Midlife Pilot Podcast

After having to do a go around with episode 63 due to tech gremlins, we re-recorded the episode and are now back in the pattern! We talk about the problem with the term "mission", our quests for the perfect plane for what we do, and some thoughts on how you can go about your quest for the right airplane. 1DullGeek chimes in with a glorious rant, and his tale of finding his Cherokee 235....

Ben, Brian, and Ted talk about combating complacency as a private pilot. They also celebrate podcast supporters who have passed checkrides recently! The new midlife pilot podcast website: https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/ * EP37 - Looking for a flying purpose? Join the Freedom Aviation Network: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilotpodcast/episodes/EP37---Looking-for-a-flying-purpose-...

Ben, Brian, and Ted talk about gaining confidence as a new pilot. The team also reads feedback from Mike Alpha Golf about the importance of having friends in aviation- for one thing, they keep you safe. MAG mentions Mike Patey's seminar, and Ted talks about it in the show as well. That's "Stop Hurting my Pilot Friends" from Experimental Aircraft Channel with Bryan Wahlstrom (Expe...

We are joined by CFII Erica Gilbert of AeroSafe - she makes weather more fun! Erica speaks to her work as a CFII, the art of weather briefings, expanding your minimums, and how she came to sharing her knowledge through frequent weather breakdowns on her awesome new YouTube channel. Don’t forget to make or update your RSVP for the Nashville Fly-In, April 26-28: https://midlifepilotnashville.mystrik...

After talking about filming flights on the last episode, Ben, Brian, and Ted talk about debriefing flights- using a gopro as a "black box", looking at tracks, or using pen and paper. show mentions: * AAS, Taylor County Airport, Kentucky: https://www.airnav.com/airport/AAS * Ted's flight to The Dalles with views that look greenscreened: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcY0cz5eRqM * Te...

Many pilots are recording their flights now, whether to learning, or maybe just for content farming. Ben, Brian, and Ted talk pros and cons of filming your flights, and some ways to do it safer - if at all. Ben also talks about the Fly-In, which is in April. The "midlife compound" is in place and is filling up! Chris and Brian discussed the technical details of recording on EP1 - Why and...

Ted and Ben are in the same city and went on an adventure together, so they podcasted in the same room and talked with Brian about personal minimums: What are minimums? What is included? How to you expand them? Also, our thoughts on flying after dry spells of flying. AI takes over the intro. The Spruce Goose: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_H-4_Hercules AOPA's personal minimums document:...

Ben, Brian, and Ted share some listener feedback and talk about their experiences with crosswind landings. Brian reads from The Killing Zone, including a story from a pilot in the book. The crew finishes talking about the Nashville Fly-In, which is April 26-28 2024 at KJWN. Lodging (Midlife Central) is in the works. * The Killing Zone, 2nd edition, by Paul Craig: https://bookshop.org/book/97800717...

Ben, Brian, and Ted host a hilariously chaotic end-of-year episode, with Ben surprising Brian and Ted with snippets from the show. * Brian's "almost Brasher" Charlie vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YJYFuvB_9U * Wilson Air Chattanooga: https://www.wilsonair.com/cha-chattanooga/ * EP40, The Podcast Handoff: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilot/episodes/EP40---The-...

Ben passed his commercial checkride, so Brian and Ted debrief (interrogate) him about the experience. The crew then talk about finding bad habits in yourself, and the value of communicating about risk to others. Finally the Nashville Meetup, aka White Claw Crawl, is discussed! See the link below for information and to signal your interest. Ron Horton, DPE: http://planevisions.com/ Nathan Ballard,...

CFI (and midlife pilot) Nathan Ballard joins the show to talk about instructing midlifers and answer some listener questions. CFI Nathan Ballard's great YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NathanBallardSaferFlying AOPA, Logging Pilot-In-Command Time: https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/learn-to-fly/old-pages/legacy-pages/aviation-subject-report-logging-pilot-in-command-pic-time AOPA...

Ben is away, so Brian and Ted wing it without him and discuss the contents of a checkride binder, announce the April 2024 Midlife Pilot Podcast meetup in Nashville, and cover a strange potpourri of aviation topics, including announcing the April 2024 Nashville meetup! Show your interest for the April 26-28 2024 Nashville meetup! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PMcPHe3RZdoRkC94Ed569PkUI9eB711jFCxh...

