Midlife Pilot Podcast

• EP153 - Information Whiskey: "I've Studied My Brain Into a Porridge-Like Consistency"

  Information Whiskey strikes again! BIG NEWS: The Thaden Invasion is official—March 13-15, 2026 in Bentonville, Arkansas! Brian confesses his Sheppard Air conversion after weeks of IFR written torture ("The FAA told you to look at figure 71, but you have to memorize it's actually figure 24"), his wife solves compass errors in 8 seconds ("Here, idiot"), and Ted's fuel gauge crisis leads to the ultimate "It's Always Fuel" moment. Plus: Ben kills another twin, navigating without flight following during the shutdown, and why flying different planes makes you better.In this episode:🎉 THE THADEN INVASION IS HAPPENING: March 13-15, 2026 at VBT, Bentonville, Arkansas!Why Bentonville rocks: Frank Lloyd Wright house, Crystal Bridges Museum (free!), mountain biking capital, Fly Oz backcountry destinations, and Flying Magazine's "Coolest Airport in the Country"Ben's twin curse continues: "I warned this flight school of my curse and they still accepted me" - switching to BE-55 BaronJekyll Island adventure with red bug rentals and son EvanGovernment shutdown reality: How to fly safely when ATC can't take VFR requests and controllers are on skeleton crewsTed's "It's Always Fuel" crisis: "This wing is either full or empty. There's no level in it. I have no confidence that I have fuel at this point."Chinese lantern with actual flame floating past Ted's wing at night: "I can hear the FAA: 'So how did your wing catch on fire?'"The Hacienda Cherokee: Still out there, still getting refueled mid-air, still haunting Ben's flightsSafety talk that actually matters:Ben's wisdom: "See and avoid is ALWAYS our responsibility - 50 hours or 5,000 hours, period"Monitor approach frequencies even when not on flight followingKnow arrival/departure corridors at major airports"Keep your eyes outside and don't get lazy. Don't start playing on your phone."Ben's Cherokee stalker story: Same plane intersected his course twice in one dayWeather nerdery from Erica Gilbert:Ted's 30.48" altimeter after atmospheric river: "That is a HIGH number"Jet stream troughs create low pressure; ridges create high pressureHigh pressure = stable air, clear skies, but poor visibility from trapped pollutionListener feedback gold:Chris H: Why flying multiple planes makes you better - "I became too comfortable flying just one plane and built bad habits"The value of clubs: 180-2, PA-28, and 172 access keeps you sharp and forces proper checklist usageFly-in essentials:One mile walk to brewery, one mile to downtown (Ben's proud of this planning)Grass strip + paved runway availableLive podcast recording somewhere in Bentonville (street corner? Hangar? Brewery? TBD!)Hotels, Airbnbs, mountain biking, art museums, and aviation - something for everyoneBrian: "Ben has rented us a giant complex with what seems like a slaughterhouse in the back, but I'm sure it's fine"Mentioned on the Show:Legends Air Center - FBO at Thaden Field - Your Bentonville basecampFly Oz - Thaden Field - Backcountry flying destinationsVBT Pilot Briefing - Everything you need to knowFlying Magazine - The Coolest Airport in the Country - VBT featureCrystal Bridges Museum - Free American art museum in canyon parkBE55 - Beechcraft Baron 55 - Ben's new twin48A - Cochran Airport, Georgia - Picked up Evan here09J - Jekyll Island Airport, Georgia - Red bug rentals!Hacienda - The 64-Day Flight - Still flyingSheppard Air - Brian's IFR written redemptionGilbert Aviation IFR Course - Keeping Brian saneNOAA - What Is the Jet Stream? - Erica's explanationCheckmate Aviation - The best checklists (Chris H approved)LGE Flying Club, Georgia - Multi-plane accessSupport the Show:Patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast - Discord, exclusive content, checkride debriefsMidlifePilotPodcast.com - Merch, feedback, stickers for reviews!New Patreon Members: Andy & Babs, Sierra Tango, Patrick L, Michael R, Michael W - Welcome aboard!

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• EP152 - "Into the Wilds of GA": MOSAIC Day Celebrations, Carb Heat Confusion, and Airframe Chaos

