Midlife Pilot Podcast

Ben has an obligation, so Brian and Ted are joined by Chris, the "OG Midlife Pilot"! What happens when you haven't flown in a long time? What got the hosts into Aviation YouTube? Finally, Ben rejoins the show, and we get to hear a stellar "Bag O Words" from Chris' training days archive.

Show mentions:

Ted's videos: https://youtube.com/@flysport_tedder

SoCal Flying Monkey: https://www.youtube.com/c/SoCalFlyingMonkey

Josh Flowers' most popular video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NmI7cbIXjI

Chris's most popular videos:

How I Use Trim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgkZoU_zP6c

Using Foreflight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFRoQrqvF30

Chris's favorite video, flying his daughter to the Outer Banks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGNbB1B_OeE

buy merch! https://store.midlifepilotpodcast.com/

We have moved to Patreon!

Become a Patreon member for behind-the-scenes and exclusive content, access to the vibrant Midlife Pilot Podcast Discord community, merch discounts, stickers, and much more!

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast⁠⁠

We understand there are also folks who would rather do a one-time drop - and we have a solution! You can do a one time donation via PayPal at ⁠⁠https://paypal.me/midlifepilotpodcast⁠⁠

We have information whiskey ("booze news") and are ready to copy! Ben, Brian, and Ted catch up on flying adventures, talk about flight following from Delta towers, and read Keith C's story towards a second career.

check out the new merch! https://store.midlifepilotpodcast.com/

We have moved to Patreon!

Become a Patreon member for behind-the-scenes and exclusive content, access to the vibrant Midlife Pilot Podcast Discord community, merch discounts, stickers, and much more!

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast⁠⁠

We understand there are also folks who would rather do a one-time drop - and we have a solution! You can do a one time donation via PayPal at ⁠⁠https://paypal.me/midlifepilotpodcast⁠⁠

We got a number to copy! We talked with Scott and Shelley, both pilots, air traffic controllers, and realtors out of BNA Nashville. We got flight following, learned about the BNA "super charlie", flying over the top of towers, and working hours.

Scott and Shelley's social media:

We have moved to Patreon!

Become a Patreon member for behind-the-scenes and exclusive content, access to the vibrant Midlife Pilot Podcast Discord community, merch discounts, stickers, and much more!

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast⁠⁠

We understand there are also folks who would rather do a one-time drop - and we have a solution! You can do a one time donation via PayPal at ⁠⁠https://paypal.me/midlifepilotpodcast⁠⁠

What is the future of aviation YouTube? We talk to Josh Flowers of Aviation101 about how it has evolved, the types of stories he likes to make, and what he would do if he wasn't flying.

We have moved to Patreon!

Become a Patreon member for behind-the-scenes and exclusive content, access to the vibrant Midlife Pilot Podcast Discord community, merch discounts, stickers, and much more!

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast⁠⁠

We understand there are also folks who would rather do a one-time drop - and we have a solution! You can do a one time donation via PayPal at ⁠⁠https://paypal.me/midlifepilotpodcast⁠⁠

We received a listener email about the challenges of flying with your spouse, so we got all of our significant others on the show to answer themselves! Grab your person and have a listen as we talk turbulence, pinch hitter training, and more.

Mentions:

Contact us! [email protected]

We have moved to Patreon!

Become a Patreon member for behind-the-scenes and exclusive content, access to the vibrant Midlife Pilot Podcast Discord community, merch discounts, stickers, and much more!

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast⁠⁠

We understand there are also folks who would rather do a one-time drop - and we have a solution! You can do a one time donation via PayPal at ⁠⁠https://paypal.me/midlifepilotpodcast⁠⁠

Ben, Brian, and Ted cover a partial LOTOT video, a tip from ncflyer's checkride, and delve into all things STC, centered around the STOL conversions on Ben's Cessna 182, aka "beast".

Defining the term dooblidoo for youtube descriptions: knowyourmeme, english.stackexchange, urbandictionary

Mike Rugnetta, PBS Idea Channel, saying dooblidoo

CFI Sam (Northwest Aeronaut)'s lost of thrust on takeoff video

STCs:

We have moved to Patreon!

Become a Patreon member for behind-the-scenes and exclusive content, access to the vibrant Midlife Pilot Podcast Discord community, merch discounts, stickers, and much more!

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast⁠⁠

We understand there are also folks who would rather do a one-time drop - and we have a solution! You can do a one time donation via PayPal at ⁠⁠https://paypal.me/midlifepilotpodcast⁠⁠

EP44 - Happy Hour!

Ben, Brian, and Ted kick back for a casual episode and welcome Bryan Turner (aka Brian with a Y, aka Just Plane Silly) for a freeform discussion about Radio Shack, Cirrus and serious, icing on the vegetables, and Bryan's favorite metal albums.

