1st solo
Congratulations on your solo.
I'll never forget mine, done at Cranfield in the summer of 2003. I was just 10 hours into my PPL, had flown around a bit for the afternoon and done a few circuits. We landed on R22 as it was then and my instructor asked me to pull over, got onto the tower and announced my fist solo and I was off. A mixture of nerves and euphoria but a day i'll never forget. Cranfield is quite busy at times so it was just the one circuit that afternoon.
I'll never forget mine, done at Cranfield in the summer of 2003. I was just 10 hours into my PPL, had flown around a bit for the afternoon and done a few circuits. We landed on R22 as it was then and my instructor asked me to pull over, got onto the tower and announced my fist solo and I was off. A mixture of nerves and euphoria but a day i'll never forget. Cranfield is quite busy at times so it was just the one circuit that afternoon.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: South Norfolk, England
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Well done ... nothing like it is there?
Mine was in a Blanik glider singing of all things "Lilly the pink" When I got down, everybody was laughing .... I didn't realise the sound could carry so far!
SS
Mine was in a Blanik glider singing of all things "Lilly the pink" When I got down, everybody was laughing .... I didn't realise the sound could carry so far!
SS
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Congrats on the solo!
Mine was almost a year ago and 10 minutes in length but, save the radio calls, I spent the whole 10 minutes of it utter profanities under my breath. Now, 5 or so solo flights (long ones, at that) later, I've only just stopped swearing every time my instructor gets out of the ac...
Mine was almost a year ago and 10 minutes in length but, save the radio calls, I spent the whole 10 minutes of it utter profanities under my breath. Now, 5 or so solo flights (long ones, at that) later, I've only just stopped swearing every time my instructor gets out of the ac...
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Nice one Jizman keep going..
My first solo was 27th July 2006 from Cumbernauld in G-BUMP (PA 28-181). I had just been up for a regular circuit bash with my instructor and got down taxied back to the apron and out he came with the "fancy doing one yourself" line..
After an abundance of profanities, from myself - not the instructor, the door was closed and latched and head down to the checklist. I think I went through the checklist a couple of times before calling up the tower to say I was off to do the powerchecks.. stuttering all the way..
What a feeling rolling down the runway and lifting off - punching the air (where the instructor should have been!) and even more profanities prior to the downwind checks.. Settled down and concentrated for the landing which must have been ok as I survived and someone took the plane out after me!!
Pulled up outside the hangar and shutdown and my instructor came back down from the tower.. Picture taken on mobile phone of me looking relieved / exhausted / exhillarated and then I jumped down and kissed the tarmac!
I will never forget that day.. On the way home afterwards - G'nR's Paradise City blaring out of the car stereo - some coffin dodger almost ran me off the road - driving down the wrong side! Think the sky is safer!!
30 odd hours in now and looking forward to going solo moreso...
My first solo was 27th July 2006 from Cumbernauld in G-BUMP (PA 28-181). I had just been up for a regular circuit bash with my instructor and got down taxied back to the apron and out he came with the "fancy doing one yourself" line..
After an abundance of profanities, from myself - not the instructor, the door was closed and latched and head down to the checklist. I think I went through the checklist a couple of times before calling up the tower to say I was off to do the powerchecks.. stuttering all the way..
What a feeling rolling down the runway and lifting off - punching the air (where the instructor should have been!) and even more profanities prior to the downwind checks.. Settled down and concentrated for the landing which must have been ok as I survived and someone took the plane out after me!!
Pulled up outside the hangar and shutdown and my instructor came back down from the tower.. Picture taken on mobile phone of me looking relieved / exhausted / exhillarated and then I jumped down and kissed the tarmac!
I will never forget that day.. On the way home afterwards - G'nR's Paradise City blaring out of the car stereo - some coffin dodger almost ran me off the road - driving down the wrong side! Think the sky is safer!!
30 odd hours in now and looking forward to going solo moreso...
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Yeah I got exactly the same 'fancy doing one on your own' line! Just spent the whole afternoon studying air law
Got most of it, just trying to get to grips with the airspaces!
Got most of it, just trying to get to grips with the airspaces!
