Ask the A&Ps

171
Leisure #171

Experts Mike Busch, Paul New, and Colleen Sterling answer your toughest aviation maintenance questions. Submit questions to podcasts@aopa.org. New episodes are released the first and fifteenth of every month.

Recent Episodes
  • "You have license to go zorching around"
    Jun 1, 2025 – 01:00:55
  • "Continentals burn valves and Lycomings stick valves"
    May 15, 2025 – 01:11:57
  • "My airplane is a flying experiment"
    May 1, 2025 – 01:06:15
  • "They put all their maintenance records on napkins"
    Apr 15, 2025 – 01:02:17
  • "Keep torturing those airplanes...and students"
    Apr 1, 2025 – 54:31
  • "Shame on you for even thinking about it"
    Mar 15, 2025 – 57:33
  • "If that doesn't work you've got the flame thrower option"
    Mar 1, 2025 – 01:05:24
  • "Your airplane is on a full-time IV drip"
    Feb 15, 2025 – 01:08:56
  • "You don’t know if he’s going to hit you with a wrench or a lawsuit"
    Feb 1, 2025 – 01:09:51
  • "There's a serious brain drain in aviation maintenance"
    Jan 15, 2025 – 01:04:12
  • "Check it, log it, and then relax"
    Jan 1, 2025 – 01:16:32
  • "There’s a reason they call these amateur built"
    Dec 15, 2024 – 59:49
  • "Don't open up the fuel system if you don't have to"
    Dec 1, 2024 – 01:03:39
  • "The engine didn't explode"
    Nov 15, 2024 – 01:02:12
  • "When they go bad the engine is toast"
    Nov 1, 2024 – 01:02:47
  • "It goes through cylinders like flapjacks"
    Oct 15, 2024 – 01:00:25
  • "When it starts to talk to you it's time to replace it"
    Oct 1, 2024 – 58:27
  • "The people who design these airplanes don't work on them"
    Sep 15, 2024 – 01:11:28
  • "Full rich is horrendously rich"
    Sep 1, 2024 – 01:08:47
  • Live from Saturday Airventure 2024
    Aug 15, 2024 – 49:43
  • "Mechanics are the surgeons of aviation"
    Aug 1, 2024 – 01:13:15
  • "I've had grass stains on my prop"
    Jul 15, 2024 – 01:14:06
  • "Placard it inop"
    Jul 1, 2024 – 01:09:03
  • "Don't pull the throttle back until you want to land"
    Jun 15, 2024 – 01:06:05
  • "Don't do that!"
    Jun 1, 2024 – 01:04:56
  • "I have permission to get an airplane."
    May 15, 2024 – 01:04:00
  • "I'm against throwing a part at something"
    May 1, 2024 – 01:04:15
  • "You become the supervisor of your maintenance"
    Apr 15, 2024 – 01:03:54
  • "Don't split the case halves"
    Apr 1, 2024 – 01:00:33
  • "This guy is on his own, he's a test pilot"
    Mar 15, 2024 – 01:04:36
  • "Let us know how the exorcism goes"
    Mar 1, 2024 – 59:21
  • "The breather is a slobber pot"
    Feb 15, 2024 – 55:08
  • "Think of the prop control as a gear shift"
    Feb 1, 2024 – 51:37
  • "Major and minor is in the eye of the beholder"
    Jan 15, 2024 – 01:00:56
  • "It's not good form to jam the throttle forward"
    Jan 1, 2024 – 01:00:24
  • "We call it an Italian tune-up"
    Dec 15, 2023 – 56:25
  • "Use whatever time runs the slowest"
    Dec 1, 2023 – 57:18
  • "You can't fully pickle it"
    Nov 15, 2023 – 01:06:57
  • "Cleaning injectors causes more problems than it solves"
    Nov 1, 2023 – 56:42
  • "Why don't you just fix the problem?"
    Oct 16, 2023 – 01:02:57
  • "It's not the mechanic's job to make flying cheaper"
    Oct 1, 2023 – 56:49
  • "Inspections are an imperfect process"
    Sep 15, 2023 – 47:57
  • "Don't attack anything with tools"
    Sep 1, 2023 – 53:04
  • Live from Airventure 2023
    Aug 15, 2023 – 49:15
  • "My airplane is so clean you can eat off it"
    Aug 1, 2023 – 01:00:58
  • "The only that thing that can cause CHT to rise that fast is pre-ignition"
    Jul 1, 2023 – 01:01:49
  • "I'm a total turbocharging bigot"
    Jun 1, 2023 – 01:14:39
  • "Pop that cowling off and squirt away"
    May 1, 2023 – 01:06:13
  • "This is a classic infant mortality failure"
    Apr 1, 2023 – 01:12:09
  • "The airplane looks like it's having brain surgery"
    Mar 1, 2023 – 57:16
Recent Reviews
  • Chibikabra
    Unlistenable
    That older sounding fella interrupts the conversation constantly. Talking over people, injecting a random piece of info in the middle of peoples sentences, it’s nonstop. I didn’t even get 10 minutes into an episode and had to turn it off. 👎🏻
  • daveike-n813ps
    Filling in the gap
    Through typical pilot training programs, we tend to spend substantial time and effort on maneuvers and other key aspects of flight but spend very little time on understanding the engine and other mechanical aspects the aircraft. This podcast is extremely helpful for filling that gap, particularly for the owner/pilot.
  • Pilotwithoutaplane
    Love the show!!
    So, my kryptonite is maintenance, but after finding your show, I have a new interest. The three of you complement each other so well, and I have learned so much from listening! I have quite a few back recordings to catch up on, but thankfully, I have an hour commute to work. Thank you for what you do! Plus, now I have a few books I need to order thanks to Mike!
