Midlife Pilot Podcast

In the compelling conclusion to their check ride series, the Midlife Pilot crew explores instrument rating experiences drawn from their Patreon community. From developing the perfect instrument scan to battling temperamental autopilots and partial-panel approaches, this episode reveals the unique challenges—and profound rewards—of becoming an instrument-rated pilot. Ben, Brian, and Ted unpack essential advice on training aircraft, instructor selection, and those magical moments of breaking through cloud layers at minimums. With candid discussions about instrument currency and the perishable nature of these skills, this episode serves as both inspiration and practical roadmap for pilots at any stage of their IFR journey. As one debrief contributor put it, "I think every private pilot should get their instrument rating. I'm a much better pilot than I was before."

Join our Patreon for access to all the debriefs, Discord, and much more: www.patreon.com/midlifepilotpodcastMentioned on the show:

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

* London Kentucky tornado: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_sequence_of_May_15%E2%80%9316,_2025

* Opposing Bases: https://opposingbases.com/

* Flight Insight: https://www.youtube.com/@flightinsight9111

* Nokia Snake game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_(1998_video_game)

* Konami Code: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konami_Code

* Victor airways: https://www.boldmethod.com/blog/lists/2024/10/7-things-pilots-should-know-about-victor-airways/

* Flying DME arcs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-caYr6Lr9U

In this first installment of their two-part check ride series, the Midlife Pilot Podcast crew mines gold from their community's private pilot exam experiences through intimate Patreon debriefs. Ben, Brian, and Ted tackle everything from the anxiety-inducing oral exam (which Ben likens to "walking into the delivery room") to those heart-stopping landing attempts on check ride day. The hosts share candid stories of forgotten keys, unexpected teaching moments, and the surprising feeling when a DPE says "you ought to know you passed." Whether you're contemplating your first lesson or preparing for your own check ride, this episode offers both practical wisdom and the reassurance that even type-A personalities sometimes "completely forget how to land" - and still earn their wings.

Join our Patreon for access to all the debriefs, Discord, and much more: www.patreon.com/midlifepilotpodcastMentioned on the show:

* Ted's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@flysport_tedder

* GGG - Longview, Texas: https://www.airnav.com/airport/GGG

Join the Midlife Pilot Podcast crew as they return from their epic Texas fly-in adventure with tales of triumph, near-misses, and one unfortunate set of wheel pants. Ted recounts his 28.3-hour post-fly-in journey that somehow went east instead of west ("Look, you can only chase tailwinds for so long"), while Brian shares his VFR limits revelation ("I have now taken VFR flying as far as one can take it"). Ben confesses to "two bounces and a skip" on one of his worst landings in recent memory, and the guys discuss the wisdom of testing boundaries safely: "Go up and have a look, but be fully prepared to land again." Featuring an impossibly flowery listener message that has Brian nearly falling out of his chair, frequent tangents, and what the hosts themselves describe as "an episode that is apparently all appetizers."

• 80V - Airmail Airport, Medicine Bow Wyoming: https://www.airmailaviator.com/
• 4R9 - Dauphin Island, Alabama: https://www.airnav.com/airport/4R9
• Cap'n Todd flying to the Texas Send: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLQ14WrGWXc
• Fedex fast talking commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeK5ZjtpO-M
• Micro Machines fast talking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLP6oT3uqV8
• Avemco- increasing taxi crash rate outside of the Killing Zone: https://www.avemco.com/news-events/pirep-blog/taxiing-one-of-the-first-skills-you-learned
• SRB - Upper Cumberland Airport, Sparta Tenn: https://www.airnav.com/airport/SRB
• Plan continuation bias: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost#Plan_continuation_bias
• Ted's Rockies turbulence video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GC-5BnhILU
• Erica Gilbert, May 21, "When Mistakes Happen: The Flight Instructor's Response" https://my.nafimentor.org/events-calendar/mentorlive/mentor-live-92/704
• Vans RV15 development video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtsJVNx72a4

The Midlife Pilot Podcast hosts the Big Texas Send fly in at T82 in Fredericksburg, TX and  lands with a thud (but "didn't dent the runway") at the gorgeous TAC Aero hangar. Ben, Brian, and Ted swap harrowing journey tales involving everything from Brian's "measured scud running" to Ted mysteriously ascending to 15,000 feet in a light sport ("Try a German-engineered plane built in Ukraine!"). While celebrating their adrenaline-junkie passenger Hope flying with Ted and  losing a bird-strike battle with Ted's wheel pants ("Suicidal Sparrow would be a good band name"), the crew raises their glasses to those who made the toughest decision of all—not flying. As Brian says about the fly-in pressure, "We never actually have to fly anywhere, ever...except for this Sunday because we don't have hotels anymore." Between "advanced VFR flying" (which apparently means "leave the day before") and zip-tie engineering miracles, episode 127 captures why aviation friendships are "like meeting family for the first time, except you like them."