  ("One Fifty Two") Ted celebrates Mosaic Day by breaking free from the "walled garden" of light sport aviation and "soloing" both a purple lightning-bolt Cessna 152 and a 172. As our friend Dominic eloquently writes, sport pilots are now "loose upon the natural wilds of general aviation," discovering that some planes "require you to hold the yoke one-third to the right just to fly straight and level. It's a feature." Ted's conclusion: "I buttered almost every landing...they're so easy to land compared to the egg." The bad news? He keeps forgetting carb heat exists.Ben logs his "maybe second best landing ever" (wife-verified!) at the Gainesville fly-in and surprises her with a short field takeoff. Brian gets Nashville Approach's fastest "stay outta the Class Charlie" dismissal ever, attends a stellar Commemorative Air Force hangar dance, and reminds us that filing IFR doesn't guarantee instant gratification when controllers are slammed.The crew tackles listener feedback from newly-minted MOSAIC pilots navigating "airframe chaos" (G1000s, steam gauges, and seats "smushed flat" so you "can hardly see over the firewall"), motion sickness solutions featuring Chick-fil-A minis and relief bands, and why even Bob Hoover dealt with air sickness. Plus community shoutouts including a 60-year-old nailing his commercial checkride with a power-off 180 in 15-gusting-25, and Xyla Foxlin getting her plane back after losing her medical.Mentioned on the show:ABY - Albany Ga: https://www.airnav.com/airport/ABYGVL - Gainesville Ga: https://www.airnav.com/airport/GVLFlySto: https://www.flysto.net/homeM93 Southernaire: https://www.airnav.com/airport/M93M54 Lebanon Tenn: https://www.airnav.com/airport/M54Ted's "soloing a 150" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmXyFeK09ngCheckmate Aviation: https://www.checkmateaviation.com/myaeroglass: https://www.myaeroglass.com/Xyla Foxlin lost her medical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj0H8oVS7qgXyla got her plane back!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu-T7P3o6tUJoin the Midlife Pilot Podcast community, support the show on Patreon, and get merch at www.midlifepilotpodcast.com

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• EP151 - 2nd Chances at 46: Motion Sickness, Legacy, and Finding the Right CFI

  Listener Chris T. writes in with a powerful story about his WWII pilot grandfather, a 25-year-old discovery flight that ended in motion sickness, and the question: Is it too late to try again at 46? The crew tackles motion sickness remedies, finding the right CFI as a midlifer, and realistic training schedules for busy adults. Plus: Ben celebrates 28 years of marriage ("She's said 'You Are Right' twice—that's now a thing"), Ted does his first Special VFR, and the fly-in location may be shifting to Bentonville, Arkansas.In this episode:Chris T's story: His B-29 grandfather, motion sickness fears, and juggling four kids while chasing the aviation dreamMotion sickness reality check: "Habituation remains the most effective non-pharmacological method" - it gets better with timeThe secret: "I get motion sickness when the CFI has the controls, but when I have the controls, I don't" - your stomach needs warningFinding the right CFI as a midlifer: Why assertiveness levels matter and how to take control of your own trainingTraining schedules for busy adults: "Plan on one getting canceled every week" - fly 2-3 times weeklyBen's perfect weekend: Multi-engine training, fly fishing, charity golf tournament (came in 2nd!), and 28th anniversaryTed's first Special VFR: "Turn out whichever way you want" - getting the entire Delta to yourselfBrian flies to Alabama, shows his friend how beautiful the state really is (including seaplane runways)International Day of the Air Traffic Controller: Community members dropping off donuts and $500 in pizzasGreat wisdom:"Don't trust the CFI to guide you along—apply your midlife project management skills to your training""We definitely prefer straight information. My communication style is bullet points and curse words"Nathan Ballard on veteran students: "They all want right to the point direct feedback""That's not what we meant by power-off 180" - the compliment sandwichBen's marriage secret: "If you can make each other laugh, that's a big part of it"Fly-in update: Tango 82 is looking tough - considering Bentonville, Arkansas (VBT) with Fly Oz backcountry, grass strip, Frank Lloyd Wright house, and James Beard Award-winning chefs!Mentioned on the Show:8A1 - Guntersville Municipal Airport, Alabama - Seaplane baseVBT - Bentonville Municipal Airport - Proposed fly-in locationAR05 - Harris Field, Combs, Arkansas - 2,500' grass stripPDK - DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, AtlantaWDR - Barrow County Airport, Winder, GAXNA - Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport - Commercial airport near BentonvilleFly Oz - Backcountry flying experiences in BentonvilleGilbert Aviation - Erica Gilbert's IFR ground schoolSupport the Show:Patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast - Discord access & exclusive content including checkride debriefsMidlifePilotPodcast.com - Merch, feedback, and all things MLPLeave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or email: [email protected]/@midlifepilotpodcast - Live Mondays 8PM ET10% of Patreon proceeds support Freedom Aviation Network's anti-human trafficking effortsClosing wisdom: "Simulated engine failures: The only time your instructor smiles and you don't."Have motion sickness tips or CFI insights? Send us feedback at MidlifePilotPodcast.com

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• EP150 - The Garmin 430 Is That Friend Who Peaked in High School

