Another 1st solo announcement!

[Penguina]

I've been looking forward to doing this post for - er, quite a long time... But I can finally say it, I did my first solo yesterday! It went really well, but the best bit was backtracking down the runway basked in glory. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Did anyone else find it all much easier without having some bloke watching over your every move? I got a bit high on approach, but because I was in control, I had no problem doing what I needed to do to sort it out without a fuss and one of my best ever landings (in my limited time so far) followed. Much more relaxing than dual in some ways (even if the whole airfield was watching and I knew it!). . .. .Am now at work. What a contrast. And my colleagues are going to drug me and lock me in a filing cabinet if I get out my log book and point to the bit that says 'in command' one more time... . .. .Anyway, now that it's done, I hope to pass the tedious afternoons joining in with some of your discussions of the finer points!

[CBG]

Well done. I hope you'll always remember this one. We all have different recollections of "how it went".. .. .My own memory is that the old Cessna 152 went like a bomb in the Blackbushe circuit without the instructor's (heavy) weight next to me. What was real nice was the fact the ACT took the time to congrat me despite the many aircrafts he had to deal with. . .. .Enjoy the rest of it and do keep flying after you get your PPL (where do you fly from?).

[djk]

Penguina,. .. .Congratulations <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .I'm hoping to be able to put up an announcement of my own in the next couple of weeks . .. .*sniffles* everyone I know is doing their first solo except me *pout* <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

[Saab Dastard]

WAHAY, Penguina, way to go!! <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" /> . .. .It just gets better.... .. .I've just done my QXC today, so I'm celebrating too <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Funnily enough I'm back at work as well, but there's no-one around to tell - otherwise I'd be pestering them too. SD

[Lawyerboy]

Well done! Now the fun begins... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[Penguina]

Blimey - some replies! Wot a friendly bunch! . .. .WAHAY!!! back to you Saab D. Mutual plaudits all round! Have to admit, the QXC is the bit I'm most brickin' it about, in a kind of can't wait way... Have you done everything now?. .. .CBG - Yep, both those things happened to me too. The congratulations from the tower made me feel like I was in Star Wars or something. Never fear, I have great plans for my PPL - which suddenly looks a good deal closer. . .. .And to djk - believe me, I know how you feel! I was told I'm 'so nearly there' for so very long and was daft enough to tell all my friends the first time my instructor gave me those empty promises , so they kept asking me how it went every time they saw me. Tell you what, though - I was worried it would be an anticlimax after all that waiting, but it wasn't. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .Suppose there'll be a lot more now that spring is nearly upon us.

[djk]

Penguina,. .. .many thanks for the encouragement. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .how long do you think it will be before someone ties you up and gags you or just tells you to stop smiling? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[Simon W]

Well done Penguina! First solo is such a great feeling. First landaway is almost as good..... but not quite. :-). .. .Good luck with the rest of your training.. .. .Simon

[paulo]

First landaway is great too!. .. ."I'VE just turned up in MY plane on MY OWN - LOOK, JUST ME" type swagger into the cafe.. .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />

[Final 3 Greens]

Penguina. .. .Well done - its a special moment.. .. .Lots of people feel that their 2nd and 3rd solos don't go so well as the first: I suspect as their self awareness grows they become more self critical, so just focus on the end of the course and what it will feel like to get that envelope from FCL at Gatwick with the shiny brown folder. .. .You'll be there in no time!. .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[sennadog]

Nice one Penguina! I think that anyone who has ever soloed knows how you feel - hence all the congratulations.. .. .I was at a party last Saturday after having done my first solo and there was a senior RAF chap there who was shaking my hand etc....it's a great feeling. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .I now can't wait for my first away landing myself.. .. .Happy flying all.

