chrisb Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Just did my first solo flight today at lilydale in a jabiru, 9am, nice warm day, little wind I had a fairly good idea it was going to be today First did a few circuits with the instructor, then i was on my own Fist thing I did was msg wife, brother and best friend then turn phone off. Taxied, did checks, radio calls etc got onto runway OK take off time, full throttle the it all of a sudden, HOLY $#!+, I am veering to the left extremely fast, press the right rudder pedal, that's better but not working enough, Im going fast now, but not fast enough to take off, stop? no i wont stop in time, i must straighten up first? stamp the right peddle even harder, ok better going straight now, f**k, my left wing is definitely going over the cones on the side of the runway now, and take off very very nervous and re-leaved. YAY few, ok 500ft AAL flaps up, fuel pump, on wait no off, crap I didnt turn it on :( Reach circuit height before crosswind turn, no traffic turn, no traffic downwind turn, ok wow im several 100's of ft too high. throttle below cruise, do checks, all good, still way to high, throttle way back no traffic, radio call, base turn, height speed good no traffic, final turn, lined up, profile, height, speed all good carby heat, is.. already... off?? ok almost there round out, balloon a bit, touch down and bounce, float a fair way down the runway and finally a smooth landing. exit runway, radio call, do checks, hmmm fuel pump is off taxi back to instructor, shutdown, still shaking nervously and so ended my first solo tldr What I learned is: I can do a solo circuit I missed certain things in my checks, e.g. fuel pump, carby heat I need to learn how to steer better on the ground 5 7
ayavner Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 congrats and well-done, its a great feeling!! it is amazing how quickly it gets ahead of you when you add nerves, my first one I could barely remember even right after it was done!
biggles Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Well done Chris . You have probably discussed the flight with your instructor and critiqued your own performance as well ,as most of us did . I'm sure many of us also forgot to do certain things . I know I did ! But you did get back safely , and next time you will do even better. Best to take your time ,thereby ensuring that all the pre take off checks are done correctly , and also have the cards available for a quick check when in the circuit . Things happen much faster , eg. Rate of climb ,when the instructor gets out . Bob
Pilot Pete Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Congrats.............It really is a buzz aint it..
chrisb Posted January 23, 2014 Author Posted January 23, 2014 the almost crashing at the start set the nerves for the rest of the circuit. I could still feel it when i was filling out my log book there was no discussion with the instructor rate of climb was about double with no instructor rate of sink on final i was able to get right was it a buzz???, not really dual to solo varies too much and i had to fly a bit differently, more concentration was needed for my first solo then what i normally needed
Pilot Pete Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Just relax and enjoy not having the instructor watching over you.
chrisb Posted January 23, 2014 Author Posted January 23, 2014 Instructor watching me never bothered me
Neil_S Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Well done, Chris. You can only ever have one first solo! I still remember being surprised at the different flying characteristics without an instructor in the plane - reaching circuit height a lot quicker. I also forgot to lower flaps to 30 on final, and landed with them at 15, which my eagle-eyed instructor spotted from the ground (solution - buy a Gazelle as it has no flaps ) Keep us posted with your progress! Cheers, Neil
DrZoos Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 What an awesome picture you painted...... I rode every moment when i read that.
mAgNeToDrOp Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Well done, the pull to the left also caught me out on first solo, before i knew it i was heading 45 deg bound for the sticks, but i bugged out, turned around and tried again, (I think I must've buried the throttle too quickly being a bit nervous the first time and the torque caught me out)
planedriver Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Well done Chris. I bet we know what you dreamed about last night:plane:?
rankamateur Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Do think they would sell that adrenalin in easy swallow capsules, sure would be good to be able to carry that feeling around in your pocket to pop one every now and then. Makes your hands shake when you realise what you have done though.
chrisb Posted January 24, 2014 Author Posted January 24, 2014 Thanx Yeah that first pull to the left just wound me right up for the entire circuit, 0.3 hours solo, got a lot more to do
Tomo Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Awesome!! Well done. Don't stress to much now about what you missed or didn't do... the fact is you "knew" you missed it or did it not quite right afterwards, which to me, tells me that you know your stuff. Love it! 1
Doug Evans Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 Congratulation Chris Much more fun to come Enjoy ".
chrisb Posted January 27, 2014 Author Posted January 27, 2014 Oh yeah still waiting for my next lesson, this wednesday should be good Only problem with learning is concentrating so much on doing circuits, I miss looking out of the plane and simply enjoying the landscape and ground as i fly over it at a few hundred meters 1
Doug Evans Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 It come with time but u always be busy at that stage of flight ....
Butzull Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 Congratulations Chris, well done! Onwards and upwards! Gav.
ozbear Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 Well done Chris you didn't panic or freeze when the pressure was on and you spotted your own mistakes your well on the way to being a good pilot 1
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