Midlife Pilot Podcast

Join us for a special Appy Hour episode! We talk aviation apps and tools we love, and some we even know how to use. From the "suspiciously good and free" flight analysis tools that'll keep you up until 4 AM, to website tools that look straight out of the "Angel Fire website" era (rotating fire GIFs not included), we're diving into the digital tools that keep us flying.

Learn why calling that old-school weather briefing number might connect you with someone doing their best late-night talk show host impression, and why Ben calls ATC radio "soothing" when there's nothing else to listen to. Whether you're tracking your landings, checking weather, or just trying to figure out if it's okay to brush snow off someone else's plane (spoiler: maybe don't), we've got you covered in this episode. Plus, hear why our Big Texas Send Fly In event in May 2025 is already making us ask "What have we done?" Your weekly dose of aviation inspiration, now with 100% more app recommendations.

Join the crew as they announce their epic 2025 fly-in at the retro-cool Hangar Hotel in Fredericksburg, Texas! Between planning cross-country routes and debating who gets "shotgun" in Erica's TBM, the hosts share hilarious stories and valuable pilot wisdom. Featuring gems like "I can't tell if I'm being insulted or not" and "What if we just keep flying around until Oshkosh?" Plus, 1DullGeek bravely shares his tale of wing-meets-pole. From ceramic-coated planes to accidental aircraft relocations, Episode 109 serves up aviation camaraderie with a side of Texas-sized ambition. See you in May! RSVP!

Mentioned on the show:

* Join us at the 2025 Big Texas Send! Hangar Hotel, T82 Fredericksburg TX, May 2-4. Info, RSVP form, and directions for the hotel room block: https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/rsvpt82

* CPP Green County GA: https://www.airnav.com/airport/CPP

* Ted's new video, "friday harbor with my favorite passenger": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFMPlhNvS5M

* EP46, Flying With Your Spouse: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilotpodcast/episodes/EP46---Flying-With-Your-Spouse-e2b1cpn

* Erica, Aerosafe: https://www.youtube.com/@AeroSafe

* Hangar Hotel video from Just Plane Silly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58d85X1R5G4

* Hangar Hotel, FunPlacesToFly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nryylfueJJE

* Tac Aero video from Charlie Gasmire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyVoRExoBUI

Get all the fly in info, support the podcast on Patreon and join the community:

https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/

Mentioned on the show:

* Brian's new video, "Loss of Power IS Power": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF9tF7rY8ZE

* EP84, RH of Opposing Bases, "reading the room": https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilotpodcast/episodes/EP84---Midlife-radio-tips-with-RH---reading-the-room-e2m4ite/a-abehav7

* CFIIMunden's reaction video to Brian's "The Art of NOT Flying" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olq89uQsP68

* EVB New Smyrna Beach airport: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Smyrna_Beach_Municipal_Airport

* LOU Bowman Field airport: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowman_Field_(Kentucky)

* Ted, "behind the power curve on a go-around": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8lVTNWf6gI

* Brian's "forgot what airport I just left" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm-dsPSgk5g#t=73m40s

Ben, Brian, and Ted dive into why perfection might actually be holding you back in the cockpit! Between Brian's obsession with landing "THE MIDDLE of the centerline stripe" and Ben's tales of learning to embrace "sexy indifference" in the pattern, these midlife pilots share why being "just adequate" isn't always a bad thing. Plus, find out why "low VFR" apparently means there's "icing on the vegetables" and why sometimes you just need to "turn off that dang autopilot" and embrace the wobble! 🛩️

Mentioned on the show:

* Brian's Flying Eyes discount code is "SISKIND": https://flyingeyesoptics.com/?ref=TIWCnBYqpOn8uA

* Barnstormers Grill: https://exploregeorgia.org/griffin/arts-culture/museums/barnstormers-grill

* Bunyan's Hot Dogs, Muscle Shoals on Luke's Landing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYPGV1egrdk

