of-all-time/516098

Website: https://midlifepilotpodcast.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/midlifepilotpodcast

Leave us a 5-star review and we'll read it on the air!

Time to kick back and catch up with the gang in our first "information whiskey" episode of the year. After starting 2026 with our Ultimate Guide series and that marathon session with Dr. Paul Craig, we're taking a breather to hang out, share some flying stories, and tackle your feedback.

Ben kicks things off with a tale of terrible timing - how a flat nose tire and an MD-88 pilot who was "stuck" (but not really stuck) turned a simple night cross-country into an evening of airport ground operations. Meanwhile, Brian's been surviving Nashville's ice apocalypse while grinding through the final stages of instrument training, complete with shoulder harnesses and a healthy dose of reality about how IFR actually works versus how it's taught.

We dive deep into Brian's theory that instrument flying is "interpretive dance" rather than the precise, procedural flying it's marketed to be. Spoiler alert: holds aren't what you think they are, and ATC doesn't care about your perfect entry technique.

Plus, we celebrate some amazing listener accomplishments - from glider add-ons to ice runway landings to solo cross-countries - and address the burning question: do non-flying spouses actually listen to aviation podcasts? (Spoiler: some do, and we want to hear from them!)

Featuring Thaden Invasion updates, washing machine turbulence scales, and why sometimes the best thing to do is just wait 15 minutes for the weather to change.

Mentioned on the show:

* RYY - Cobb/McCollum Field: https://www.airnav.com/airport/RYY

* FAA WINGS program: https://www.faasafety.gov/

* CCO - Coweta County Georgia: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KCCO

* PUJ - Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KPUJ

* Flight Insight, Going Missed on a Circling Approach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJiEuHWF5B8

* Flight Insight, the VOR Flower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm7XxyzZFh0

* Columbia Cascade 99's winter raffle: https://www.columbiacascade99s.org/store/p/2025-2026-winter-raffle

* IFR6 - accelerated IFR training, Charleston SC: https://ifr6.com/

* TOA - Torrance California: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KOTA

* EP46 - Flying With Your Spouse: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep46-flying-with-your-spouse/id1591463789?i=1000632568750

Visit midlifepilotpodcast.com for more content, merch, and our free Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Midlife Pilot. Support the show and join our community at patreon.com/midlifepilotpodcast - 10% of proceeds support Freedom Aviation Network's anti-trafficking efforts.

Aviation legend, educator, instructor, and author Dr. Paul Craig joins the gang to discuss the highly anticipated third edition of The Killing Zone - the book that's basically scripture for midlife pilots everywhere.

With new publisher ASA, Paul's back with fresh data from 12,406 general aviation accidents proving that yes, the 50-350 hour zone still has significantly higher accident rates.

We dive deep into his data-driven approach to accident analysis, explore how technology is creating pilot-induced distractions like GoPro fiddling and selfie-taking, and discover why mental health conversations have finally evolved beyond just "pilot stress." Paul explains how HIMS AMEs are changing the game for pilots needing help, and why scenario-based training beats practicing basketball fundamentals all day.

Whether you're climbing Mount Stupid or think you've conquered it, Paul reminds us that every flight is different and deserves your full attention. Plus, hear his scariest moment involving recruiting football players, hydraulic failure, and emergency gear extension that sounded like the airplane was coming apart.

Featuring abnormal contact with the ground, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving accident curse, and why Paul never tells ATC how an approach will terminate.

Mentioned on the show:

* ASA, The Killing Zone third edition: https://asa2fly.com/the-killing-zone-softcover/

* Wingnuts Aviation, M91 Springfield Tenn: https://wingnutsaviation.net/

* About ASA: https://asa2fly.com/about-us/

* The Vegas Bravo Buster on VASAviation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUSUXnr4dSo

* New York Times Presents 'Lie to Fly': https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/NYT-Presents/lie-to-fly-joseph-emerson-pilot.html

* AOPA, Mike Busch, Quantifying Maintenance Risk: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2025/november/pilot/savvy-maintenance-opinion-quantifying-maintenance-risk

* Scarpazza, Quantifying the Risk of Accidents and Serious Incidents Due to Maintenance in General Aviation: https://www.savvyaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Risks-of-maintenance-to-GA.pdf

* Paul Craig, Flight Times: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1685642306

Visit www.midlifepilotpodcast.com to support the show, get merch, and download the free 23 page PDF "The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Midlife Pilot".

