Midlife Pilot Podcast

Ben raves about Garmin Smart Charts as a potential ForeFlight killer, while the gang shares their biggest radio pet peeves - from the dreaded "with you" to "fish finder." Brian explains why his ignition wires "date back to when Jimi Hendrix was an unknown rising guitarist," and they dive into listener feedback about check ride prep (spoiler: don't get "tuned up" the day before). Plus, discussions of "meat missiles" falling from the sky at skydiving operations, whether Florida counts as the Southeast, and why we all struggle with remembering which runway we just landed on.

Mentioned on the show:

* "Polish doctor" with a CTLS, video 1, pilot hypoxic at 25k feet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xym_ADvX_2o:

* "Polish doctor" video 2, SP-SMED gets banned from airspace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lToh07ov5hQ

* Checkmate Aviation, passenger briefing: https://www.checkmateaviation.com/products/checkmate-crew-and-passenger-briefing-card

* Is pitot heat required to fly IFR? https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/100892/is-pitot-heat-required-for-ifr

* Happy Fun Ball disclaimers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmqeZl8OI2M

* Angel Flight Southeast: https://angelflightse.org/

* Garmin Pilot Smart Charts: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/aviation/garminpilot/smartcharts/

* Aviation101 promoting Smart Charts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKoEfHCn9ZA

* PilotEdge: https://www.pilotedge.net/

* VATSIM: https://vatsim.net/

* LiveATC: https://www.liveatc.net/

* Bill Dance (fishing): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Dance_(television_host)

* CMD - Cullman, Alabama: https://www.airnav.com/airport/CMD

* Dublin, Georgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin,_Georgia

* Dublin's Redneck Games: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redneck_Games

* Vidalia Georgia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidalia,_Georgia

* Woodstock movie (1970): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_(film)

Support Midlife Pilot Podcast on Patreon, get merch, join our Discord community, and more at www.midlifepilotpodcast.com

The crew tackles long cross-country cockpit organization after Ted's epic 5,400-mile journey reveals that going "pants-free" provides a "4% gain" in performance (wheel pants, people!). From the critical importance of blue shop towels to strategic snack placement and lumbar support, Ben, Brian, and Ted share hard-earned tips for setting up your cockpit for extended flights. Ben also achieves peak self-awareness by making "the quantum leap of berating myself behind my own back" on frequency, proving that even our radio calls need better cockpit organization.

Mentioned on the show:

• Midlife Pilot Podcast: https://midlifepilotpodcast.com
• Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/midlifepilotpodcast
• Watch live on YouTube: Mondays 8 PM Eastern - https://youtube.com/@MidlifePilotPodcast
• Manzanita Oregon: https://visittheoregoncoast.com/cities/manzanita/
• PlanePlaces' second T82 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVlRgni9ynw
• Wilhelm scream: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_scream
• OWB - Owensboro Kentucky: https://www.airnav.com/airport/OWB
• Garmin 430, yellow "NO GPS" warning: https://vansairforce.net/threads/garmin-430-message-no-gps.49119/
• Twin Oaks airpark, Oregon: https://www.flytwinoaks.com/
• Chris Moran, Midlife Pilot, "I'm Back" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIDq2sCmxsU
• EP100, live in West Virginia with OG Chris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc5acX35DKE
• George Costanza's wallet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TYuGe7JaX4
• Checkmate Aviation (Barry's custom checklists): https://checkmateav.com
• Flying Eyes Eyewear (discount code: SISKIND): https://flyingeyes.com
• Ted's 3D printed holder/flying eyes organizer: https://www.printables.com/model/1316551-flying-eyes-airplane-organizer
• Blackstone Labs (oil analysis): https://www.blackstone-labs.com/
• Bordo sandwiches, Marfa, Texas: https://www.instagram.com/bordo.tx/
• West Virginia pepperoni rolls: https://wvtourism.com/state-food-pepperoni-roll/

• Freedom Aviation Network (anti-human trafficking): https://freedomaviation.network

Airports Mentioned:

• John Tune Airport (JWN) - Nashville, TN
• Owensboro-Daviess County Airport (OWB) - Owensboro, KY
• Independence State Airport (S36) - Independence, OR
• Twin Oaks Airpark (7S3) - Hillsboro, OR
• Fairmont Regional Airport (4G7) - Fairmont, WV
• T82 (Gillespie County Airport) - Fredericksburg, TX