Locations Mentioned:

• TAC Aero - Tail wheel training academy at T82 in Fredericksburg, TX ("This is heaven, this is Tail Wheel Academy")

• Hangar Hotel - Aviation-themed hotel at T82

• Fredericksburg Brewery - Meetup location for the group

• Cooper's Barbecue - Lunch spot in Llano

• Lockhart BBQ - Another BBQ destination visited by attendees

Aviation Resources:

• Checkmate Aviation - Custom checklists offered by Barry (including the upside-down emergency checklist)

• Freedom Aviation Network - Anti-human trafficking organization supported by the podcast

Thanks To:

• Chris and the TAC Aero team

• Hope from the Hangar Hotel (the adrenaline junkie who survived Ted's wheel pants departure)

• Erica Gilbert for her weather briefings

• Richard (Yankee 88) for his safe no-go decision ("congratulations on not flying here")

• Mike (Alpha Golf) for his safe no-go decision

• Louis for his safe aircraft choice (opting for A/C over his shiny new Carbon Cub)

Get Connected:

• Midlife Pilot Podcast Patreon - Join for $1/month or $12/year ("Friends with Benefits program")

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: midlifepilotpodcast.com

• Live on YouTube Mondays at 8PM Eastern (or "sometimes in Texas at weird times")

Words of Wisdom: "Real pilots use the rudder. Tail wheel pilots worship it."

The Midlife Pilot crew prepares for their "Big Texas Send" fly-in at T82 while navigating spring weather challenges. Brian celebrates returning to flying after a 42-day maintenance hiatus, sharing stories of tower tours and smoke-signaling air tractors. Ted plans his epic 1800-mile cross-country journey in his LSA, which Brian dubs "Oregon Trail without dysentery," while guest weather expert and CFII Erica Gilbert offers forecasting wisdom. The show celebrates both those making the journey and those making smart no-go decisions. As all the best GA adventures play out, "This is not going as planned, and it's awesome."

Mentioned on the show:

* CMD - Cullman Airport, Alabama: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KCMD

* Trent Palmer's smoke system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ4ZDpx2ysM

* Manifest, 2018 TV series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_(TV_series)

When your CFI asks for your name and you respond with "standby" – you're experiencing what pilots call a helmet fire. In this episode, Ben, Brian, and Ted dive into the phenomenon of task saturation that affects pilots at every level, from Ben's instrument approach adventures where he made what sounded like "Charlie Brown's teacher" over the radio, to Ted's coastal flight where turning back was the smartest option.

The crew shares practical strategies for extinguishing these cognitive infernos: slowing down both mentally and physically, asking for delay vectors, and constantly thinking ahead by asking "what are the next two things?" They discuss how flying with other pilots can increase pressure, why preparation is critical, and how everyone from students to seasoned pilots can recover when they fall behind the airplane.

Plus, updates on the upcoming T82 fly-in (80 attendees, 39 aircraft!), community milestone celebrations, and a reminder that, as Wendell Geek says, "helmet fires are like exercise – they suck in the moment, but in the long run they make you stronger."Mentioned on the show:

* VLD - Valdosta Georgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdosta_Regional_Airport

* The Underbelly Project: https://viralart.vandalog.com/read/chapter/the-underbelly-project/

* The Towering Inferno: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Towering_Inferno

* M02 - Dickson County Airport, Tenn: https://www.airnav.com/airport/M02

* the Dixie Dregs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Dregs

* L.P. Hartley, The Go-Between, "The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there": https://rylandscollections.com/2015/09/19/the-past-is-a-foreign-country-l-p-hartleys-the-go-between/

Join the Midlife Pilot Podcast crew as they tackle the surprisingly complex world of airport parking that flight schools never teach you. Between Brian's maintenance woes with Lucy, Ted's triumphant return of "the egg" from annual, and preparations for their upcoming Texas fly-in, the hosts share hilarious stories about confusing marshaling signals ("like dance move diagrams"), territorial tie-down spots, and why you should always keep "brakes off." As Ben perfectly summarizes: "The moment I get cocky and say I can fit in that spot... it's just a matter of time before I mess up." From diaper oil-change hacks to avoiding insurance adjusters' scrutiny, this episode proves that even the most mundane aspects of aviation can leave you both wiser and broke for a lifetime.

Mentioned on the show:

* Using a diaper for oil changes: https://vansairforce.net/threads/tip-changing-oil-with-a-diaper.123286/

* DNL - Daniel Field, Augusta, Georgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Field

* 4S2 - Ken Jernstedt Airfield, Hood River, Oregon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Jernstedt_Airfield

* 1L8 - Gen. Dick Stout Field, Hurricane, Utah: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Municipal_Airport

In this episode, Ben, Brian, and Ted dive into the challenges of finding and maintaining hangar space, or not having one. From ratchet straps (BAD) and tornado warnings (ALSO BAD) to the joys of electricity and the sorrows of cold starts, the guys discuss how far they'd travel for a good hangar and why sometimes your plane becomes 'an outdoor pet.' Plus, updates on Ben's annual maintenance adventures and a reminder about the upcoming Big Texas Send meetup at T82.

