First Solo's...when was yours and what in?
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First Solo's...when was yours and what in?
Hi all,
Was having a chat in the crew room the other day about first solos. Just wondered when and what in other peoples were...and any memories from them.
Cheers
Tiger
Was having a chat in the crew room the other day about first solos. Just wondered when and what in other peoples were...and any memories from them.
Cheers
Tiger
Red On, Green On
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First solo - C-150 at Leavesden, as we were not allowed to do solo circuits at Luton - I had an RAF flying scholarship at Luton Flying Club in Aug 1977.
First Mil solo - Chipmunk WD374 at Roborough 20 Nov 78 - just one solo circuit, FHT in the pm.
First RW solo - Gazelle XW861 from CU, but at Predannack 14 Jan 80
First Mil solo - Chipmunk WD374 at Roborough 20 Nov 78 - just one solo circuit, FHT in the pm.
First RW solo - Gazelle XW861 from CU, but at Predannack 14 Jan 80
Last edited by airborne_artist; 15th Mar 2006 at 17:28.
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Solo in a tutor with the University Air Squadron. Just after one landed in a field in Whiltshire.
I believe i was the last person to fly (well, for only 4 mins) a tutor prior to the fleet grounding in 2004. Fortunately my prop didnt fall to bits.
I believe i was the last person to fly (well, for only 4 mins) a tutor prior to the fleet grounding in 2004. Fortunately my prop didnt fall to bits.
First gliding solo - T21 Sedbergh at Merryfield with the RAF GSA in 1967.
First solo - C-150 at Cranfield - I had an RAF Scholarship at the Bedfordshire School of Flying in Mar 1968.
First Mil solo - Chipmunk at White Waltham in Feb 69 - just one circuit.
First solo - C-150 at Cranfield - I had an RAF Scholarship at the Bedfordshire School of Flying in Mar 1968.
First Mil solo - Chipmunk at White Waltham in Feb 69 - just one circuit.
Last edited by BEagle; 15th Mar 2006 at 16:22.
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Viking glider with the ATC aged 16 at what used to be Catterick (I think it's called Marne Barracks and belongs to the Army now who appear to have built all manner of things on the airfield / runway).
Ant
Ant
Just checked my log book to find it is exactly 29 years ago tomorrow! UAS Bulldog, canopy slid open as I applied full power! Instructor in the tower never spotted it though! Never told until now.
Gentleman Aviator
Glider solo at Swanton Morely (sp?) Summer 1965
FW first solo on Chipmunk WG 308 at Rufforth 19th August 1968
Rotary first solo on Sioux XV 311 at Ternhill 5th November 1969
.... ain't logbooks wonderful ......
FW first solo on Chipmunk WG 308 at Rufforth 19th August 1968
Rotary first solo on Sioux XV 311 at Ternhill 5th November 1969
.... ain't logbooks wonderful ......
HeliFirst
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1st solo ever- Sep1970 C172 Nairobi East Africa (PPL/A)
1st Mil solo - Sep 1972 JP Mk 3 (RAF) Topcliffe Yorks
1st Heli Sol - Apr 1976 Gazelle (RN) Culdrose Cornwall
1st Mil solo - Sep 1972 JP Mk 3 (RAF) Topcliffe Yorks
1st Heli Sol - Apr 1976 Gazelle (RN) Culdrose Cornwall
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Chipmunk at Hamble in 1973 - SUAS; just the one circuit and the only Captain time I logged until many years later when:
First Solo Again in a Tutor (location and unit witheld to preserve anonimity) - went round three times trying to make a landing that I considered worth staying down from. Chief instructor was probably having a canary in the tower but I was enjoying myself!
First Solo Again in a Tutor (location and unit witheld to preserve anonimity) - went round three times trying to make a landing that I considered worth staying down from. Chief instructor was probably having a canary in the tower but I was enjoying myself!
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Tiger Moth Birmingham Airport 1958 as part of my flying scholarship.
And the man who sent me solo, a retired Wg Cdr Eric Bradley AFC went solo himself in a Maurice Farman "pusher" in 1916 after 2 hours fifteen minutes "Dual".
It seems that every evening the groundcrew would collect all the bits of Farmans from around the airfield and re-assemble them into aircraft by the morning. The instructor stood on the wing clinging to the struts trying to shout above the noise of the engine.
Little wonder the students were sent solo as quickly as possible!
And the man who sent me solo, a retired Wg Cdr Eric Bradley AFC went solo himself in a Maurice Farman "pusher" in 1916 after 2 hours fifteen minutes "Dual".
It seems that every evening the groundcrew would collect all the bits of Farmans from around the airfield and re-assemble them into aircraft by the morning. The instructor stood on the wing clinging to the struts trying to shout above the noise of the engine.
Little wonder the students were sent solo as quickly as possible!
1st FW solo: one of Ted Girdler's C-152's at Manston, 2 Sep 1995. Most natural thing in the world, singing all the way round while imaging myself as a steely-eyed Harrier pilot in 5-6 years time....
1st RW solo: one of FBH's Squirrels at Ternhill, early 2001. Scariest 5 mins of my life, $hitting myself all the way round while imagining myself as a smoking hole in the Salop countryside.
1st RW solo: one of FBH's Squirrels at Ternhill, early 2001. Scariest 5 mins of my life, $hitting myself all the way round while imagining myself as a smoking hole in the Salop countryside.