The Dream- First solo

[Guest g_i_jack029]

Its been a while since i've been on TAA but i knew i had to make this post one day. My First Solo!

 

After 15 months of flight training, mainly waiting for my 16th birthday and ALOT of letters back and forth to casa, the time had come. After my Trial flight and watching the instructor work his magic, i have since dreamed of going up by myself. Every time i have thought about this moment since my first flight lesson, it has given me tingles from head to toe.

 

Sunday 9th May,

 

Woke up bright and early only to be disappointed to see fog out the windows. So i call the local AWIS, cloud overcast 5,300ft and wind 100@3. From this phone call onwards i was borderline nervous, today could be the day. Coming into the city and looking at the trees, no branches swaying, not even the slightest flicker of movement from the leaves, i became nervous. Trying to take my mind off things i pull out an aviation mag, quiet happily flicking through the pages and reading articles until i stumble across a heading that says "FANTASTIC FIRST SOLO!" Save that article for later. lol

 

Arriving at the airport i just knew it! Beautiful morning, just perfect for flying and definitely a first solo opportunity!

 

Preflight the aircraft, run-ups and out we go for a session of circuits. As soon as we were flying, i was focused, no nerves, i have to prove to my instructor that today was the day. After about an hour of circuits he makes a strange call, "Tecnam in the circuit, how many more circuits do you think you will be doing?" Heartbeat from a stable 70 to about 225BPM. UH OH!

 

We do a couple more circuits until the tecnam had finished up and then my instructor told me to call it a full stop. I try to relax as much as i can. After a good landing he tells me to backtrack, as normal. Then he says the words that i've been waiting for "Do you wanna go solo?" My reply nearly made him fall off his seat, "Ah, nah maybe not today" i say calmly. I get a shocked look, "Serious?!" I can't help but grin and say, "Of course i want to!"

 

Line up at the end of the runway, just before he gets out of the aircraft he tells me "Have fun." As i let him walk away from the aircraft, i stare down the runway and then look at the empty seat next to me. The most nervous i have been in a long long long time!

 

.....Full power and maintain that center line. 60kts, rotate. Having read a lot of first solo stories, nearly all of them mentioned how quickly it got off the ground. I never really thought about it much but wow it wanted to get off the ground in a big hurry! At 200ft, lower first stage of flaps. From this point onwards my nerves had just disappeared!

 

Turn crosswind, i take a glance back at the runway and was surprised how high and close i was to the runway! that weight really made a difference. Level off at 1000ft and anticipate my downwind turn. Made my lookout, rolled into the turn and made my radio call.

 

I quickly get onto my downwind checks so i can enjoy this moment. I look down at the airstrip and smile to myself, a quick check back at my height and power, both are perfect. And i am still to this day amazed how once i hit the 200ft mark i was relaxed, a calmness just came over me for the remainder of the flight. The view this time from the air was incredible! I just appreciated the scenery so much more

 

Turn onto Base, get the speed down, flaps out and lose that height. Turn final and try to get my height correct, i come out just under 100ft higher than i should. But this didn't bother me one bit. A few times with my instructor, i had came out high on final in the lesson i had just done (more than 100ft) and got it down fine.

 

Coming in over the clearing before the airport fence, my height and speed was nearly perfect. Over the airport fence i began reducing power. No nerves whatsoever! I began my flare, nose up a bit, bit more bit more and finally touched down. It wasn't my best landing, just the average landing. Nothing to comment on, just try and do it that little bit better next time.

 

Taxied back to the hangar, shut her down and just sat there with a smile. I got out and was greeted by my instructor. Said his congratulations and shook my hand.

 

Debriefed and called it a day.

 

What a confidence builder!!! let me tell ya!!! i could have kept going until the engine was running on fumes! That single circuit was the funnest thing i have done in my life! The most incredible experience i've been through in my 16 years.

 

That Big scary dream of going solo became a reality. This was my dream, to be able to fly a plane all by myself and be able to do it with perfection....and not kill myself. oh and i eventually did read that first solo report. He described it perfectly!

 

Happy and safe flying to all

 

Jack

 

 

[Guest aviatrix27]

Jack

 

Welcome back! I'm so thrilled for you, all that waiting must have been driving you nuts. You will never forget 9th May 2010, you may eventually forget the date but the feeling of your first solo will be with you forever.

 

Keep up the good work. I daresay soon you will be telling us about passing your GFPT and starting cross country training for your PPL.

 

Like your instructor said, have fun!

 

 

[Guest Glenn]

Welcome back Jack and congratulations on finally going solo, it has been a long wait for you.

 

Onwards and upwards from now on. All the best for future flights :thumbup:

 

 

 

[Coop]

Well done Jack. Brought back the goose bumps I felt... although in my case there was no engine noise (because there was no engine).

 

NOw the fun starts and the learning really begins....

 

Coop

 

 

[siznaudin]

Beautifully written, Jack - and heartiest congratulations. I wish you a wonderful, enjoyable and above all, safe, flying future.

 

 

[Guest g_i_jack029]

Thanks guys, can't wait for second solo!

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Jack, an awesome read! Reading these always takes me back to mine and let me tell you mate, what they all say about 'you will never forget it' is so so true. The stuff dreams are made of mate! A massive congrats to you again buddy. Blue skies and limp windsocks!!!

 

PS Isn't it an awesome feeling to have that control of the beautiful machine in your hands? Everytime I fly I still feel it.

 

 

[Guest g_i_jack029]

2nd Solo!

 

half an dual, instructor told me to call it a full stop. I knew it was another solo :) although it was a little breezy and bumpy, but he said i handled it fine. Some nerves as he jumped out, but nothing like the first solo.

 

Full power and off i went, bit skiddy as it approached 60kts and some crosswind. Rotated and off i went for anything up to 3 touch and go's and full stop.

 

1st circuit was pretty good, nice landing but was off centre a little because of the x-wind. 2nd Circuit was ok, slightly high on part of my downwind, but no big deal, got her down in a few seconds. Lined up nicely with extended centreline but landed a bit flat. was pretty disappointed with that attempt because i know i can do much better.

 

3rd circuit had a small event lol. turning downwind i hear another aircraft call 5mile Straight in. with this in mind as i turned base, calling for a full stop, i hear the aircraft call my callsign and tells me he hasn't sighted me and where am i. i respond "*Callsign*, on base, have you at my 1 o'clock." After repeating this transmittion, was told that the first one was unreadable, he asked if there was room for him to slot in infront and me tag behind or something, i dunno. i just replied "Unlikely." I hear him speak up and say, joins upwind or going around or something like that.

 

everything worked pretty well.....except apparently my radio at times.

 

So i turned final and called it a day. Happy with the flight in general, had to deal with a bit of wind and traffic (but wasn't a close call), bit more confidence and experience. Another .5 for the "Command" section :)

 

And thanks Daz, is an incredible feeling