  Episode 150! Ben has a hilarious ATC mix-up flying into Nashville at night ("The other controller told me it was two zero...I could hear him laughing in the background"), Ted gets stuck at an abandoned airport for five hours, and the crew dives deep into avionics upgrades. From hoarding Garmin 430s like Beanie Babies to debating engine monitors, this is real talk about the joys (and financial pains) of panel upgrades.In this episode:Ben's ATC comedy: vectored past his approach, realizes the airport is right there at 4,000 feet, and reveals his identity: "Is this Sierra Whiskey? It's Bravo Sierra from your second favorite podcast"Music City STOL recap: Brian gets his second SNJ ride with the CAF, they meet community members, and discuss rookie class plansTed's five-hour weather delay: "Nobody locks sliding doors properly" - breaking into an abandoned clubhouse to wait out IMCAvionics deep dive: Discord's best conversations about GPS upgrades, dual G5s, engine monitors, and managing limited budgets"The 430 is that friend who peaked in high school" - why these units are hoarded and what your options areDo you really want to know THAT much about your engine? The pros and cons of digital engine monitoringWhy partnerships make upgrades harder: "Convince your partners to spend $12,000 and the plane will be the exact same afterward"Listener feedback: Louis R. makes the case for getting Mike Busch on the podcast.Mentioned on the Show:Music City STOL - XNX Gallatin, TNXNX - Music City Executive Airport9er Systems - Pete's CardinalEP134 with Dev Cannon about the CAFPiperzilla - Ultimate STOL Cherokee 180"Lost Prop Sonex Guy" - Cheapest instrument setupAvidyne IFD440 - Drop-in replacement for Garmin 4301dullgeek on Ask the A&Ps Episode 51AVEMCO on MOSAIC InsuranceSarasota Avionics - Pricing resourcePacific Coast Avionics - Pricing resourceSavvy Aviation - Mike Busch's resourcesFAA Part 61.129 - IFR requirementsSupport the Show:Patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast - Discord access & exclusive contentMidlifePilotPodcast.com - Merch & feedbackyoutube.com/@midlifepilotpodcast - Live Mondays 8PM ET10% supports Freedom Aviation Network's anti-human trafficking efforts

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• EP149 - Information Whiskey: Why Does This Plane Smell Like Grandpa?

  It's Information Whiskey time - the crew's monthly no-format format where they "chew the fat" and see what happens. Brian accidentally became a Cherokee salesman at an air show ("I turn around, there's basically a queue forming"), Ben's on a night-flying mission to 1,500 hours, and Ted's been landing on Oregon beaches and flying 4,000 feet in ground effect. The guys also get serious about planning the Spring 2026 fly-in.In this episode:Brian's weekend: Muscle Shoals barbecue diplomacy ("if you come back with barbecue sandwiches and hot dogs...that goes a long way"), becoming an unwitting static display, and escaping a TFR with one minute to spareThe accidental GA ambassador: helping kids sit in the plane until "I realized this is not good"Ben's race to 100 hours of night time: "Turn on your lights. If you don't like it, turn your lights back off"Ted gives midlife eagle flights, lands at Boeing Field, and masters the art of the 4,000-foot ground effect taxiRyan K's thoughtful case for returning to Tango 82 for the spring fly-inFlying wisdom:"Night IFR is one of the best arguments for a parachute system""Learning to fly: horizon is steady, but your confidence isn't"On night engine failures: "Choose a place to land, turn on your lights. If you don't like it, turn your lights back off"Important announcement: If you have fly-in location suggestions, send them NOW. Brian's sounding the alarm.Mentioned on the Show:Bunyan's Barbecue - Muscle Shoals, AL (MSL)Luke's Landing: Flying to the Best Hot Dog - Luke's video about Bunyan's2I0 Madisonville Airport - Wings Over Western Kentucky locationWings Over Western Kentucky Air ShowMusic City STOL - Oct 10-11, XNX Gallatin, TNT82 - Gillespie County Airport - Fredericksburg, TXHangar Hotel at T82 - Previous fly-in locationKentucky Lake/Lake Cumberland Regional Airport - Potential fly-in location2I3 Rough River Airport - Kentucky fly-in optionBlue Grass Airport (LEX) - Lexington, Kentucky optionCali Beach (S16) - Oregon coast beach landing stripCheckMate Aviation - Barry's checklist company (1 year anniversary!)MyAeroGlass - Tim/Banjo Pilot's METAR displaysGilbert Aviation - Erica Gilbert's IFR trainingFAA Color Vision Testing Flowchart - Recent changes discussedFreedom Aviation Network - Anti-human trafficking effortsSupport the Show:Join the Patreon community for Discord access, exclusive content, and check ride debriefs: Patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcastVisit MidlifePilotPodcast.com for merch, feedback, and discount codesURGENT: Send fly-in location suggestions to [email protected] us a 5-star review on Apple PodcastsSubscribe and catch us live most Monday nights at 8 PM ET: youtube.com/@midlifepilotpodcast10% of Patreon proceeds support Freedom Aviation Network's anti-human trafficking efforts

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