I remember my first solo...
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I remember my first solo...
We surely all remember that first time when the instructor got out and left you to it. My recollection is of feeling fine on take off, but as I turned crosswind (to the right), on looking to the right I realised that there was no-one sitting next to me! I could feel everything I'd learned start to drain out of my head; gave myself a good, stiff talking to, and by the time I'd made my downwind checks, I was singing happily to myself! Made a pretty good landing, if I say so myself. What's your recollection of your momentous day??
Hovering AND talking
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Not having my instructor's couple of hundredweight as ballast! Shot up like a rocket!
Then, on downwind leg, it suddenly dawning on me that I was the commander; captain, it was my aircraft and my decisions ...
Devil on my left shoulder: Shall I go around for the hell of it?
Angel on my right: No, he'll kill me.
DOMLS:Your helicopter, he's not to know you OK with the approach. Go on, go around, have another go.
AOMRS: He'll kill me!
In the end, like a good girl, I landed after one circuit. My instructor (Capt. 2cwt) said, "Oh, I expected you to go-around and have another go; I did on my first solo!)
In all honesty though, my first solo cross-country was more memorable.
Cheers
Whirls
Then, on downwind leg, it suddenly dawning on me that I was the commander; captain, it was my aircraft and my decisions ...
Devil on my left shoulder: Shall I go around for the hell of it?
Angel on my right: No, he'll kill me.
DOMLS:Your helicopter, he's not to know you OK with the approach. Go on, go around, have another go.
AOMRS: He'll kill me!
In the end, like a good girl, I landed after one circuit. My instructor (Capt. 2cwt) said, "Oh, I expected you to go-around and have another go; I did on my first solo!)
In all honesty though, my first solo cross-country was more memorable.
Cheers
Whirls
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I mostly remember the frustration on my first first solo, which caused all the nerves to disappear on my second first solo.
First first solo. I taxi out, all hyped up of course. Adrenaline above the eyeballs. Run-up checks, 250+ RPM drop on left. Agressive leaning wouldn't cure it so back to the apron. Very frustrated.
Second first solo, a few minutes later in another aircraft. I had already expended all my adrenaline so it was rather a non-event. Three very acceptable full stops/taxibacks then back to the school. The only thing I really remember was the "well done, congratulations" from the tower.
They were changing the spark plug on aircraft nr. 1 as I taxied back in. And since I had the intention to fly, I could legally actually write both sorties in my logbook. (But in the end, I didn't.)
First first solo. I taxi out, all hyped up of course. Adrenaline above the eyeballs. Run-up checks, 250+ RPM drop on left. Agressive leaning wouldn't cure it so back to the apron. Very frustrated.
Second first solo, a few minutes later in another aircraft. I had already expended all my adrenaline so it was rather a non-event. Three very acceptable full stops/taxibacks then back to the school. The only thing I really remember was the "well done, congratulations" from the tower.
They were changing the spark plug on aircraft nr. 1 as I taxied back in. And since I had the intention to fly, I could legally actually write both sorties in my logbook. (But in the end, I didn't.)
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I remember my left leg shaking un-controllably. Fortunately, it was a right -hand circuit using 08 at Elstree. It was the aero-club annual BBQ that same night, and we all got absolutely hammered, including the legendary instructor who sent me ! Happy days.
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So, there I was...
The only thing I recall on my first solo was that I talked to myself quite a lot.
It was my second solo a few weeks later which had the drama..well, for me anyway. Because the runway direction had changed from all the flights during my training (intensive two weeks flying) I was so spooked I couldn't land the plane. On my third attempt as I was half-way down finals, I looked down and saw some people walking in a field with upturned faces. That was when I experienced the the other side of "Better to be down here wishing you were up there...."
I landed safely then and have landed happily ever after....
The only thing I recall on my first solo was that I talked to myself quite a lot.
It was my second solo a few weeks later which had the drama..well, for me anyway. Because the runway direction had changed from all the flights during my training (intensive two weeks flying) I was so spooked I couldn't land the plane. On my third attempt as I was half-way down finals, I looked down and saw some people walking in a field with upturned faces. That was when I experienced the the other side of "Better to be down here wishing you were up there...."
I landed safely then and have landed happily ever after....
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Pull up to the tower and my instructor jumps out. Checks completed, I press the button. 'Gulf Juliet Uniform........er...' promptly release the button. Sat there for a few minutes trying to remember what the bl**dy word for 'D' was! In all the excitement my alphabet had decided to do a runner!
Eventually remembered and had a fantastic 1st solo.
Eventually remembered and had a fantastic 1st solo.
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............slow!