* EP14 with Kerry Mcauley, "What They Don't Teach You In Flight School": https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilotpodcast/episodes/EP14---What-They-Dont-Teach-You-In-Flight-School-e1ifqqs/a-a7tvbcp

* Smartless podcast, "sexy indifference": https://www.smartless.com/

When your ETA increases by 30 minutes while on final approach, you know you're in for a story. In Episode 106, Ben's "one-day-feels-like-multi-day" adventure sets the stage for a lively discussion about planning extended flying trips. Between battling 60-knot headwinds, debating the merits of various approaches, and discovering why a credit card might be your most important safety equipment (unless you have a parachute), the hosts share practical wisdom wrapped in aviation humor. From Brian's "chase the tailwinds" philosophy to Ted's daylight-deprived Portland perspective, learn the art of multi-day trip planning – and why someone might drive three hours just to retrieve a tail tie-down strap.

* LZU Gwinnett, Lawrenceville Ga: https://www.airnav.com/airport/LZU

* OLV Olive Branch, Miss: https://www.airnav.com/airport/kolv

* Windy weather app: https://www.windy.com/

* Windy's meteogram: https://community.windy.com/topic/14827/how-to-read-meteogram

* Erica Gilbert's Aerosafe: https://www.youtube.com/@AeroSafe

Support the show, get merch, and send us your feedback!

www.midlifepilotpodcast.com

Join the crew as they plan their spring fly-in while debating the merits of ignorance-is-bliss flying versus obsessing over engine monitors. Ted confesses to having saggy flaps (on his plane, of course), Brian explains why Super 8 footage isn't just an Instagram filter, and Ben discovers that dad hats might be the aerodynamic solution for the follicly challenged pilot. The gang explores potential meetup locations while dreaming of their own private air park, complete with BBQ pits and hangout huts. Plus, find out how one listener became an "astronaut" thanks to a NASA letter in the mail, and why logging zero hours might be worth celebrating after all.

Mentioned on the show:

* Brian's "Dad's flight bag" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ma6pvmwxM

* Ted's new pattern work and geese video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyjwzXh4q6I

* T82 Fredericksburg: https://www.airnav.com/airport/T82

* Hangar Hotel at T82: https://www.hangarhotel.com/

* 09J Jekyll Island: https://www.airnav.com/airport/09J

* I73 Moraine, Dayton Ohio: https://www.airnav.com/airport/I73

* GPT Gulfport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/GPT

* Rough River Kentucky: https://parks.ky.gov/parks/find-a-park/rough-river-dam-state-resort-park-7800#lodging

* Brian's new video, "How to Read the ATC Room": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq8xywGS4HE

* Brian's new video, "The Art of NOT Flying": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGb9WqflFWs

The crew dives into the delicate art of vetting your cockpit companions - from evaluating potential co-pilots to dodging those who claim '8000 simulator hours.' Listen in as Ben recounts literally flying with 'a stranger from the internet' (it turned out fine!). Between tales of night landing adventures, atmospheric rivers, and accidental wrong-runway taxi slip ups, the gang shares practical wisdom on building safe flying partnerships while keeping their usual mix of aviation insights and midlife humor. Plus, learn why a 'plane full of pilots' might be more dangerous than you think - and why Ben still won't let Brian fly from the front seat!

* Josh and Chelsea talking about vetting pilots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SkqxChkYW0

* Brian's new video, "Dialog with the Sky: My Journey to 600 Hours": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHGva4LIn3A

* TTD Troutdale Airport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/TTD

* LBE Arnold Palmer Regional Airport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/LBE

* EP23: Pilots Flying with Pilots (the good and the bad) https://open.spotify.com/episode/6l31UC5GSLuAjlxs4zRMA0

* Nathan Ballard, how to survive a pilot locked up on the controls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv0NNjQOCkI

* Ted flying with his partner: https://youtube.com/watch?v=DZbYM25PYsc

* CheckMate Aviation checklists: https://www.checkmateaviation.com/

* Blancolirio, Catalina crash with many pilots:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPsnL-S58EU