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1st solo
A sweaty palm a pounding heart,my chest feels really tight,
I must keep calm and do somehow this my first solo flight.
Iv'e called the tower I'm cleared to go to line up at the holding zone,
a burst of power and now I know what thousands before me have known.
At 55 knots she unsticks clean,the tension starts to deplete, I look over
my shoulder then look away quick at the sight of the empty seat.
I call downwind,I'm nearly there,I'm doing ok so far, we're all alone
up in the air, just me and "Bravo-Papa"
On finals at last, full flap out, 65 knots on the clock, over the hedge
and without a doubt,a landing not many would knock.
So as I taxi in,a happy bloke, grinning like a fool,
this is the happiest day of my life, a bit like the day i left school.
Please forgive this bit of self-indulgence but I was "moved" to put my first-solo experience down on paper when I did mine on Dec 29th 1977.
It was in Chipmunk G-BDBP at Tollerton. I will never forget it .
I must keep calm and do somehow this my first solo flight.
Iv'e called the tower I'm cleared to go to line up at the holding zone,
a burst of power and now I know what thousands before me have known.
At 55 knots she unsticks clean,the tension starts to deplete, I look over
my shoulder then look away quick at the sight of the empty seat.
I call downwind,I'm nearly there,I'm doing ok so far, we're all alone
up in the air, just me and "Bravo-Papa"
On finals at last, full flap out, 65 knots on the clock, over the hedge
and without a doubt,a landing not many would knock.
So as I taxi in,a happy bloke, grinning like a fool,
this is the happiest day of my life, a bit like the day i left school.
Please forgive this bit of self-indulgence but I was "moved" to put my first-solo experience down on paper when I did mine on Dec 29th 1977.
It was in Chipmunk G-BDBP at Tollerton. I will never forget it .
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Minnesota
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In a C152 in Minnesota. I was practicing touch and goes with my FI when he said “Make this one a full stop”. When I stopped he got out and said, “Off you go” then he closed the door and walked away. I was petrified. My legs started shaking on the rudder bar as I thought “Well you knew this was coming”.
Taxied to the runway, legs shaking all the way. After completing the requisite checks I taxied onto the runway and opened throttle. All was well until I pulled back gently on the yoke, as she lifted off I thought “Oh sh!t, now I have to land it!” Strangely it was about then that my legs stopped shaking.
3 uneventful full stops and taxi backs later it was all over, but my heart was still airborne.
I think it was 3 days before it rejoined me on the ground. I was 52 years old, and a pilot!
Regards,
White Bear.
Taxied to the runway, legs shaking all the way. After completing the requisite checks I taxied onto the runway and opened throttle. All was well until I pulled back gently on the yoke, as she lifted off I thought “Oh sh!t, now I have to land it!” Strangely it was about then that my legs stopped shaking.
3 uneventful full stops and taxi backs later it was all over, but my heart was still airborne.
I think it was 3 days before it rejoined me on the ground. I was 52 years old, and a pilot!
Regards,
White Bear.
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Congrats.
I got a variation on the "fancy doing one on your own" theme, with "I think you've scared the S$%£ out of me enough....p£^s off!" It worked, I surivived and loving every second of it! I shall have to scare instructors more often.
OS
I got a variation on the "fancy doing one on your own" theme, with "I think you've scared the S$%£ out of me enough....p£^s off!" It worked, I surivived and loving every second of it! I shall have to scare instructors more often.
OS
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My 1st solo was Yesterday - and it was awesome.. definetly an experience to remember for life. I think I flew the best I have ever flown on my own!. My circuit felt perfect and my landing was my best one yet.. kissed the runway.
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My 1st solo was Yesterday - and it was awesome.. definetly an experience to remember for life. I think I flew the best I have ever flown on my own!. My circuit felt perfect and my landing was my best one yet.. kissed the runway.
As many have noted, the feeling once having gotten the thing off the ground is ... whoops, now I have to land the thing
First flights in single-seat gliders get the butterflies up as you get to figure out the handling all by yourself real quick
First flights in single-seat gliders get the butterflies up as you get to figure out the handling all by yourself real quick
