English
Behind the Prop
by Bobby Doss, Wally Mulhearn
Behind the Prop is the Podcast for anyone involved in aviation from general aviation to professional pilots. Our hosts Bobby Doss is the owner of a flight school in Houston, Texas, and Wally Mulhearn is a pilot for a major airline and is also a designated pilot examiner (DPE) based in Houston, Texas. Weekly they tell stories, share lessons and tips from behind the prop. Together they have over 24,400 hours of flight time (Wally has over 24,000 of those) and collectively they provide very unique perspectives on general aviation, airplanes, and all things aviation.
Episodes
E206 - The Invisible System Keeping You Alive
2 Nov 2026 · 34 min
Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn break down the cabin heat and ventilation system: where the warm air really comes from, how a crack hidden inside the muffler shroud can put carbon monoxide in the cockpit, and why it is so easy to miss. They cover the warning signs, a 2024 NTSB forced-landing case,…
E205 - I Knew the Rule, The Pilot Who Walked Into a Running Prop
19 Oct 2026 · 43 min
Samuel Couillard shares his experience surviving a propeller strike as an experienced student pilot who understood the risks yet suffered a momentary lapse due to complacency and environmental factors. Hosted by Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn, the episode explores human factors like fatigue,…
E204 - What does that BLUE KNOB actually do?
5 Oct 2026 · 43 min
In episode E204 of Behind the Prop, hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn dive into the function of the blue knob in constant speed propeller systems. They explain it as the RPM selector that acts like a transmission by changing propeller blade pitch to maintain selected RPMs. The discussion covers…
E203 - Ask the DPE - Part II
21 Sept 2026 · 47 min
In this episode of United Flight Systems, Bobby Doss continues his conversation with DPE Wally Mulhearn in part two of Ask the DPE. They dive deep into what makes an examiner nervous during checkrides, particularly during simulated engine failures and low altitude go-arounds. Wally explains the…
E202 - Ask the DPE - Part I
7 Sept 2026 · 41 min
In this episode of Behind the Prop, Bobby interviews DPE Wally Mulhern in Ask the DPE Part I. They cover what makes an applicant look ready before walking in the door, including flight time reasonableness on the 8710, IACRA applications, solo versus PIC time, and required cross country, night, and…
E201 - The First Five Minutes
24 Aug 2026 · 46 min
In episode 201 of Behind the Prop, hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn dive into the critical first five minutes of flight, covering the high-workload period from engine start through initial climb. They share practical advice on managing radios, passengers, checklists, taxi and IFR clearances,…
E200 - The Flight Before the Flight
10 Aug 2026 · 36 min
In Episode 200 titled 'The Flight Before the Flight,' hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn explore thorough pre-flight preparation beyond traditional navigation planning. They break down the night-before sequence including weather outlook briefings, aircraft documentation and qualifications, fuel…
E199 - The Dirty Dozen
27 Jul 2026 · 36 min
In this episode of Behind the Prop, hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn dive into the Dirty Dozen, a set of twelve human factor traps that can affect pilots and mechanics alike. Originally released by the FAA around 2011 or 2012 as a poster for mechanics, these traps apply equally to pilots and…
E198b - Oshkosh Dispatch
20 Jul 2026 · 9 min
This episode kicks off the Oshkosh Dispatch series as Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn preview EAA AirVenture. They reminisce about last year's event including blimp formations and the massive scale of the airshow while discussing aviation lingo like calling it Osh. Wally shares his travel plans…
E198 - True, False, or It Depends
13 Jul 2026 · 42 min
Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn return to the mics after a break to tackle aviation myths in this episode of Behind the Prop. They dive into common misconceptions heard in flight training, around the hangar, and during checkrides, using a true false or it depends format to separate fact from…
E197 - From Early Lessons to Cross-Country Weather: A Pilot's Journey
29 Jun 2026 · 43 min
Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn explore the pilot's journey from student training through the first 100 hours and into cross-country weather decisions. They discuss red flags like poor preparation and overconfidence, share personal weather stories, and offer practical advice on real-world go/no-go…
E196 - The Soft Skills That Actually Make Great Flight Instructors
15 Jun 2026 · 52 min
In this episode of Behind the Prop, hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn dive deep into the essential soft skills that set exceptional flight instructors apart from the rest. They explore why teaching ability often outweighs raw flying proficiency when it comes to developing great CFIs, emphasizing…
E195 - Could You Handle an Emergency Tonight?
1 Jun 2026 · 38 min
Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn tackle the critical question of whether pilots are truly ready for an emergency tonight, emphasizing that you fall to the level of your training rather than rising to the occasion. They break down memory items, scenario-based drills, a real-world gear-up landing case…
E194 - The Hidden Costs of Rushing Flight Training
18 May 2026 · 34 min
In this episode of Behind the Prop, hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn explore the pitfalls of rushing flight training, drawing from real experiences at United Flight Systems. They discuss how unprepared students waste money on ineffective lessons, the marketing hype around accelerated programs,…
E193 - When FINE isn't FINE
4 May 2026 · 40 min
In this episode of Behind The Prop, hosts Bobby and Wally explore the perils of underestimating weather conditions in aviation, drawing from personal experiences and historical accidents like Delta Flight 191. They emphasize the importance of thorough weather planning, tools like the Windy app,…
E192 - From Setbacks to Skills- Mastering Mindset and Mental Math in the Cockpit
20 Apr 2026 · 48 min
Bobby and Wally break down how pilots can turn setbacks into growth by mastering mindset, self-talk, and decision-making. From checkride mistakes to real cockpit scenarios, they explore resilience and the FAA’s hazardous attitudes that can derail pilots. The episode finishes with practical mental…
E191 - Brandin Cooks, Pilot & NFL Wide Receiver
6 Apr 2026 · 48 min
In this episode of Behind the Prop, we sit down with NFL wide receiver and pilot Brandin Cooks for a conversation that bridges two worlds rarely connected—professional football and aviation. Brandin shares his journey from becoming a first-round NFL draft pick and one of the league’s most…
E190 - Recovering After an FAA Checkride Disapproval
23 Mar 2026 · 48 min
This episode of Behind the Prop breaks down how pilots can recover from an FAA checkride disapproval. The hosts emphasize that disapprovals are common and don’t define a pilot’s future. They outline a clear path forward: understand the debrief, take ownership, and focus retraining on specific…
E189 - Tammy Barlette, Crosscheck Mental Performance Training
9 Mar 2026 · 43 min
“Most pilots don’t lack knowledge. They lack access to that knowledge under pressure.” In this episode of Behind the Prop, Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn sit down with Tammy Barlette, a former U.S. Air Force A-10 pilot, Weapons School graduate, and mental performance coach who now helps pilots…
E188 - The Real Part 141- Busting Myths and Debunking Mysteries
23 Feb 2026 · 48 min
This episode of Behind the Prop breaks down the myths surrounding Part 61 vs. Part 141 flight training. Bobby, Wally, and Jay explain that neither path is inherently better, faster, or cheaper—it all depends on the student and the school. They clarify that structure doesn’t guarantee quality,…