[Penguina]

paulo - swaggering's all very well for you, mate, but I've got horrible visions of taxying the wrong way, causing a traffic jam and blocked runway or something. Don't trust myself to be cool at any rate!. .. .djk - well, by 5pm everyone was avoiding me as I beamed into my monitor. At home now - and, er, beaming into my monitor! Give it until maybe next week and I might have stopped, if someone doesn't stop me first. Only fellow right-minded flying types truly understand, eh?. .. .I'll keep an eye out for your 'announcement'. Can we have a blow-by-blow account?! . .. .Thanks for all the congratulations! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[BayAreaLondoner]

Penguina... Sweet! Hope you have the grinning photo for posterity. Don't little planes perform so much better without the instructor? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[LowNSlow]

Congrats penguina and good luck with the rest of the course. Enjoy every minute, you're paying enough for it <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[Hersham Boy]

Nice one, Penguina - it just gets better from this point!. .. .I was flying Saturday and saw a guy out taxiing who joined my flying club at about the time I flew my first solo. After I'd left the circuit on a navex, I heard his instructor make the "returning to xxx, instructor exiting and student to undertake first solo" call. I felt palpable excitement for him as I listened to the calls as he went round!. .. .Redhill Tower (for all their faults?) are also very good about squeezing a congratualtions in during the call - it makes it feel like even more of an achievement when people notice!. .. .Let's do a dance for that long hot Summer <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Hersh. . . . <small>[ 27 March 2002, 08:24: Message edited by: Hersham Boy ]</small>

[deanofs]

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> CONGRATULATIONS and I hope in the months to come to be able to post my news too, I can believe how chuffed you feel and know how much it really means as everyone talks of their first solo....keep it up and keep it safe <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[djk]

Penguina,. .. .of course I'll give a blow-by-blow account. I just wonder how many times I can fit the word "fab" into my announcement <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[siwalker66]

Congratulations Penguina - I hope your flying continues to give you a lot of happiness.. .. .I have really enjoyed reading the recent posts re first solo, partly because I hope to be in a similar position in the not to distant future, but mostly because it is very heartening to read about so many people experiencing such deeply felt pleasure in life. There have been ecstatic posts from people from all sorts of age groups, income groups, from all walks of life.. .Getting rare in these times to see this, and it is becoming a high point of my daily Pprune.. . . . <small>[ 27 March 2002, 23:58: Message edited by: chickenhawk66 ]</small>

[Penguina]

Yes, I always read the first solo posts too, there's something quite compelling about all the different versions of the same experience and the elation people always express makes me smile. I thought about putting this post in the wannabes forum for this reason; they need cheering up over there at the moment. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" /> But I didn't want to face the wrath of the moderators so early in my PpRune career! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .djk - OK, OK, daft question of mine! As a fellow enthusiast I ought to know better! (By the way, if your plane clanks at you while you're up there together, apparently this is just its way of getting to know you better and nothing to worry about! Freaked me out at the time!)

[DKosky]

Penguina,. .. .Just had another lesson today. no solo to report unfortunately. The plane I've been using quite a lot recently G-BIJW has been sent back to the company we hire it from at Biggin Hill.. seems quite a few problems have been developing with it and my school haven't been satisfied with the service they've been getting. And today I found out that my regular instructor quit last week, so now I've got to do a few more hours with a different instructor and convince them that I know what I'm doing <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

[Penguina]

You poor sod! And it was such a perfect day for it too... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" /> Still, it can't be too long though, if you're at that 'could be any day' stage. Maybe the change of instructor will help??? Did me, definitely, even if it did hold me back a few hours (don't ask me how many, you're as likely to get an answer as if you ask my weight!!).. .. .I'm still watching out for your big post soon (no pressure like!). Then I'll race you to first land away! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" />

[DKosky]

Penguina,. .. .Actually I think the change of instructor did me quite a lot of good. I did the best 6 landings I've done for a long time <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .You've got a fair head start on doing the first solo landaway as you'll be working on your solo circuits before I get to even do my first solo.. .. .I'll probably lose the race, but ok. Let me know when you do your first solo land away <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[Penguina]

Yeh, I think it might be a good moment to get a new instructor, it can get pretty stale and demotivating doing circuits to infinity. Sounds good to me! Mmm, I suspect I might win too, actually - but then again, I'll probably be an incompetent navigator, so you never know! Will keep you posted.

