EP41 - Ways to Keep Flying Fun - Prevent Pilot Burnout

Midlife Pilot Podcast

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 then talks about ways to keep flying fun. This includes Angel Flight, Pilots n Paws, doing long cross-countries, practicing maneuvers, and participating in a state aviation passport program. Brian reminds us that we never have to fly- it's okay to not fly or to set it aside.

The discussion takes a quick diversion to answer Jeremy's question: how do you stay entertained on long XCs? This varies by person and situation.

Finally, Josh McElhattan comes on to introduce the new BAG O' WORDS segment with his "Nobody Cares" radio call to the tower at John Tune airport. It's a good reminder that we all make mistakes, no matter the hours, and somehow controllers are mindreaders.

Listener checklist:

- Subscribe to the Youtube channel to see the livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@MidlifePilotPodcast

- Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilot

- Support the podcast, starting at 99 cents per month: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilot

- Say hello, get a Discord invite, or send your BAG O' WORDS: [e-mail]

Episode links:

- Marfa Texas airport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/kmrf

- CFI Sam, aka Northwest Aeronaut: https://www.youtube.com/c/NorthwestAeronaut

- Fifty By 60: https://www.youtube.com/@Fiftyx60

- Washington State airport passport program: https://www.flywashington.org/

- Wisconsin airport passport program: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/travel/air/pilot-info/flywi.aspx

- The 1dullgeek philosophy of practicing maneuvers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsb6YPyWCQk

- McRae Georgia airport: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KMQW

- Josh McElhattan's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@joshmc

- The video with Josh's bag of words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwAOEzrLkf4#t=16m

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midlifepilotpodcast/message