Well, wasnt sure where to put this, Mazzys or here so tossed a coin and here I am.
Been doing circuits for a few hours and at first just couldnt get it.
The first attempts at circuits and landings were in blustery conditions and my instructor aborted the lesson after the first attempt at a landing.
Twice this happened.
At last we got into a full hours lesson and proceeded to do a few touch and goes. This first lesson was more demonstrations with me attempting it while my instructor had his hands and feet firmly on the controls to make sure we got down and away again in one piece.
2nd session came along and I just couldnt get it.
Flare too late, too early and when i got it right, started to balloon (not too bad though) ah well, next time I told myself.
3rd session came and what do you know, I was landing, not too bad and consistent until the final landing, great approach, power off and round out at 10 - 15 feet, flying level and then the dreaded balloon. Arghhh.
4th session came along and it wasnt too bad a day (wednesday just gone) not too hot, or too windy and into the circuits i went once more.
Approach good, flare good and nicely levelled out, slowly dropped towards the runway holding the nose up and touchdown, good start to the day.
Four more of the same followed with some EFTO (engine failure on takeoff) practices and then the final to land.
All good and then taxied back to the apron where my instructor called the tower to announce a crew change, captains name and told them it was to be my first solo.
Turned to me and said "you OK?, off you go then"
GULP, no time to worry, Radioed for taxi,
Cleared to taxy to Bravo and hold.
Taxied to Bravo, power checks completed, called ready for departure.
Cleared to line up and wait 21.
Lined up and then got the call" cleared take of 21, left hand circuit"
This was it, no time to worry, off I went, climbed out quite fast without my instructor at my side, 500' and turned to climb to 1000'.
Levelled out and turned for downwind leg, called downwind to land.
Report final, no 1 to land was the reply.
Completed checks, BUMPFICHH, still no time to take it in that i was alone and then i was turning left base.
Carb heat, power back to 1800 and 1st stage of flap down, keep speed at 80 knots.
This was it.
Turned onto final approach, made the call and then as the runway was ahead of me, it started to hit me that this was really it, I was on my own.
500', 2nd stage of flap and the runway loomed ever larger.
Kept my aiming point in the same point of the screen all the way down, power back, round out and fly it straight and level, slowly dropping and trying to keep the nose off until the last possible minute, remembering everything I had been taught, then a little bump and I was down.
Tower came on the radio with "backtrack 21, exit via alpha to park on the apron and congratulations"
I duly came to a halt as instructed and emerged to greet my instructor.
I was grinning from ear to ear as he shook my hand and congratulated me.
What a feeling.
Its a one off and you have yours to come still Ben.
Enjoy it mate, theres no finer feeling.