[Grim Reaper 14]

I imagine it wouldn't make any difference what your mood was like before your first solo, that experience would make you happy, joyous, beaming, delighted........In fact I think what I'm trying to say is ....what a "p-p-p-pick up eh Penguina?!".

sorry...:rolleyes:

[Penguina]

Grim,

You must be deathly bored to think of such awful puns!

[Ace Rimmer]

Many congrats Penguina T'aint nothing quite like the feeling from the first solo.
I used to think that it was all so much hype and couldn't understand what all the fuss was about - you're just flying a circuit just like you've done umpteen times before…right up until my first solo that is everything seemed pretty normal maybe the a/c accelerated a little faster, ok rate of climb was higher. But the real moment of revelation? About halfway along the crosswind leg I looked to my right and …there was NOBODY there! Slowly but inexorably a grin split my face.
I'm talking about the full Cheshire cat - pig in shi! far too much beer type of grin. I just managed to relax the rictus long enough to make the down wind and finals calls. Then running down final as if on rails a thought stuck me "I could just decide that I'm not happy with the approach and go around - after all the last words my instructor had said were "remember you can always go around and don't forget to have fun" So I would be justified wouldn't I? At that moment the good angel popped on to my shoulder and whispered "You're approach is fine just land and you'll have your reward" The good angle delivered and with the lightest of contacts and just doubled chirp, chirp…rumble from the main gear it was over…"G-TE exit first left and congratulations".
But you know what ? It's not quite the same but the fun never stops

There's more to come: The first navex when landmarks turn up where they should be when they should do - the first solo land away, completing the QXC, hitting your own wake in four successive steep turns.
The first time with a retractable gear and wobbly prop - making that "finals - three greens" call etc etc all have their feelings of smug satisfaction

What about those sunny summer days when you taxi up in front of a load of non flyers at the airport caff, shut down hop out and swagger towards the caff for a sarnie and cup of tea with the "that's right folks I'm a pilot and this aircraft is MY command" kind of expression if not on your face then surely wizzing through your mind?.
Or how about when there a cross wind and a perfect crab down finals is converted with just the right amount of wing down and rudder and levelled just at contact and as the nose lowers you are rewarded with the centreline right in the middle of the windscreen?
What about when you park and as you walk away from the aircraft look back and notice that the nose wheel is bang on the spot?
Then there are those gin clear still days with viz that goes on forever the a/c is perfectly trimmed and you feel like you are just hanging suspended in space with the ground laid out below like a relief map.
Or last w/e for example, I realised another infantile ambition. On receiving parking instructions at EGHH I was able to reply "Copy West ramp between the Friendships. Any preference as to which Fokker you want me closer to?" rapture...
How about standing around the bar hangar flying and learning from the experience and knowledge of those who have gone before and sharing your thoughts with those who follow…priceless

Damn I love to fly

Do ground pounders understand? Nope. Will they ever? Only if they learn to fly

Sorry feeling a bit lyrical this afternoon

[Evo7]

Nice post AR

I was up yesterday for my second solo - less memorable than the first, but a lot more fun. The great advantage of more than one circuit is that there is plenty of time to enjoy it all. Lovely weather, a slightly eratic first circuit but a good landing followed by a couple more smooth touch and goes and then a greaser to full stop. Magic :D :D :D

There was, however, a slight embarrasment. I did two dual circuits first, after which we taxied to the tower and my instructor turned down the radio volume and gave me a few words of encouragement. He then hopped out and I hit the push-to-talk "G-KBPI, request radio check and taxi for circuits, student pilot on board". Silence. um.... "G-KBPI, request radio check". Silence. Instructor waving at me from the tower. What the **** is going on? "G-KBPI, request radio check". Instructor runs up and tells me to stop doing radio checks and turn the volume up because the radio is fine and I'm talking over the top of everyone else.... :o :o :o

Oh well, it was a great session and if that's the dumbest thing I did then not too bad. I'll remember next time.... :)

[sennadog]

Hehe, Evo....:D

My embarrassing moment last Saturday was on my first solo flyaway and back. Sorted everything out and called ready for departure, which was given. I lined up and called the TWR only to be asked if " G-PC, are you lined up on the 19?" which I thought was a bit unusual....:confused:

It turns out that I wasn't even on the RWY but sitting next to it on what I thought was RWY 19 - felt a right prat...:rolleyes:

In my defence, the RWY markings are not that great for a novice at Redhill.

