Midlife Pilot Podcast

Come for the "sleep-deprived Ballyhoo," stay for the "bowling ball collectors who fly Cherokee 235s." In this episode, the crew reveals their "Ultimate Official Airplane of..." Guide where your aircraft choice might expose you as someone who "lectures about stick and rudder at parties" or "plans flights around Whole Foods locations." Plus, tales of...

When a master CFII/ATP trades right rudder lessons for a seat in an Air Force T-38 Talon, you know it's going to be good. Nathan Ballard expected a polite tour of Sheppard Air Force Base but instead found himself pulling 6Gs during actual bomb runs at 375 knots. While he's up there burning through 4,000 pounds of fuel faster than Ted burns in a year flying his "egg," the Air Forc...

"Well honey, the engine's about to stop running..." is NOT a conversation you want to have at 5,000 feet. In this episode full of real-talk about fuel management, our midlife pilots share their close calls and lessons learned. From Ben's accidental "skywriting" performance (thanks to one loose screw) to his sweaty-palms moments watching those notoriously unreliable Cessna fuel gauges, the crew dig...

Join us for a special Appy Hour episode! We talk aviation apps and tools we love, and some we even know how to use. From the "suspiciously good and free" flight analysis tools that'll keep you up until 4 AM, to website tools that look straight out of the "Angel Fire website" era (rotating fire GIFs not included), we're diving into the digital tools that keep us flying. Learn why calling that old-s...

Join the crew as they announce their epic 2025 fly-in at the retro-cool Hangar Hotel in Fredericksburg, Texas! Between planning cross-country routes and debating who gets "shotgun" in Erica's TBM, the hosts share hilarious stories and valuable pilot wisdom. Featuring gems like "I can't tell if I'm being insulted or not" and "What if we just keep flying around until Oshkosh?" Plus, 1DullGeek bravel...

Ever pushed the wrong button while talking to ATC? Landed on the wrong runway but nailed the landing? Join Ben, Brian, and Ted as they confess their most memorable aviation oopsies and why they still stare at the ceiling some nights thinking about them. From "Roger, I have the weather" moments to getting an earful from ground control, discover why midlife pilots might take their mistakes a bit too...

Ben, Brian, and Ted dive into why perfection might actually be holding you back in the cockpit! Between Brian's obsession with landing "THE MIDDLE of the centerline stripe" and Ben's tales of learning to embrace "sexy indifference" in the pattern, these midlife pilots share why being "just adequate" isn't always a bad thing. Plus, find out why "low VFR" apparently means there's "icing on the veget...

When your ETA increases by 30 minutes while on final approach, you know you're in for a story. In Episode 106, Ben's "one-day-feels-like-multi-day" adventure sets the stage for a lively discussion about planning extended flying trips. Between battling 60-knot headwinds, debating the merits of various approaches, and discovering why a credit card might be your most important safety equipment (unles...

Join the crew as they plan their spring fly-in while debating the merits of ignorance-is-bliss flying versus obsessing over engine monitors. Ted confesses to having saggy flaps (on his plane, of course), Brian explains why Super 8 footage isn't just an Instagram filter, and Ben discovers that dad hats might be the aerodynamic solution for the follicly challenged pilot. The gang explores potential...

The crew dives into the delicate art of vetting your cockpit companions - from evaluating potential co-pilots to dodging those who claim '8000 simulator hours.' Listen in as Ben recounts literally flying with 'a stranger from the internet' (it turned out fine!). Between tales of night landing adventures, atmospheric rivers, and accidental wrong-runway taxi slip ups, the gang shares practical wisdo...

Need more time to fly but life keeps getting in the way? The Midlife Pilot crew tackles aviation's eternal struggle - finding time to get airborne while juggling work, family, and that ever-growing honey-do list. From strategic calendar blocking to creative "errands" (like Ben's suspiciously convenient forgotten jacket that required a flight to retrieve), discover how these pilots squeeze more coc...

Can aviation ever truly be budget-friendly? Ben, Brian, and Ted tackle the art of fiscally responsible flying in this lively episode. From owner-assisted annuals to strategic fuel planning, discover practical ways to keep your aviation passion aloft without completely emptying your wallet. Plus, hear special insights from "Cheapskate" Nate on smart budgeting, and learn why slower flying might actu...