Mentioned on the show:

* Big Texas Send: https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/rsvpt82

* VPC - Cartersville Ga: https://www.airnav.com/airport/VPC

* Tyler S's personal minimums tool: https://personal-minimums.web.app/

* Example of Tyler's minimums: https://personal-minimums.web.app/profile/8DgOuxvxgxdfiZRpW2W8BMGUJO32

* SISKIND - Life is what happens to you... (the plane that flipped): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EejbxBWsfo

* Gust front: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outflow_boundary

* Wind gradient: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_gradient

* Ted's ShockStrap tiedowns: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/shock13-20708.php

* Switcheon remote power switch: https://switcheon.com/product/switcheon_remote_power_switch/

* Zen and the art of Knolling: https://makezine.com/article/workshop/zen-and-the-art-of-knolling/

Join us for special guest Erica Gilbert, a CFII and TBM pilot who brings her expertise on cross-country planning and adult learning to the show. While Ben mourns his grounded "Beast" waiting on engine work, and Mark celebrates his impressive 693-nautical-mile nonstop flight in his upgraded Cherokee 235, Erica shares her refreshing approach to flight planning: "I plan my stops around food." The discussion reveals how midlife pilots bring unique strengths to aviation training—they're more motivated, committed, and arrive prepared despite memory challenges that come with age.

Erica breaks down her framework for learning complex aircraft systems into four simple parts (function, components, limitations/failures, and operation), offers weather briefing insights, and introduces her new IFR course designed to bridge the gap between online learning and practical application. The episode delivers aviation wisdom for pilots of all levels while tackling the question of how to maintain confidence as a newly certificated pilot.

Mentioned on the show:

* Diamond DA40NG: https://www.diamondaircraft.com/en/private-owners/aircraft/da40/overview/

* Erica's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AeroSafe/videos

* One of Erica's weather vids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BFXShZFVGs

* LEX Lexington Ky: https://www.airnav.com/airport/LEX

* LOZ London Ky: https://www.airnav.com/airport/LOZ

* Capitol Drive airport, Wisc: https://www.airnav.com/airport/02C

* UES Waukesha County Airport, Wisc: https://www.airnav.com/airport/WAU

* ERAU paper- Student Engagement in Aviation Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): https://commons.erau.edu/publication/2285/

* Beech Baron 55: https://www.aviationconsumer.com/used-aircraft-guide/beech-baron-55-2/

* Erica's IFR ground school begins Apr 15: https://www.gilbertaviation.com/ifr

* Mark practicing PPL maneuvers after having his PPL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsb6YPyWCQk

Join Ben, Brian, and Ted for hangar talk about the joys (and pains) of annual inspections in this episode of the Midlife Pilot Podcast. The guys commiserate over their planes being simultaneously grounded, with Ben's Beast down to five cylinders and showing remarkable "patience" (or is it numbness?). Brian dishes on his new book of aviation essays "Make Small Corrections," while Ted smugly reminds everyone his oil-free belly never needs scrubbing. The fellas debate what aircraft they'd come back as in the next life, swap formation flying stories, and remind everyone about the upcoming Texas meetup. Pull up a chair in the hangar and settle in for another episode that'll make you feel right at home in the best pilot community around.

Mentioned on the show:

* Ernest Goes To Jail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Goes_to_Jail

* The Green Mile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Mile_(film)

* Nashville prison: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_State_Prison

* Paul Craig episode 120: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilotpodcast/episodes/EP120---Descending-from-Mount-Stupid-with-Paul-Craig-e30b2sb

* Cessna 195: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_195

* Stinson v77: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinson_Reliant

* Lockheed AC130: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_AC-130

* Continental IO520: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_IO-520

* Georgia Tech Wreck Racing: https://wreckracing.gatech.edu/

* RMG Rome airport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/RMG

* Sam's Burger and Deli: https://www.samsburgerdeli.com/

* XNX Music City Executive: https://www.airnav.com/airport/XNX

* "Cessna 140 Ben": https://flywithben.com/

* Centerline Aviation: https://centerlineair.com/

* Cessna 337 Skymaster: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_Skymaster

* TomAir's Cessna 337: https://www.youtube.com/@tomairtv

* The Green Machine: https://www.retroist.com/p/the-green-machine

* Brian's book, "Make Small Corrections": https://amazon.com/dp/B0DZWQKGJX

* Original Kindle with a keyboard: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Amazon_Kindle_(original_version)