Milestone night. Ted passed the instrument written with a 95 ("definitely my highest score of the four tests I've taken"), sneaking in days before the FAA changes the exam, and explained the back-to-back-tests energy in terms we all understand: "I was at a casino and I just was feeling lucky." Ben, for the record, still remembers his 88. Congratulations also to Lance D, who soloed tonight per the chat, and Adam V, who flew his whole family for the first time.

The tape machine brought Adam, a CFI whose new student read the Ultimate Guide and reported back with the most relatable status in aviation: "I can't even get this thing to the runway." Which, the panel agrees, is exactly the right place to be. Ask any pilot about their first solo "and you'll see this look come about them." Keep scaling it down; you're allowed to feel that way about taxiing. Elsewhere: Brian's new videos are filling Ben's YouTube feed, with filming on the way to Sevierville, and the hangar commute continues.

Tonight's wisdom: the windsock is a small piece of fabric with enormous authority.

Mentioned on the show:
Tape machine, merch, and everything else: https://www.midlifepilotpodcast.com
0A9, Elizabethton, Tennessee: https://www.elizabethtonairport.com/
SRB, Upper Cumberland Airport, Tennessee: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Cumberland_Regional_Airport
GKT, Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: https://www.gktairport.com/
SISKIND, If My Engine Quits Here, I Might Not Make the Runway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bkL0Yh0zHk
SISKIND, What Happened to Nashville? A Local's View From 3,500 Feet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPR6MKvqsus
SISKIND, We Flew My 1967 Airplane Into the Mountains With No Plan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWp_5GmrDBQ
SISKIND, I Traced Every Owner of My 1967 Airplane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDNToeCLDdk
FlightInsight, What Does "Cleared Visual Approach" Actually Let You Do?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVfZ_ePn3RI
Opposing Bases OB394, The Art of the Visual Approach: https://opposingbases.libsyn.com/ob394-the-art-of-the-visual-approach
Opposing Bases OB263, Visual Approach Cavalcade: https://opposingbases.libsyn.com/ob263-visual-approach-cavalcade