Ben, Brian, and Ted share stories and adventures from their recent non-event gathering in West Virginia, including Ben's memorable "seven-mile base" skywriting approach with a fuel leak, Brian's encounters at unique mountain airports, and various flying experiences in challenging terrain. The hosts discuss their stops at small airports like Logan County (6L4) where they discovered classic cars and...

Broadcasting from a cold hangar at Fairmont Airport, the gang unites in-person for their 100th episode spectacular non-event! Join the original "Chairman Emeritus" Chris Moran (who now prefers conducting symphonies to podcasts), Brian (who claims learning to land with only lap belts builds character), Ben (inventor of the "emergency fuel-venting seven-mile left base"), Ted (representing the "other...

As they approach their 100th episode, the crew digs through their logbooks to share stories from their 100th flight hour and 100th landing. From Ben's adorably redundant "power-on stalls and recovery" logbook entry (yes, he survived to tell the tale) to a theatrical listener letter from Lord Alpha Juliet, the crew reminisces about their aviation milestones. Joined by special guest Mark (Wendell Ge...

From landing woes to pre-checkride jitters, Episode 98 of the Midlife Pilot Podcast dives into those dreaded training plateaus that make every pilot wonder if they've forgotten how to fly. The crew shares their personal stories of getting stuck (Brian's memorable "ugly landing" phase included), while offering hope and humor for pushing through the frustration. Featuring sage advice like "embrace t...

Join Ben, Brian, and Ted as they explore the wild world of pilot superstitions. Brian admits to thanking his plane after flights, while Ben confesses to repositioning his dashboard hula girl based on landing quality. Ted reveals his habit of wearing outlandish socks during training flights. The chat chimes in with their own quirks, like bringing stuffed animal co-pilots. Brian recounts his thrilli...

Buckle up for a hilarious journey through aviation's most annoying quirks! In this episode, we're dishing out our top flying pet peeves, from unnecessary "with you" radio calls to those infuriating C-17 patterns flown by Cessnas. Listen in as Brian confesses his frustration with people who can't handle airplane doors gently, and stick around for Ben's passionate rant about ancient aviation tech. O...

In this episode, our hosts stumble through tales of spontaneous flights and radio call blunders, while a listener steals the show with a perfect flight following call. We explore the art of forgetting your own location, nailing instrument approaches, and more. Join us for a mix of triumphs, facepalms, and the occasional moment of midlife pilot brilliance. Mentioned on the show: * 100th episode is...

Join Ben, Brian, and Ted as they explore unique flying adventure ideas that go beyond the typical "$100 hamburger" flight. From discovering hidden gems like Alabama's Ave Maria Grotto to planning hobby-based trips (like flying for 25 cent blackberries), the guys share inspiration for memorable flights. Amidst the hangar talk, you'll hear tales of airport fence jumping, "info...

Join us as we share stories from our recent flying adventures, including trips to Marfa, Texas and Washington State. We'll talk about handling crosswind landings, managing density altitude, and yes, even being the butt of a few jokes. We'll explore how we balance checklists and flows during flights, discussing when we rely on each method. Plus, we'll emphasize the importance of maintai...

Ben and Ted talk about making mistakes and learning from them. They emphasize the importance of short memories and moving on from mistakes to avoid making things worse. They also highlight the importance of learning from the mistakes and using them to improve flying skills. Mentioned on the show: * Sandel HSI: https://www.bennettavionics.com/sn-3308-electronic-hsi-ehsi/ * Ted - my most important f...

In Episode 91 of the Midlife Pilot Podcast, Ben, Brian, and Ted dive into a treasure trove of wisdom from listener Braeden D. Join us as we navigate through 10 essential tips for new pilots. We unpack: The money pit: Saving for flight training (spoiler: it's more than you think) Brain training: Why rote memorization won't fly CFI shopping: Finding an instructor who's more than a time-b...

The guys swap tales of dodging clouds, diverting around storms, and wrestling with an ancient audio panel that picked the worst possible time to conk out (IFR over Atlanta - yikes!) Ben, Brian and Ted dish on what it's like to fly with a pilot you haven't shared a cockpit with before. Is your flying buddy all good? - or a hazardous attitude waiting to happen? Tune in for some hangar flying...

Why is having aviation mentors so important? We tell tales of mentors saving the day, how to be mentored, and the importance of never missing an opportunity to shut up. Listeners Bruce and Neil give feedback about last week's discussion of flying in heat. Mentioned on the show: * Cape Girardeau airport, Missouri: https://www.airnav.com/airport/CGI * Seguin Texas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...