* Pilot Debrief, father/daughter, both pilots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTSUtpXRMT0

Support the show on Patreon and join the community: www.patreon.com/midlifepilotpodcast

Get merch and more at www.midlifepilotpodcast.com

Need more time to fly but life keeps getting in the way? The Midlife Pilot crew tackles aviation's eternal struggle - finding time to get airborne while juggling work, family, and that ever-growing honey-do list. From strategic calendar blocking to creative "errands" (like Ben's suspiciously convenient forgotten jacket that required a flight to retrieve), discover how these pilots squeeze more cockpit time into packed schedules. Whether you're a student trying to stay consistent with training or a licensed pilot keeping current, this episode offers practical tips, humorous workarounds, and reassurance that you're not alone in the quest to find that elusive balance between life on the ground and time in the sky.

* RMG Rome Georgia: http://www.airnav.com/airport/RMG

* Sam's Burger Deli, Rome Georgia: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/1021640145/sams-burger-deli/

* EP48 - Nashville ATC! Controllers, pilots, realtors Scott and Shelley Weckler: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1wAvZ85qtTEh5CDcDObrr4

* EGKR Redhill Aerodrome: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redhill_Aerodrome

Ben, Brian, and Ted tackle the art of fiscally responsible flying in this lively episode. From owner-assisted annuals to strategic fuel planning, discover practical ways to keep your aviation passion aloft without completely emptying your wallet. Plus, hear special insights from "Cheapskate" Nate on smart budgeting, and learn why slower flying might actually be the way to go. Warning: No actual guarantee of cheap flying provided, but plenty of wallet-wise wisdom shared! Featuring night IMC adventures, tales of impressive landings (now with notarized proof), and the eternal debate over whether paying less for fuel is actually saving you money.

* DNL Daniel Field Airport, Augusta Ga: https://www.airnav.com/airport/DNL

* RyanK's I Learned About Flying From That, ep81, on being in IMC with a failing vacuum pump: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3mGlSB4dmGlHfFzsDdsiiu

* 21Five Podcast, ep 143, Light Sport training for pilot track pilots, "what ever happened to the skycatcher? I wonder why it didn't catch on." https://open.spotify.com/episode/4lFXM8DaRwpNC529IDX9TJ?si=mw9FY-o6Q7mgEWXuJkP4hQ

* PlanePlaces's video showing carb ice happening in cruise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm6IWqkAqjg

* Brian's ep100 video: "Headset Problems and Hot Dogs": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV10VDMaIh0

* Ted's ep100 video: "the journey is half the adventure": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfPdlg_mkr8

Ben, Brian, and Ted share stories and adventures from their recent non-event gathering in West Virginia, including Ben's memorable "seven-mile base" skywriting approach with a fuel leak, Brian's encounters at unique mountain airports, and various flying experiences in challenging terrain. The hosts discuss their stops at small airports like Logan County (6L4) where they discovered classic cars and met fascinating local aviation enthusiasts. Ted provides audio clips of memorable radio exchanges from the trip.

Hear your listener feedback about getting back into flying after breaks, chair flying techniques used by the Blue Angels, and the growing international reach of their aviation community. The hosts also tease plans for a future spring meetup while reflecting on how their impromptu airport visits often lead to the most memorable experiences in aviation.

* pepperoni rolls from Country Club Bakery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepperoni_roll

* Woody's Hot Dogs: https://wvhotdogblog.blogspot.com/2019/07/fairmont-hdj-review-woodys.html

* Bunyan's BBQ, Muscle Shoals: https://www.bunyansbarbeque.com/

* 4G7, Fairmont WV, great airport (with difficulty) to learn at: https://www.airnav.com/airport/4G7

* SJS, Big Sandy, Prestonburg, Kentucky: https://www.airnav.com/airport/SJS

* 6L4, Logan County Airport, WV: https://www.airnav.com/airport/6L4

* C130 assault landing strips near 6L4: https://bit.ly/3Cf6CX5

* Luke's Landing, epic segment on on hot dogs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYPGV1egrdk