[You want it when?]

Penguina - well played, only managed to solo myself recently. Also can't quite remove the grin yet!!

[paulo]

Penguina,

It's just a case of knowing who you can swagger in front of.

e.g.

(a) The FISO, who, when your turned downwind, pointed out you were heading for the wrong runway. No swagger. (More like 'hiding').

(b) The people in the caff who didn't see this little debacle unfolding. Swagger on!

This is obviously not based on any actual experience, it never happened at Lydd, etc etc...
;) ;)

[Tiger_ Moth]

Pardon me if I hi- jack this "another first solo announcement thread" with : another first solo announcement!:D
The best bit was probably when I realised I was going solo as we turned around on the runway after landing because I had been given the impression that I definetely wasnt going solo that day. It was a complete surprise!
Congratulations penguina, I know how you feel!

[Saab Dastard]

Tiger,

Congrats, well done. :)

Did you do it in a moth?

Cheers

SD

[Thumpango]

Congratulations to those who have gone solo!

Maybe my turn will come one day, I have done so many circuits! Just looking for a sign that today may be 'THE' day.
After 25hrs and some reasonable landings I would have thought that my day should be soon :(

[Evo7]

Tiger_Moth - Congratulations! :D


Thumpango

I've been there. I hit a plateau just below solo standard, so for a while I was doing circuit after circuit and getting nowhere. There was nothing wrong with them, but equally they weren't quite there. After a while things clicked into place. I've been up by myself twice now, and I can't wait to get out of the damn circuit. Feel like I've done hundreds, and there's still flapless and crosswind to go.... :rolleyes:

[LowNSlow]

Congrats Tiger_Moth.

[Penguina]

Congratulations Tiger!

It's nearly 2 weeks on now and I'm still caught gazing into the middle distance with a vague smug grin and dribbling slightly from time to time!

Ace - dammit you're making me want to go flying right NOW. Stop it.

Paulo - He he! Bloody FISOs are very good at sticking metaphorical pins in us novices, aren't they? I still remember being told dryly that I was gabbling and to start again! I tend to creep around the back of the tower when I can to avoid being coupled with the phantom clueless voice!

____________________________________________________
The bird that can't quite fly...

[Tiger_ Moth]

Thanks everyone
SD, why OF COURSE it was in a moth. Nothing else would do!

[Evo7]

Still going to use it for the Navs?

[FlyingForFun]

Congrats to everyone who's soloed recently. But especially to Tiger_Moth. I remember when I first turned up on PPRuNe, you always seemed to take a load of stick off everyone else, and I never figured out why. But well done for sticking it out on PPRuNe and showing everyone, well done on your first solo, and especially well done because it was not only in a tail-dragger, but by all accounts (and I hope to find out for myself one day soon!) not the easiest tail-dragger to fly either! :D

FFF
-------------

[Saab Dastard]

Tiger,

Way to go!

I was at Lahenden last week and saw a couple of tiger moths in formation - what a lovely site and sound.

If I lived near there I'd want to learn on them too. I see your point.:)

SD

[Tiger_ Moth]

Thanks FFF and SD.

Evo 7, yes I will use it for naviagation, why wouldnt I? I think my solo x country doesnt have to be as long as usual because the CAA make allowances for us because of the moths limited range.
I dont know what we do about the radio nav stuff, maybe I get exempted? Ill ask someone next time I'm there.

SD, do you mean Lashenden, is that a gliding place? Where is that? What colour were the moths? Once there was a formation of 4 moths, 2 from cambridge, 2 from somewhere else but unluckily I missed them. That would have been good to see.

[Evo7]

T_M. Just wondered about the time it would take for a qualifying cross country - by all accounts it is a long tiring trip for us spamcanners, and I wondered if it would be too much for a Moth. Didn't realize that you got a shorter trip :)

[steveoxo]

did the same this week, the scariest but most exhilirating experience ever. yes it was easier without instructor. he told me you fly 20 to 30 % better solo, i suppose because you have to with nobody to fall back on. excellent!