I remember thinking that there's no turning back now as I took a quick glance out of the cockpit at about 50ft. The slow bit came from following a chopper downwind. Got down to about 70kts with first stage of flap, but was still catching him. Luckily he peeled off to a parallel choppper runway otherwise I would have had to go-around.
C23
I remember thinking that there's no turning back now as I took a quick glance out of the cockpit at about 50ft. The slow bit came from following a chopper downwind. Got down to about 70kts with first stage of flap, but was still catching him. Luckily he peeled off to a parallel choppper runway otherwise I would have had to go-around.
C23
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I remember taking off and getting in the circuit and thinking 'Hey this flying lark is easy...whats all the fuss about'
Then I remember that I had to land it one piece!!!!!
J.
Then I remember that I had to land it one piece!!!!!
J.
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I chicken out 
Muttered something about more EFATO practice. An hour and half later off I went.
The thing that sticks in my mind the most was how amazing it is that the training just works, you just function despite the nerves. To be honest it was all over too quickly. The biggest buzz was reserved for my first solo navex (EGLK, Membury, Henley, EGLK)
Muttered something about more EFATO practice. An hour and half later off I went.The thing that sticks in my mind the most was how amazing it is that the training just works, you just function despite the nerves. To be honest it was all over too quickly. The biggest buzz was reserved for my first solo navex (EGLK, Membury, Henley, EGLK)
Upto The Buffers
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I remember mine well. I'd had a couple of hour-building instructors who had held me back a little, then I went up for dual-circuits with a 'proper' instructor who called a halt after the first circuit, said "wtf am I doing here... get on with it!" and off I went.
I'll never forget the complete change in the behaviour of the 152 with only 1 POB as it (in context of course) tore off the runway!
I'll never forget the complete change in the behaviour of the 152 with only 1 POB as it (in context of course) tore off the runway!
Pompey till I die
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Ahh
I remember my first solo, every second of it, vividly as if I was still there.
Took off down the runway, felt incredible, climbed out and thought "sh*t, I'm commited to doing this now"
I'm guessing the range of emotions I felt as I climbed out of the aircraft are going to be similar to the emotions I feel when I see my first child.
Although my FI told me that quite a few people flew until there first solo then never flew again.
Took off down the runway, felt incredible, climbed out and thought "sh*t, I'm commited to doing this now"
I'm guessing the range of emotions I felt as I climbed out of the aircraft are going to be similar to the emotions I feel when I see my first child.
Although my FI told me that quite a few people flew until there first solo then never flew again.
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I thought,
" I can't believe I'm doing this"
Still think it every time I fly, now around 16 months after getting the licence.
The magic never goes away.
Lister
One for Arclite
" I can't believe I'm doing this"
Still think it every time I fly, now around 16 months after getting the licence.
The magic never goes away.
Lister
One for Arclite
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Just looked at my logbook. 8th October 1983 at Southend after 4hr 10 mins dual. Had previously been solo in a glider with the Air Cadets but to have an engine up front - magic!
Can still hear my instructor Alan Palmer saying "70 knots, 70 knots" in his distinctive Kiwi accent as we came down finals, and then off on my own..........
Does anyone know where Alan Palmer is these days? Together with fellow instructors Barry Murray, Dave Giles, Tony Crossland, Mark Beard, George Hoskins - all apart from Mark were from New Zealand. I suppose most have gone back to NZ
Happy days
Can still hear my instructor Alan Palmer saying "70 knots, 70 knots" in his distinctive Kiwi accent as we came down finals, and then off on my own..........
Does anyone know where Alan Palmer is these days? Together with fellow instructors Barry Murray, Dave Giles, Tony Crossland, Mark Beard, George Hoskins - all apart from Mark were from New Zealand. I suppose most have gone back to NZ
Happy days
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Shooting off the runway - like others minus a couple of cwt! - I wondered how i'd got to 800ft so quickly and I'm only just turning crosswind. Lots of talking to myself (not much has changed). The same feeling as others expressed was that I'm up here and it's up to me get this thing down. The actual landing was pretty average and my final recollection was AFIS telling me "Congratulations, you can start breathing again now".
Every time I fly, especially when I'm alone, I still get the same feeling of elation when I'm back on the ground. I think it borders on self satisfied "I did that - how many of you down there can say the same"
Every time I fly, especially when I'm alone, I still get the same feeling of elation when I'm back on the ground. I think it borders on self satisfied "I did that - how many of you down there can say the same"
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Mine was many years ago and I felt relieved. I found that I didn't have to worry about what the chap in front thought and just got on with it. I also thought that I made fewer mistakes. I was wrong. When I got out onto the apron I was bollocked from there to Christmas. It was almost as if he had been up there with me and he listed al the checks I missed. I suppose he just knew me but I was flummoxed.