Midlife Pilot Podcast

• EP126 - Information Whiskey: "Like Oregon Trail Without Dysentery"

  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."Mentioned on the show:* CMD - Cullman Airport, Alabama: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KCMD* Trent Palmer's smoke system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ4ZDpx2ysM* Manifest, 2018 TV series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_(TV_series)

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• EP125 - "What Am I Doing?": Extinguishing Helmet Fires Before They Consume You

  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. 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. 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:* VLD - Valdosta Georgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdosta_Regional_Airport* The Underbelly Project: https://viralart.vandalog.com/read/chapter/the-underbelly-project/* The Towering Inferno: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Towering_Inferno* M02 - Dickson County Airport, Tenn: https://www.airnav.com/airport/M02* the Dixie Dregs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Dregs* 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/

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• EP124 - Parking: The Episode That Goes Nowhere

  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.Mentioned on the show:* Using a diaper for oil changes: https://vansairforce.net/threads/tip-changing-oil-with-a-diaper.123286/* DNL - Daniel Field, Augusta, Georgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Field* 4S2 - Ken Jernstedt Airfield, Hood River, Oregon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Jernstedt_Airfield* 1L8 - Gen. Dick Stout Field, Hurricane, Utah: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Municipal_Airport

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• EP123 - The Answer to All Solutions: Level Seven Hangar Living

  In this episode, Ben, Brian, and Ted dive into the challenges of finding and maintaining hangar space, or not having one. From ratchet straps (BAD) and tornado warnings (ALSO BAD) to the joys of electricity and the sorrows of cold starts, the guys discuss how far they'd travel for a good hangar and why sometimes your plane becomes 'an outdoor pet.' Plus, updates on Ben's annual maintenance adventures and a reminder about the upcoming Big Texas Send meetup at T82.Mentioned on the show:* Big Texas Send: https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/rsvpt82* VPC - Cartersville Ga: https://www.airnav.com/airport/VPC* Tyler S's personal minimums tool: https://personal-minimums.web.app/* Example of Tyler's minimums: https://personal-minimums.web.app/profile/8DgOuxvxgxdfiZRpW2W8BMGUJO32* SISKIND - Life is what happens to you... (the plane that flipped): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EejbxBWsfo* Gust front: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outflow_boundary* Wind gradient: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_gradient* Ted's ShockStrap tiedowns: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/shock13-20708.php* Switcheon remote power switch: https://switcheon.com/product/switcheon_remote_power_switch/* Zen and the art of Knolling: https://makezine.com/article/workshop/zen-and-the-art-of-knolling/

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• EP122 - "I Plan My Stops Around Food" and IFR Training: CFII Erica Gilbert

  Join us for special guest Erica Gilbert, a CFII and TBM pilot who brings her expertise on cross-country planning and adult learning to the show. While Ben mourns his grounded "Beast" waiting on engine work, and Mark celebrates his impressive 693-nautical-mile nonstop flight in his upgraded Cherokee 235, Erica shares her refreshing approach to flight planning: "I plan my stops around food." The discussion reveals how midlife pilots bring unique strengths to aviation training—they're more motivated, committed, and arrive prepared despite memory challenges that come with age.Erica breaks down her framework for learning complex aircraft systems into four simple parts (function, components, limitations/failures, and operation), offers weather briefing insights, and introduces her new IFR course designed to bridge the gap between online learning and practical application. The episode delivers aviation wisdom for pilots of all levels while tackling the question of how to maintain confidence as a newly certificated pilot.Mentioned on the show:* Diamond DA40NG: https://www.diamondaircraft.com/en/private-owners/aircraft/da40/overview/* Erica's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AeroSafe/videos* One of Erica's weather vids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BFXShZFVGs* LEX Lexington Ky: https://www.airnav.com/airport/LEX* LOZ London Ky: https://www.airnav.com/airport/LOZ* Capitol Drive airport, Wisc: https://www.airnav.com/airport/02C* UES Waukesha County Airport, Wisc: https://www.airnav.com/airport/WAU* ERAU paper- Student Engagement in Aviation Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): https://commons.erau.edu/publication/2285/* Beech Baron 55: https://www.aviationconsumer.com/used-aircraft-guide/beech-baron-55-2/* Erica's IFR ground school begins Apr 15: https://www.gilbertaviation.com/ifr* Mark practicing PPL maneuvers after having his PPL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsb6YPyWCQk

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