I’ve still got the records of the first instructional flights I administered to two middle-aged men who together enrolled with me for Private Pilot trng. Their wives would wait at the FBO (Transient Aviation @ KHOU) while we performed their first lessons.
After a couple of lessons I thought I detected the smell of alcohol on the breath of one of the guys…so I shortened the pre-solo lesson…and while he was in the mens’ lavatory I asked his wife if he imbibed before flying. She cautiously looked all-around and then under her breath she said, “They do that to calm their nerves before coming into the FBO.”
I told her to tell him if he and his friend ever does that again I will inform the local FAA and the police.
I never saw Leeds or Ben again.