  • darrhcritics
    I don’t even own a Plane!
    I visited a man couple weeks ago with my friends and some young kids he was a great guy. I’ve always been obsessed with planes and he always was patient with the kids I was with and their questions.But to be completely honest, I can’t afford a plane, even so, I still love listening to the podcast!
  • looth
    Great Resource for New Pilots and Owners
    I passed my PPL check ride and purchased a plane less than a year ago. Mike, Paul, and Colleen, have been extremely helpful for movitaing me to find an owner maintenance-friendly IA, install an engine monitor, and fly LOP. I look forward to each new episode!
  • ccelliott15
    Entertaining and informative
    I am not an airplane person and know nothing about them, but these 3 hosts keep me entertained and engaged! I love listening to them talk about their field of expertise.
  • CFI Perry
    My Favorite Podcast
    I always learn things for you guys! Thanks for the great podcasts.
  • Sal A L
    Great Information
    This trio makes learning about maintenance interesting and fun. I’m learning things I didn’t know that I didn’t know.
  • Mimicrist
    Look forward to this podcast every month.
    I’ve read Miles books and look forward to the beginning of the month to hear this podcast.
  • Honest Review 21
    Laugh and learn
    Who thought I would laugh so much when learning about plane maintenance. I’m impressed how much I have already learned.
  • tcclong999
    Free Info
    This podcast is a treasure trove of valuable maintenance knowledge and experience. You will learn a lot!
  • Splons
    Informative and entertaining!
    Colleen, Paul, and Mike have created one of my favorite podcasts — I look forward to each monthly installment (and wish it was more frequent!). Thank you very much.
  • Chad Nordberg
    Fantastic information!
    Invaluable information for anyone that fly’s or owns an airplane! I only wish we could search for clips based on keywords to go back and listen to the part of an episode pertinent to whatever is going on currently with your airplane. Mike has an excellent audiobook as well and can’t wait for his other books to be released in audio format as well. Keep up the great work everyone! Mike, Paul and Colleen are all an amazing source of information and collective experience!!
  • AKTrav
    Love this show!
    I look forward to every new episode. These are both entertaining and informational for GA folks. Think “Click and Clack” for airplanes!
  • Ck90090099099
    Awesome
    Kudos to you all for putting this together. Me and my pilot buddies love it. I wish y’all had a daily podcast.
  • Nice quick reference
    Top notch
    Excellent information, and enjoyable listen
  • MIflyer
    Wonderful source of info
    Excellent informative podcast for pilots/owners.
  • Aab614
    The best maintenance podcast
    This is the podcast I have been waiting for! Some of the best aviation maintenance professionals all in one podcast! Keep up the good work!
  • FNF Aviation
    Great!!
    Great podcast and very informative!! Keep up the good work!!
  • The lake
    Like CarTalk with Wings!
    I have been really enjoying these podcasts. It is like Click and Clack had their sister on the show to talk about airplanes. It has been great.
  • Wombatair
    Once a month ?
    Wish it was it more than once a month.
  • cherokee flyer
    a must listen
    If you fly a GA aircraft, you need to listen to this podcast! I've learned something new in each episode!
  • gbwez
    Perfect
    I’ve been reading Mike Busch’s articles and books for years, and LOVE that we’ve got a podcast now!
  • A libertarian
    Very informative
    I am not an A&P mechanic, but I do tinker with things and enjoy listening to this while I work in my garage.
  • orbcis
    Great info, entertaining!
    I’m an A&P, IA with over 10 years experience: Airlines, GA, and Flight testing. I learned a lot on just this first episode, while being thoroughly entertained. Add a few laughs and this might become the ‘Car Talk’ of aviation! Keep ‘em coming!
  • buffalopilot
    Excellent aviation maintenance related podcast
    As a professional pilot, instructor, and owner, I loved how the first episode immediately delved into very unique but pertinent maintenance scenarios and questions. Looking forward to the information in future podcasts.
  • mhalleffect
    Great info, knowledgeable hosts.
    Liked the celebrity guests on the inaugural episode.
  • DL_2402
    Highly recommended
    This show is great, super informative and I’ve learned a lot so far. Highly recommended!
  • Papabravoca
    Finally a “Car Talk” for aviation!
    Great show, keep them coming!
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.