Midlife Pilot Podcast

• EP127 - Big Texas Send Live from T82: Between Two Wheelpants

  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 T82Fredericksburg Brewery - Meetup location for the groupCooper's Barbecue - Lunch spot in LlanoLockhart BBQ - Another BBQ destination visited by attendeesAviation Resources:Checkmate Aviation - Custom checklists offered by Barry (including the upside-down emergency checklist)Freedom Aviation Network - Anti-human trafficking organization supported by the podcastThanks To:Chris and the TAC Aero teamHope from the Hangar Hotel (the adrenaline junkie who survived Ted's wheel pants departure)Erica Gilbert for her weather briefingsRichard (Yankee 88) for his safe no-go decision ("congratulations on not flying here")Mike (Alpha Golf) for his safe no-go decisionLouis 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]: midlifepilotpodcast.comLive 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."

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• EP126 - Information Whiskey: "Like Oregon Trail Without Dysentery"

  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)

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• EP125 - "What Am I Doing?": Extinguishing Helmet Fires Before They Consume You

  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/

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• EP124 - Parking: The Episode That Goes Nowhere

  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

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• EP123 - The Answer to All Solutions: Level Seven Hangar Living

  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/

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