Meet the Crew

Ben "The Sage" flies "the Beast" (a Cessna 182) out of the metro Atlanta area. He holds an IFR rating and commercial certificate, and as the most experienced of the crew, he's become the podcast's go-to source for true aviation insights. Ben has transformed his Beast with STOL conversions, turning his 182 into a capable short-field performer, and he's passionate about avionics upgrades after wrestling with "an ancient audio panel that picked the worst possible time to conk out (IFR over Atlanta - yikes!)."

When Ben's not perfecting the art of peak midlife status (like straining his back loading golf clubs into his airplane, proving that "we are the joke"), he's demonstrating that even his "mighty beast has to humble itself to a mere 750 fpm climb" when density altitude kicks in. He's mastered the art of using aviation for business travel, noting "I would pay $200 to be in a time machine any day of the week" when it comes to dodging Atlanta traffic by flying to meetings. Ben also swears by dawn patrol flights as aviation's best-kept secret and has become known for making instrument approaches that impress passengers. His methodical, analytical approach combined with his wealth of flying experience makes him the crew's only hope for true insights, and his willingness to share both triumphs and spectacular failures makes him relatable to every midlife pilot who's ever wondered if they know what they're doing.

Brian is based in Nashville, Tennessee (home of the Bachelorette Super Charlie, as he likes to remind everyone), where he flies "Lucy" - his 1967 Piper Cherokee 180. He's a private pilot who took flight in 2021 at age 49, discovering in aviation "a new dimension for his artistic vision." Brian has been known to practice "measured scud running" during his flying adventures, while he claims that "learning to land with only lap belts builds character."

Brian brings a unique perspective to aviation as a Nashville-based documentary filmmaker, photographer, composer, and writer who "approaches flying through a philosophical lens, finding profound connections between sky and creativity." His YouTube channel showcases this artistic approach, blending his filmmaking skills with aviation storytelling. Brian is also the author of aviation essays in his book "Make Small Corrections" and contributes to Air Facts Journal, where he explores the deeper meaning of flight. As he puts it, he wondered "what relationships—what dialogue—awaited me in the sky?" His multifaceted background as a creative professional makes him incredibly relatable to fellow midlife pilots who bring their own rich life experiences to aviation.

Ted is the sport pilot extraordinaire based in Portland, Oregon, flying a Flight Design CTLS that everyone calls "the egg." His aircraft is now officially a "pantless egg" after some wheel pants met an unfortunate end with what the crew dubbed a "suicidal sparrow" (which would be a good band name, according to Brian).

Ted regularly demonstrates that you don't need a big airplane to go big places, having completed epic cross-country adventures including a 28.3-hour post-fly-in journey that somehow went east instead of west. He's famous for mysteriously ascending to 15,000 feet in a light sport aircraft ("Try a German-engineered plane built in Ukraine!") and for broadcasting live from under his airplane wing at Oshkosh. Despite flying a light sport aircraft, Ted's "fancy liquid-cooled engine can't escape the tyranny of thermodynamics," and he's successfully converted his partner from "scrambling for handholds" to enjoying turbulence on flights to Seattle. Ted also creates engaging aviation content on his YouTube channel, documenting his adventures flying "the egg."

Mark "1DullGeek" is the community's beloved fourth crew member who flies a Cherokee 235. He's become essential to the podcast ecosystem, guiding the exclusive Patreon checkride debriefs and delivering what the crew calls "legendary rants" that have become must-listen content. He's also famous for accidentally inventing aviation's newest aircraft—the "Cherokee 182"—during a memorable Episode 100 flight.

Chris Moran - Emeritus is the "OG Midlife Pilot" who started this whole thing with Brian in 2021 and co-host up to episode 40. After a year-long aviation hiatus, he returns as a guest with the reality check every pilot needs: "I want this to be a joy bringer to my life, not a stress bringer."

What Makes This Different

They Get It
Managing flight training around family and career. Dealing with people who think you're crazy for starting this at 45. Figuring out how to fit aviation into an already full life. The advantages of maturity, financial stability, and the wisdom to appreciate the experience.

Real Stories, Not Lessons
When they mess up, they tell you. When something's amazing, their enthusiasm shows. From sweaty palms during checkrides to radio calls that made controllers cringe, flights where everything went wrong, and magical moments when everything clicked.

You're Not Alone
The community is full of people discovering aviation later in life. As one listener put it: "I feel like I have found some kindred spirits. So many aviation podcasts seem like constant training. Midlife pilot podcast shares the pilot lifestyle. Where are we flying? What is broken? What is going great!"