EP164 - The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Midlife Pilot - Part 3: Safety, Community & Your Aviation Legacy

The Ultimate Guide trilogy concludes with safety mindset, community support, and creating your aviation legacy. While Ben dodges Delta jets over Atlanta ("I pulled my throttle - first time I've ever had to slow down for a jet"), Brian demonstrates textbook emergency procedures after his engine starts shaking violently on takeoff: "I didn't pull all the power, I just started veering away from the runway... I was already landing the plane while I was troubleshooting."

Guide Part 3 Focus:

• Risk management evolution from new pilot to 1000+ hours
• Personal minimums: your safety guardrails that evolve with experience
• Community as lifeline - from check ride failures to celebrating milestones
• Aviation legacy: mentoring the next generation of midlife pilots

Real-World Lessons:

• "You don't rise to the level of the emergency, you sink to the level of your training" - Brian's calm emergency handling proves the point
• Z Powell's wisdom: "It hurt to cancel, but it was correct" - weather minimums aren't suggestions
• Risk management parallels your professional life - apply existing decision-making skills

Community Moments:

• Cory reports his first discovery flight: "Amazing and humbling at the same time"
• Boo Radley sharing family flying photos from Australia
• Check ride support system that Ben wished he'd had during his discontinuance

CFI Sam Terrell's MOSAIC Correction: Student pilots can now solo under sport pilot privileges without a medical - major change that many schools haven't caught up to yet.

Thaden Invasion Final Details: March 13-15, 2026 at VBT Bentonville! 30 spots, dedicated lounge space, live podcast Saturday.

Review Corner: "Great content, just play it on 1.5 speed to get through all the uhs and ums" - Thanks for the backhanded compliment, Working170!

Download your FREE 23-page Ultimate Guide at https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/

"Welcome to aviation - you're gonna love it here."

Mentioned on the show:

* Peach State Aerodrome: https://www.peachstateaero.com/

* CFI Sam, Northwest Aeronaut: https://www.youtube.com/@NorthwestAeronaut

* Sam's On Centerline podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DSELWSqYqbvpbxD842lED

* EP139, MOSAIC for All Pilots: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MnT5yGcWnN8vF90WwN8gt?si=z2xZpJQeQjeprdAHLSrA4g

* XKCD 386: http://xkcd.com/386

EP163 - The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Midlife Pilot - Part 2: From Dream to Checkride

Part 2 of our Ultimate Guide tackles the training ecosystem from CFI selection to checkride reality. While Brian demonstrates "evasive maneuvers" on instrument approaches, the crew covers milestone moments and why your bank account will never forgive you.

Key Training Insights:

• Find a CFI you can "poorly do things" with - you're the boss, they work for you
• First solo memory outlasts everything: "I remember mine like it was October 3rd, 1976"
• "My checkride was the first test where I went in not knowing if I'd pass" - universal midlife truth
• Financial reality: Training is just the beginning - you must maintain the pilot you've created

Milestone Moments:

• First solo: the spiritual thrill no other rating will match
• Solo cross-country: when flying actually clicks
• Checkride: "Welcome, you have a license to learn"

Alpha Juliet Bravo's Reality Check: Medical deferment story proves why getting your strategy right BEFORE training isn't optional.

Coming Up: Part 3 covers life as a midlife pilot and creating your aviation legacy.

Download your FREE 23-page Ultimate Guide at https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/

Mentioned on the show:* "Tailwheel Ben Lehman", Drift Aviation: https://www.driftaviation.com/* I Like Killing Flies - Soup Nazi documentary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Like_Killing_Flies* Erica Gilbert- Aerosafe: https://www.gilbertaviation.com/aerosafe* Cap'nTodd's new Cessna 150: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jjLE4HmovgFind everything including how to support us on Patreon, merch, and more at www.midlifepilotpodcast.com

The crew has just released their comprehensive Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Midlife Pilot - a 23-page PDF packed with community wisdom from hundreds of pilots who started flying at 40, 50, 60, and beyond. Download it FREE at midlifepilotpodcast.com!

This is the first episode in a three-part series walking through this game-changing resource that answers the question every aspiring midlife pilot asks: "How do I actually get started?" No more scattered advice - this is your roadmap from dream to checkride.

What's in the Guide:

• The mindset shifts required for learning to fly in midlife

• Community-sourced insights from real midlife pilots

• Legacy-focused motivation beyond just "learning to fly"

• Actionable first steps that won't derail your journey

This Week's Key Insights:

• "The willingness to suck is a challenge" - embrace being terrible at something new

• Brian's liberating "nobody cares philosophy" - your bad landings aren't as noticed as you think

• Why community isn't optional - it's the difference between success and washing out

• The critical importance of getting your medical strategy right BEFORE you start training

Reality Check Moments:

• Why your 23-year-old instructor might seem confused by your existence

• The humbling experience of task saturation (what's 8x8 again?)

