Piet Fil Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Like a lot of others, I had my doubts at times of getting there, but today was my first solo day. Blue skies, not a cloud in the sky, a slight breeze straight down the runway and smooth still air. Three circuits with my instructor and then given his blessing to go it alone. It all went according to procedure, I even had time on downwind (after checks) to have a very quick look at the snow on the ranges. Slight nerves on short final knowing it was all me with no backup, but safely down I came. Ironically it was only when writing down the hours after shutdown, my hands started shaking. LOL. Stress release I guess. What a joy! Today was a day to love life (and my wife and daughters) for letting me learn to fly. Yahoo! Phil 3
facthunter Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Not everybody gets to go solo, so you are a bit special .Congrats. it's one step in a longer process of being a good airman. Nev
foxy Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Great news Phil!!!!! The first solo is the greatest milestone in the most amazing adventure of flight! Well done! Liz :clap2:
.Evan. Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Congratulations Phil! It's a wonderful feeling that is still fresh in my mind. My instructor said, "Even if you never get to fly again, you can now call yourself a pilot." I'm also glad that I'm not the only one that was shaking after the event! I had so much adrenaline flowing through my veins that I couldn't even do simple maths - I had to check my logbook entries three times! Thank you for sharing... I look forward to hearing about your future adventures!
Guest DJH Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Congratulations, your next solo will feel pretty good as well. Stick with it........John.
Guest davidh10 Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Great stuff, Phil. One of the big milestones in the learning process. I bet it feelt pretty good to be logging PIC.
Bryon Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 You will remember this day for the rest of your life...Congratulations Cheers Bryon
jerrajerra Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Congratulations . Of interest, may I ask the number of hours you had completed priot to your solo?...well done again.
sfGnome Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 I bet it feelt pretty good to be logging PIC. Top stuff Phil. I remember scanning my logbook and emailing it to my family - even if it didn't mean anything to them, nothing was going to stop me telling the world!
eightyknots Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Congratulations . Of interest, may I ask the number of hours you had completed priot to your solo?...well done again. Phil, Congratulations! I have started PPL training too and I am also interested in how many hours you completed prior to going solo. What aircraft are you training in? Tricycle or Taildragger??
BecM Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Well Done Phil, Its the best feeling in the world.. shout it from the rooftops :)
Owi Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Well done, mate! Good to hear of a fellow aviators positive progress. Cheers.
Guest Des Funslow Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Like a lot of others, I had my doubts at times of getting there, but today was my first solo day. Blue skies, not a cloud in the sky, a slight breeze straight down the runway and smooth still air. Three circuits with my instructor and then given his blessing to go it alone. It all went according to procedure, I even had time on downwind (after checks) to have a very quick look at the snow on the ranges. Slight nerves on short final knowing it was all me with no backup, but safely down I came. Ironically it was only when writing down the hours after shutdown, my hands started shaking. LOL. Stress release I guess. What a joy!Today was a day to love life (and my wife and daughters) for letting me learn to fly. Yahoo! Phil
Piet Fil Posted May 17, 2011 Author Posted May 17, 2011 Thank you all for your wishes and congratulations, it is one of the things i enjoy about the aviation community. For Eightyknots and Jerrara: In answer to the "hours to solo" questions: it was 14.8hrs; of which 6.3 was in a gazelle, I then switched schools and did the other 8.5 (and solo) in a Jabiru J120C. It was normally 7-10 days between each lesson at about 0.8 hrs per lesson. I am being careful in balancing family and flying. If the lessons were a bit more frequent and I hadn't changed schools I reckon it might have been a couple of hours sooner but really who cares, I am taking the attitude of enjoying the journey as opposed to measuring against milestones. My personal motto for flying is "I have the rest of my life to get it right" (which funnily enough is how I felt on short finals when I glanced at the empty right seat during the solo!)
Guest SAJabiruflyer Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Well done, something to be proud of, it wasnt that long ago I was in your place. I found it's also something that non-aviation types just dont understand, luckily there are lots of nice people on here to congratulate you! :)
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