Warmtoast (your #7730).
I was as happy as could be. I taxied up, stopped and braked. Try as I did, I couldn’t restrain the broad grin which gripped me
There are few days in life about which you can confidently say: "I'll remember that day as long as I live". Every pilot can recall exactly the detail of his first solo, which of course must always come as a surprise (even as a shock), although you'd been hoping and praying for it.
The realisation that your instructor has so much faith in you, that he will stake his reputation on your ability to do this, buoys you up. You
can't let him down, no time to feel nervous, you know what to do, now get on with it.
In a minute or two it's all over, you've done it ! You're a pilot now, nothing can take that away from you. Of all the flights (perhaps thousands of them) that you will fly in the years to come, nothing can equal this. Have you forgotten the name of the instructor who turned you loose that day ? No, I thought not, and you never will ! (Mine was Bob Greer).
Danny.