• How existential dread during training is normal and survivable

• Why being bad at flying initially doesn't predict your ultimate success

Pro Tips from the Community:

• Contact AOPA FIRST before making any medical decisions

• Understand sport vs. private pilot privileges before committing

• Find your tribe - isolation kills aviation dreams

• This journey is about legacy, not just transportation

Coming Up: Parts 2 and 3 will cover training realities, milestone moments, and advanced midlife pilot strategies.

The Ultimate Guide represents two years of community wisdom distilled into one comprehensive resource. Whether you're thinking about starting or helping someone else begin their journey, this PDF eliminates the guesswork and provides a clear path forward.

Download your FREE 23-page guide at https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/#guide

"Midlife is a state of mind, not an age" - and this guide helps you navigate both.

Mentioned on the show:

* Thaden Invasion: https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/thadeninvasion

* PDF of the midlife starter kit is on the website, https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/

* Million Air- BHM (cookies, wet bar): https://www.millionair.com/locations/bhm/

* Rev2, student with task saturation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnQLuGPLHN4

* SISKIND - Nobody Cares. My Creative Manifest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da4I2Y9v1Sk&t=1s

* AOPA's medical resources (call them!): https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/medical-resources

* Killing Zone, third edition, now available: https://asa2fly.com/the-killing-zone/

* Opposing Bases OB418: Ice Chunks and Slam Dunks

Join the gang as they toast to 2025's greatest hits: Ben earning the coveted "you are a badass MF" landing review from his wife, Brian discovering his Cherokee is indeed "the Toyota Camry of the skies" when loaded with three dudes and camera gear, and Ted conquering his first real Rockies crossings. Plus, the moment we've all been waiting for - The Thaden Invasion is officially happening March 13-15, 2026 in Bentonville, Arkansas!

Expect the usual "personal responsibility themed gathering" where "we're all grownups, figure it out," brewery meetups are "a foregone conclusion," and someone will inevitably need a rescue mission. Brian's setting ambitious 2026 goals involving actual instrument training, Ben wants to fly "somebody else's airplane while not incurring the expenses" (relatable), and the crew reflects on why this community has become their "daily sustenance."

Warning: Contains gratitude, aviation wisdom, and Ted admitting he "really needed to smoke" during the Tango 82 live show moment.

Mentioned on the show:

* Stranger Things (TV): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_Things

* George Carlin, Stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rhVQCzF3r0

* Freedom Aviation Network: https://www.freedomaviationnetwork.org/

* M54 - Lebanon Airport: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon_Municipal_Airport_(Tennessee)

* Southwest Georgia Regional Airport (Albany, Georgia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Georgia_Regional_Airport

* Benalla, Victoria, Australia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benalla

* Kangaroo Island, Australia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_Island

* Moontown Airport, Huntsville Ala: https://www.moontownairport.com/

* RYY - Cobb County - Steakhouse: https://www.elevationatlanta.com/

* Checkmate Aviation has a youtube channel now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GL6_2RZdZU

Join us on Patreon and support the show, give feedback, and more at www.midlifepilotpodcast.com

Ben leads the crew through a heartfelt discussion on the power of aviation community, proving that even "internet pilot buddies who are somehow both extremely wise and definitely unsupervised" can create something meaningful together. While Brian emerges from his five-week "gateway drug situation" of nonstop testing (having "forgotten how to function as a normal human being"), the episode explores how pilot communities support each other through the challenges of midlife aviation.

From anonymous confessionals about night landing requirements to the wisdom of "Fly what you want, log what you need," this episode showcases why the Midlife Pilot community has become "one of the great joys" for pilots navigating their aviation journeys. Ted chimes in from Portlandia while Ben reminds us that aviation community - whether in Discord, at fly-ins, or through podcast connections - provides the essential support network that keeps us all flying safely.

Plus: Why we probably need "at least one service bulletin requiring post-podcast cranial inspections," and Ben's words of wisdom about truth vs. lies in our connected world.

Mentioned on the show:

* AGI: advanced ground instructor

* IGI: instrument ground instructor

* FOI: fundamentals on instruction

* Thaden Invasion: https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/thadeninvasion

* Seth Lake on VBT-Thaden airspace: https://arflightsafety.com/VBT.html

To send feedback, support the show, get merch, and more, visit www.midlifepilotpodcast.com

Like George Costanza pulling a golf ball from a whale's blowhole, Ben emerges from a harrowing 3.5-hour IMC flight through icing conditions with quite the tale to tell. Our intrepid Atlanta pilot finds himself wondering "did I get away with one? This sparks a deep dive into normalization of deviance, expanding personal minimums, and whether Ben just wrote "the first line of his NTSB report."