EP51 - Your First Solo What's it like to solo? Ben, Brian and Ted discuss their flight training and their respective first solo flights.  We respond to listener feedback from Dan B. who asked about dealing with the jitters and doubts that inevitably pop up in every pilots journey. Brian's solo vid: https://youtu.be.com/A7ma6pvmwxM Ted's solo vid: https://youtu.be/L5EPZzUshHw OG Chris M...

Ben has an obligation, so Brian and Ted are joined by Chris, the "OG Midlife Pilot"! What happens when you haven't flown in a long time? What got the hosts into Aviation YouTube? Finally, Ben rejoins the show, and we get to hear a stellar "Bag O Words" from Chris' training days archive. Show mentions: Ted's videos: https://youtube.com/@flysport_tedder SoCal Flying M...

We have information whiskey ("booze news") and are ready to copy! Ben, Brian, and Ted catch up on flying adventures, talk about flight following from Delta towers, and read Keith C's story towards a second career. check out the new merch! https://store.midlifepilotpodcast.com/ We have moved to Patreon! Become a Patreon member for behind-the-scenes and exclusive content, access to the...

We got a number to copy! We talked with Scott and Shelley, both pilots, air traffic controllers, and realtors out of BNA Nashville. We got flight following, learned about the BNA "super charlie", flying over the top of towers, and working hours. FAA on the Nashville "Super charlie": https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/community_engagement/nash_bna Scott and Shelley's social med...

What is the future of aviation YouTube? We talk to Josh Flowers of Aviation101 about how it has evolved, the types of stories he likes to make, and what he would do if he wasn't flying. Josh Flowers and Aviation 101: @Aviation101 on YouTube aviation101.com highmaintenance_chels on Instagram Other mentions: Room 237 in The Shining is not where Ben is broadcasting from Errol Morris, Donald Rumsf...

We received a listener email about the challenges of flying with your spouse, so we got all of our significant others on the show to answer themselves! Grab your person and have a listen as we talk turbulence, pinch hitter training, and more. Mentions: Kim of BaronPilot learning to fly Ginny of SoCalFlyingMonkey, an anxious passenger, learning how to fly with an incapacitated pilot Checkmate Aviat...

Ben, Brian, and Ted cover a partial LOTOT video, a tip from ncflyer's checkride, and delve into all things STC, centered around the STOL conversions on Ben's Cessna 182, aka "beast". Defining the term dooblidoo for youtube descriptions: knowyourmeme , english.stackexchange , urbandictionary Mike Rugnetta, PBS Idea Channel, saying dooblidoo CFI Sam (Northwest Aeronaut)'s lost...

EP44 - Happy Hour! Ben, Brian, and Ted kick back for a casual episode and welcome Bryan Turner (aka Brian with a Y, aka Just Plane Silly) for a freeform discussion about Radio Shack, Cirrus and serious, icing on the vegetables, and Bryan's favorite metal albums. Podcast mentions: Bryan Turner / Just Plane Silly: https://www.youtube.com/c/justplanesilly Aviation 101 at West Bend Texas: https://...

Ben, Brian, and Ted talk about how to think about cross-country flying, especially for the new pilot. In the climbout (training) segment, the crew discusses aircraft options for new student pilots: rent a plane, join a flying club, or even buying a plane. There are advantages to each! Podcast mentions: Alyssa's new avionics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp5ktbCDRSM Ted's wishlist: land...

How do you begin flying in midlife? Ben, Brian, and Ted spend an episode explaining how someone thinking about beginning training should get started, from before their first lesson to the first few dozen hours of training. This includes the time and money commitment, why it's important to get a medical before flying, what a discovery flight is like, using an online ground school, books, writte...

Ben, Brian, and Ted share recent adventures. Ben is in an involuntary flying drought, Brian had a great BFR with impossible turns and 360 spirals, and Ted is finally learning to land the Egg. They then talk about Brian's trip to the art mecca of Marfa, Texas and his experience with the impacts of density altitude. A CFI's advice about following indicated airspeed is discussed. The crew the...

The O.G. Midlife Pilot, Chris Moran has decided to move on to make time for other things in life. We all have that burden with aviation in midlife. Hear the future of the podcast, and meet the new additions in this sad but fun farewell episode. Stay tuned! The podcast is going weekly! Onward and upward! Support this podcast for as little as 99 cents a month here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod...

Chris recaps his Oshkosh 2023 experience, and we talk about opposing maintenance points of view. ---Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlife_pilot/ https://www.instagram.com/brian.siskind/ Subscribe to Chris' YouTube channel:    / midlifepilot   Subscribe to Brian's YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/briansiskind Midlife Pilot Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/midlifepilot/ Brian Sisk...