Podcast mentions:

Bryan Turner / Just Plane Silly: https://www.youtube.com/c/justplanesilly

Aviation 101 at West Bend Texas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33Fl0Hxc6ks

Contact us! [email protected]

We have moved to Patreon!

Become a Patreon member for behind-the-scenes and exclusive content, access to the vibrant Midlife Pilot Podcast Discord community, merch discounts, stickers, and much more!

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast⁠⁠

We understand there are also folks who would rather do a one-time drop - and we have a solution! You can do a one time donation via PayPal at ⁠⁠https://paypal.me/midlifepilotpodcast⁠⁠

Ben, Brian, and Ted talk about how to think about cross-country flying, especially for the new pilot.

In the climbout (training) segment, the crew discusses aircraft options for new student pilots: rent a plane, join a flying club, or even buying a plane. There are advantages to each!

Podcast mentions:

Alyssa's new avionics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp5ktbCDRSM

Ted's wishlist: land on the highway in Oregon and taxi to the gas station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWjoPyPEdn4

Ted's beach landing: https://youtu.be/QO2szW-_SNQ

Mogas at airports: https://flyunleaded.com/

Ethanol-free gas: https://www.pure-gas.org/

Brian's Marfa, Texas trip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVrQ0tzicC8

EP19 with Opposing Bases: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilot/episodes/EP19---ATC-Talk-with-RH-and-AG-from-Opposing-Bases-Podcast-e1lhog0

EP36 with CFI/school owner Jeff Ramsey https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilot/episodes/EP36---CFIFlight-School-owner-Jeff-Ramsey-on-how-to-choose-a-flight-instructor--and-more-e251sqc

Listener Created Bonus Episode - Flying One Plane VS Flying Many Planes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilot/episodes/Listener-Created-Bonus-Episode---Flying-One-Plane-VS-Flying-Many-Planes-e1slduo

James Fallows, ‘Fate is the Hunter’: Respect to Richard McSpadden and Russ Francis.: https://open.substack.com/pub/fallows/p/fate-is-the-hunter-respect-to-richard

ASI: AOPA Mourns Death of Richard McSpadden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAjp0FHoLZU

Taking Off: Goodbye Richard McSpadden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UkZ2nU1Tew

Contact us! [email protected]

How do you begin flying in midlife? Ben, Brian, and Ted spend an episode explaining how someone thinking about beginning training should get started, from before their first lesson to the first few dozen hours of training. This includes the time and money commitment, why it's important to get a medical before flying, what a discovery flight is like, using an online ground school, books, written test, and the joys and struggles of the first 10 hours of training. It's important to "own" your training experience, as the hosts and community mention.

Nate (Cheapskate Aviation) joins to talk about maximizing every flight hour by studying before every lesson and using a syllabus. Nate also shares his funny BAG O' WORDS clip.

Ben, Brian, and Ted share recent adventures. Ben is in an involuntary flying drought, Brian had a great BFR with impossible turns and 360 spirals, and Ted is finally learning to land the Egg.

They then talk about Brian's trip to the art mecca of Marfa, Texas and his experience with the impacts of density altitude. A CFI's advice about following indicated airspeed is discussed.

The crew then talks about ways to keep flying fun. This includes Angel Flight, Pilots n Paws, doing long cross-countries, practicing maneuvers, and participating in a state aviation passport program. Brian reminds us that we never have to fly- it's okay to not fly or to set it aside.

The discussion takes a quick diversion to answer Jeremy's question: how do you stay entertained on long XCs? This varies by person and situation.

Finally, Josh McElhattan comes on to introduce the new BAG O' WORDS segment with his "Nobody Cares" radio call to the tower at John Tune airport. It's a good reminder that we all make mistakes, no matter the hours, and somehow controllers are mindreaders.

Listener checklist:

- Subscribe to the Youtube channel to see the livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@MidlifePilotPodcast

- Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilot

- Support the podcast, starting at 99 cents per month: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilot

- Say hello, get a Discord invite, or send your BAG O' WORDS: [email protected]

Episode links:

- Marfa Texas airport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/kmrf

- CFI Sam, aka Northwest Aeronaut: https://www.youtube.com/c/NorthwestAeronaut

- Fifty By 60: https://www.youtube.com/@Fiftyx60

- Washington State airport passport program: https://www.flywashington.org/

- Wisconsin airport passport program: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/travel/air/pilot-info/flywi.aspx

- The 1dullgeek philosophy of practicing maneuvers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsb6YPyWCQk

- McRae Georgia airport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KMQW

- Josh McElhattan's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@joshmc

- The video with Josh's bag of words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwAOEzrLkf4#t=16m