First Solo X-Country Navex

[Lawyerboy]

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Granted, probably not in the same league as your first solo or the QXC, but I'm chuffed all the same. Did my first solo x-country navex yesterday afternoon. Stapleford, o/h Earls Colne, o/h West Mersea and back again.. .. .Should have gone off and done it last December but got held back by the weather, but I don't care, I feel better now than I did after my first solo....he he he.. .. .Just thought I'd share that with you.

[Who has control?]

Congratulations <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .You've left circuit-bashing behind & now you are on the the serious stuff. Personally, I found my 1st QXC more nerve-wracking than 1st solo, and far more satisfying. Just you wait until your first solo landaway. . .I look forward to hearing you on the airwaves over SE Essex.. (Shame we can't use PPrune names rather than call signs. Now THAT would confuse everone.)

[Simon W]

Congrats Lawyerboy!. .. .I have my first solo landaway X-Country today. I actually attempted it last December but due to high winds and me overcompensating I actually got lost (most terrifying experience of my life). Since then the weather has repeatedly cancelled it. Looks like it may be ok this afternoon for another try though. Wycombe &gt; Andover &gt; Blackbushe (land) &gt; Wycombe.. .. .Wish me luck!. .. .Simon. . . . <small>[ 25 March 2002, 10:47: Message edited by: Simon W ]</small>

[Simon W]

Vis is too bad today. Going to try tomorrow instead.

[FlyingForFun]

Well done, Lawyerboy - major acheivement, you're a "real" pilot now!. .. .Simon, good luck for tomorrow. I bet you learnt a whole lot by getting lost in December! How did you find your way back???. .. .FFF. .-----------

[Simon W]

FlyingForFun,. .. .After circling around for a bit I changed to 121.5 and asked for a training fix. It turned out I was only about 3-4 miles off course but at this point I was not in the right frame of mind to continue on. I turned around and headed straight back to base. One good thing that came out of the whole mess was that I now know that 121.5 really DOES work and they couldn't have been more friendly. The experience has definetely knocked my confidence but hopefully I will get it right the second time.. .. .Simon. . . . <small>[ 25 March 2002, 11:40: Message edited by: Simon W ]</small>

[FlyingForFun]

Well done Simon. Don't let the experience knock your confidence - instead, realise that you're a better pilot because of it.. .. .You know that 121.5 works, and that you'll be able to get help if you need it. You also know that if you do get lost, it's likely to only be a matter of a few miles, and not be a major problem. And, knowing this, if you ever find yourself "temporarily uncertain of your position" again, you'll be able to remain much more calm, and fix your position without any trouble!. .. .FFF. .---------

[bertiethebadger]

Well done Lawyerboy & good luck Simon, espescially at Blackbushe ( try not to hit a Warrior while on the ground <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> )

[LowNSlow]

Well done Lawyerboy & good luck Simon, good words of advice FFF. D&D is a wonderful service, not that I've ever got lost of course.......

[Kirstey]

Was pootling around Kent yesterday - picked up a gem of a comment on London Info - Guy was doing is QXC and lost. . .. .London: "Where were you last certain of your position". .. .pilot: "About two minutes after I took off from Coventry!" . .. .very funny but sorted quickly and painlessly

[sennadog]

Congratulations! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> When I'm a grown up (finished circuit bashing in other words) I aspire to a bit of Solo X Country!. .. .Glad you enjoyed it!

[Hersham Boy]

Good work, chaps - I did my second solo navex on Saturday. Great Wx, great vis and thoroughly enjoyed it. Used the VOR to obtain a couple of cross-ref'ed QDMs to ensure I was where I thought I was... it's good to know you really DO know how to use the equipment provided!. .. .Land away next - Southend, I think. *Gulp*. .. .Hersh. . . . <small>[ 25 March 2002, 16:22: Message edited by: Hersham Boy ]</small>

[Whirlybird]

Lawyerboy,. .. .Congrats! My first solo nav was the highlight of my PPL(A). My first solo I found a complete anti-climax; it had taken me ages to get there, I just wanted to get on and do the rest of the course, and the fuss about it annoyed me. But my first solo nav, wow! A wonderful sunny day, and I was out on my own, flying round the country, doing what I'd always really wanted to do. I didn't want it to end.. .. .Simon,. .. .I know how you feel. I got lost a few weeks after getting my PPL, very lost - I got found when I finally called D & D and discovered I was three miles from Birmingham Airport <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> Birmingham Approach directed me out of their airspace and on my way home, and though everyone said I'd done all the right things (if a little late!) it knocked my confidence quite a bit. Don't worry, it's normal, and as you fly more it'll come back.

[Saab Dastard]

Nice one Lawyerboy, I know what you mean, it's a great feeling.. .. .Like Whirly, my solo wasn't a big deal as I had done a lot of gliding before (solo), but the cross country was a big step.. .. .I remember my second (I'd done a fair bit of dual nav by then) excursion out of the circuit - the instructor said "why not pop down to the Isle of Wight", so I did and it was a fabulous flight. Clear, smooth, no nav or r/t problems - it was a delight. I remember the view of the cliffs at St. Catherines Point from 3000 ft with a sea fog just creeping over the tops - magic. . .. .Did my confidence no end of good, too. How can you get lost when you can see where you are going and where you've been all at the same time, practically!. .. .SD

[Dykesar]

Yea. .. .Did my first solo X-country last week got my next tomorrow. Now it feels like progress is being made. Hope the weather keeps up.

[Lawyerboy]

Thanks all for the replies - and good luck Simon W, I hope the weather holds out for you.. .. .Quite right, Whirly, I didn't want it to end. Without a shadow of a doubt the most enjoyable flight I've had so far, particularly because there were moments, between FREDA checks and looking out for the next recognisable landmark, when for the first time ever I actually sat back, relaxed, realised that the a/c was set up just right, that I on the right heading, that everything was actually going well and I could just enjoy being there. . .. .I didn't realise it was possible to spend an entire hour with a fixed grin on your face but I seem to have managed it. Fantastic.

[Simon W]

I got my first solo navex landaway in today. Lovely clear vis, maybe a bit bumpy. My arrival at Blackbushe was not as smooth as I liked, almost got charged for about 4 landing fees ;-). Overall, a nice day to do it in. :-). .. .Simon. . . . <small>[ 26 March 2002, 18:25: Message edited by: Simon W ]</small>

[Whirlybird]

Lawyerboy,. .. .That last post takes me right back. It was nearly 4 years ago, and I remember like it was yesterday, just sitting there, checks done, knew where I was, radio bit done, and I could sit and look at the view and as you say, for the first time, just RELAX and enjoy it. It really was as I'd always imagined it, when I said that I wanted to learn to fly. I'd begun to wonder as I'd struggled through training. Still the best moment I remember.