Equipment Mentioned:

• Garmin 530 GPS
• GoPro cameras
• Flight Design CTLS aircraft
• Cessna 180/182 aircraft
• Cherokee 180 aircraft

10% of our monthly Patreon pledge total goes directly to support the Freedom Aviation Network

In the compelling conclusion to their check ride series, the Midlife Pilot crew explores instrument rating experiences drawn from their Patreon community. From developing the perfect instrument scan to battling temperamental autopilots and partial-panel approaches, this episode reveals the unique challenges—and profound rewards—of becoming an instrument-rated pilot. Ben, Brian, and Ted unpack essential advice on training aircraft, instructor selection, and those magical moments of breaking through cloud layers at minimums. With candid discussions about instrument currency and the perishable nature of these skills, this episode serves as both inspiration and practical roadmap for pilots at any stage of their IFR journey. As one debrief contributor put it, "I think every private pilot should get their instrument rating. I'm a much better pilot than I was before."

Join our Patreon for access to all the debriefs, Discord, and much more: www.patreon.com/midlifepilotpodcastMentioned on the show:

* RYY - McCollum Field: https://www.airnav.com/airport/RYY

* London Kentucky tornado: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_sequence_of_May_15%E2%80%9316,_2025

* Opposing Bases: https://opposingbases.com/

* Flight Insight: https://www.youtube.com/@flightinsight9111

* Nokia Snake game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_(1998_video_game)

* Konami Code: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konami_Code

* Victor airways: https://www.boldmethod.com/blog/lists/2024/10/7-things-pilots-should-know-about-victor-airways/

* Flying DME arcs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-caYr6Lr9U

In this first installment of their two-part check ride series, the Midlife Pilot Podcast crew mines gold from their community's private pilot exam experiences through intimate Patreon debriefs. Ben, Brian, and Ted tackle everything from the anxiety-inducing oral exam (which Ben likens to "walking into the delivery room") to those heart-stopping landing attempts on check ride day. The hosts share candid stories of forgotten keys, unexpected teaching moments, and the surprising feeling when a DPE says "you ought to know you passed." Whether you're contemplating your first lesson or preparing for your own check ride, this episode offers both practical wisdom and the reassurance that even type-A personalities sometimes "completely forget how to land" - and still earn their wings.

Join our Patreon for access to all the debriefs, Discord, and much more: www.patreon.com/midlifepilotpodcastMentioned on the show:

* Ted's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@flysport_tedder

* GGG - Longview, Texas: https://www.airnav.com/airport/GGG

Join the Midlife Pilot Podcast crew as they return from their epic Texas fly-in adventure with tales of triumph, near-misses, and one unfortunate set of wheel pants. Ted recounts his 28.3-hour post-fly-in journey that somehow went east instead of west ("Look, you can only chase tailwinds for so long"), while Brian shares his VFR limits revelation ("I have now taken VFR flying as far as one can take it"). Ben confesses to "two bounces and a skip" on one of his worst landings in recent memory, and the guys discuss the wisdom of testing boundaries safely: "Go up and have a look, but be fully prepared to land again." Featuring an impossibly flowery listener message that has Brian nearly falling out of his chair, frequent tangents, and what the hosts themselves describe as "an episode that is apparently all appetizers."

• 80V - Airmail Airport, Medicine Bow Wyoming: https://www.airmailaviator.com/
• 4R9 - Dauphin Island, Alabama: https://www.airnav.com/airport/4R9
• Cap'n Todd flying to the Texas Send: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLQ14WrGWXc
• Fedex fast talking commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeK5ZjtpO-M
• Micro Machines fast talking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLP6oT3uqV8
• Avemco- increasing taxi crash rate outside of the Killing Zone: https://www.avemco.com/news-events/pirep-blog/taxiing-one-of-the-first-skills-you-learned
• SRB - Upper Cumberland Airport, Sparta Tenn: https://www.airnav.com/airport/SRB
• Plan continuation bias: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost#Plan_continuation_bias
• Ted's Rockies turbulence video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GC-5BnhILU
• Erica Gilbert, May 21, "When Mistakes Happen: The Flight Instructor's Response" https://my.nafimentor.org/events-calendar/mentorlive/mentor-live-92/704
• Vans RV15 development video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtsJVNx72a4