Midlife Pilot Podcast

• 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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• EP148 - Camping on Mount Stupid: A Love Letter to Infrequent Flyers

  Listener Chris C sparked this week's conversation with a thoughtful question about infrequent flying: "I have to think there's a whole class of pilots out there like me who just don't get up in the air very often... how I'll probably be camping on Mount Stupid for years at my current rate of flying." The crew dives deep into proficiency, imposter syndrome, and why flying once a month doesn't make you any less of a pilot.In this episode:Chris C's honest take on being an infrequent flyer and what it means for skills, risk assessment, and confidenceBrian's insight: "You're not somebody that's rusty. You're somebody that is consciously, willfully not flying a lot, but flying a little"Why "there are millions of people in this country that don't have a pilot license at all—so you're flying more than them"Ben confesses to his wrong-runway landing in Florida: "I turned all the blood left my face"Strut collapses, coyote wrangling, and why the instrument written is "just a hazing"Bonus wisdom: "VFR flying is like break dancing. IFR flying is like cotillion." Also: Don't write "oops, landed wrong runway" in your logbook.Thanks to Chris C for the episode inspiration and for reminding us that thoughtful, safety-conscious flying matters way more than your Hobbs meter.Mentioned on the Show:List of Class B airports - WikipediaList of Class C airports with traffic volume - WikipediaSheppard Air - Written test prepTriple Tree Fly-In - Sep 22-28, SC00 Spartanburg, SCMusic City STOL - Oct 10-11, XNX Gallatin, TNSwift National Fly-In - Oct 1-5, MMI Athens, TNCheckMate Aviation - Barry's aviation businessThe in person (online) guided IFR course Brian is taking is from our friend of the show CFII Erica Gilbert, and you can sign up here: https://www.gilbertaviation.com/ifrSupport the Show:Join the Patreon community for Discord access, exclusive content, and check ride debriefs: Patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcastVisit MidlifePilotPodcast.com for merch, feedback, and all things Midlife Pilot PodcastLeave us a 5-star reviewSubscribe and catch us live most Monday nights at 8 PM ET on YouTube: youtube.com/@midlifepilotpodcast10% of Patreon proceeds support Freedom Aviation Network's anti-human trafficking effortswww.freedomaviationnetwork.org

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