by Midlife Pilot Podcast
Welcome to the Midlife Pilot Podcast, where we share the experiences and the challenges of flying in midlife. Whether you're a seasoned pilot, training for private or instrument ratings, or just thinking about getting started in aviation, we like to think of the podcast as your aviation companion, and your weekly dose of aviation inspiration. Hosted by the dynamic trio of Ben, Brian, and Ted - the show is not instruction - it's all about sharing real stories, personal insights, and the pure joy of spreading your wings in midlife.
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/21/2021
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April 29, 2025
<p>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."</p><p>Mentioned on the show:</p><p>* CMD - Cullman Airport, Alabama: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KCMD</p><p>* Trent Palmer's smoke system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ4ZDpx2ysM</p><p>* Manifest, 2018 TV series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_(TV_series)</p><p><br></p>
April 22, 2025
<p>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. </p><p>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. </p><p>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:</p><p>* VLD - Valdosta Georgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdosta_Regional_Airport</p><p>* The Underbelly Project: https://viralart.vandalog.com/read/chapter/the-underbelly-project/</p><p>* The Towering Inferno: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Towering_Inferno</p><p>* M02 - Dickson County Airport, Tenn: https://www.airnav.com/airport/M02</p><p>* the Dixie Dregs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Dregs</p><p>* 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/</p><p><br></p>
April 15, 2025
<p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>Mentioned on the show:</p><p>* Using a diaper for oil changes: https://vansairforce.net/threads/tip-changing-oil-with-a-diaper.123286/</p><p>* DNL - Daniel Field, Augusta, Georgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Field</p><p>* 4S2 - Ken Jernstedt Airfield, Hood River, Oregon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Jernstedt_Airfield</p><p>* 1L8 - Gen. Dick Stout Field, Hurricane, Utah: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Municipal_Airport</p><p><br></p>
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