1990 in a K13 at Cosford. I knew it was coming because every first solo flight had a series of three cable breaks, low, intermediate and high before being sent off. My instructor by the way was the late Mick 'Sneaky' Davis. I remember shouting at the top of my lungs 'Yeahhhhhh!!!' when I released the cable, I'm surprised they didn't hear me on the deck. I was floating on air for the next couple of days; utter elation.
Powered was an absolute non event, just something to get out of the way. C172, early evening. Did it, went home. In powered training the big 'Yeahh!' moment for me was finishing the qualifying cross country. That certainly had a nice feel to it.
I last 'flew' with Mick three years ago when I visited Cosford on my way to Kemble and Mick flew with me part of the way in formation in his Christen Eagle. A gifted pilot sadly gone before his time.