Brian continues his quest to become qualified to "give bad information for small amounts of money" as an instrument ground instructor, while Ted battles the "Mississippi River pointed at the Northwest" and installs stripped hex screws.

The crew tackles thoughtful listener feedback about pre-flight anxiety and the existential dread of pursuing aviation as what outsiders might call "the Midlife Crisis Podcast." Plus, planning continues for "The Thaden Invasion" fly-in at KVBT - a very GA-friendly airport that's excited to host the podast and community... for now.

Mentioned on the show:

* Wikipedia - List of social generations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation#List_of_social_generations

* Beresford Research - Generations defined by name, birth year, and ages in 2025: https://www.beresfordresearch.com/age-range-by-generation/#:~:text=Generations%20defined%20by%20name%2C%20birth%20year%2C%20and%20ages%20in%202025

* Side view of The Hollywodo Squares: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059995/mediaviewer/rm648494848/?ref_=tt_ov_i

* The Finer Points on the Oscar pattern for IFR flying: https://www.learnthefinerpoints.com/articles/the-oscar-pattern

* Checkmate Aviation IFR, Oscar pattern on back: https://www.checkmateaviation.com/products/checkmate-ifr

* Oscar pattern graphic: https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/13hnvzo/oscar_pattern_graphic/

* Flight Insight, the VOR Flower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm7XxyzZFh0

* EP36 - CFI Jeff Ramsey, Frequency Change Aviation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgaNuf5gCCo

* Seinfeld, "The Sea Was Angry That Day My Friends": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a3TZC69tSg

* Psych Safety - The Challenger Disaster: Normalisation of Deviance: https://psychsafety.com/normalisation-of-deviance/

* Blancolirio on the N2345R Montana fatal icing encounter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkSM531bYzs

* Ben's video, "Pushing the Envelope" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9cvl1LJV1Y

* Big Bird was nearly on the Challenger: https://www.history.com/articles/big-bird-challenger-disaster-nasa-sesame-street

* Performance Pilot by Ross Bentley and Phil Wilkes : https://bookshop.org/p/books/performance-pilot-skills-techniques-and-strategies-to-maximize-your-flying-performance-phil-wilkes/1d2cd7f443b0d5ca

* The Calm Cockpit podcast: https://calmcockpit.com/

* Tammy Barlette's Crosscheck mental performance training course: https://www.crosscheckmentalperformance.com/

* Crosscheck training course and group: https://www.skool.com/crosscheck/about?ref=f15fa026369c49dfaf275891f87f1f26

Join us on Patreon, get event info, merch, and more:

www.midlifepilotpodcast.com

1DullGeek casually announces he's signed a contract for a Czech-built TL Sparker and will spend a month in Prague building it – because apparently "24 cubic feet of cargo space" (more than his compact SUV!) justifies international aircraft construction. The only minor detail? He has absolutely nowhere to hangar this composite beauty that "costs more than his house." Cue the deep dive into "Hangar Hell" – where waiting lists stretch to 2038, car detailing businesses occupy hangars, and Mark realizes he's been "a wholesale menace in every capacity to an airport." Meanwhile, Brian's gone full on into written tests, knocking out instrument ground instructor and fundamentals of instruction in two weeks because "the sponginess of my brain is kind of working at the moment." Plus: heated seats, cup holders, and the eternal question of whether N633K (a.k.a. "N-GEEK") will ever see the inside of an actual hangar.

Upcoming Event:

• The Thaden Invasion Fly-In - March 13-15, 2026, Bentonville, Arkansas (VBT)
• RSVP at midlifepilotpodcast.com - "If half the RSVPs show up, we're gonna have a real good time. If more than half show up, it'll be a disaster."

Support the Show:

• Patreon Community
• Merch Store
• Website: midlifepilotpodcast.com

Mentioned on the show:

* Mark's new plane, TL Sparker: https://tlsportaircraft.com/sparker/

* Risen Aircraft: https://www.flyrisen.com/

* Roy "Deacon" Qualls, Pilot's Edge: Think, Train, and Fly Like a Pro: https://amazon.com/dp/B0FY26ZJJM

* CGI, Cape Girardeau Regional Airport: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Girardeau_Regional_Airport

* Garmin GNC355: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/689774/