average hours to go solo
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: UTUXA
I'm forever grateful to my instructor for my first solo(Sleap 1975)We took a while to get to that stage from Manchester International as no student solos were allowed there so EMA.BPL,SLP etc were the favoured places.All of which meant you usually got to about the 12 to 15 hour mark before you did your first solo.All that extra flying was well worth it in my view.
I was impressed by my instructors intuition.He knew,and I knew,that the time was right.It wasn't intuition really I guess.More likely he was a first class instructor who knew his job and his student!
His name was Ron Robinson(A Brazilian amazingly with a name like that)and I believe he went toDan Air eventually.I heard him overflying Stoke in a 146 a few years ago.
A fabulous day in any pilots life but for me the long cross country was the best.
I was impressed by my instructors intuition.He knew,and I knew,that the time was right.It wasn't intuition really I guess.More likely he was a first class instructor who knew his job and his student!
His name was Ron Robinson(A Brazilian amazingly with a name like that)and I believe he went toDan Air eventually.I heard him overflying Stoke in a 146 a few years ago.
A fabulous day in any pilots life but for me the long cross country was the best.
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17
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From: gosport
Chris68,
Yep, we could all give the hours that we took to get an average in hours. However, as was stated, that's happened before, and it just ends up as a bucnch of ego's trying to out do each other. It's pointless and makes no odds, so the average time taken is ... the time it takes!
No lecture, just common sense.
shortstripper,
i think you should read my post again,before your curt comment,i think you will find i didnt solo then as i said NO,i was making the point its not a rush you go when your instuctor thinks your ready and you feel comfortable.
please feel free,to comment about me again.
chris
ps iv had a long day.
Yep, we could all give the hours that we took to get an average in hours. However, as was stated, that's happened before, and it just ends up as a bucnch of ego's trying to out do each other. It's pointless and makes no odds, so the average time taken is ... the time it takes!
No lecture, just common sense.
shortstripper,
i think you should read my post again,before your curt comment,i think you will find i didnt solo then as i said NO,i was making the point its not a rush you go when your instuctor thinks your ready and you feel comfortable.
please feel free,to comment about me again.
chris
ps iv had a long day.
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
Likes: 2
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Hi Andrew, I'm Whirly, and I learned to fly properly before I went solo. 
(Na-na-na-NA-na)
Hey, this is fun. We could have a competition - the best putdown to comments like that. Yeah, I know, time I grew up.
(Na-na-na-NA-na)Hey, this is fun. We could have a competition - the best putdown to comments like that. Yeah, I know, time I grew up.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 0
From: South Norfolk, England
Chris 68 ...
Ouch! Where did that come from? I can't see what in your original post would have prompted me to even comment. Are you sure you haven't deleted a bit?
Anyway, whilst the post was addressed to you in answer to what you had written (I'm still puzzled as to why I addressed to you having looked back?) I certainly didn't direct the comment at you. I was trying to point out that there is no race to see how quickly one can solo, and that in the past posts on a similar theme have often just degenerated into ego chasing. I'd certainly not have been digging at how long you did or didn't take to solo. Read my other posts within this thread to get a flavour of where I'm coming from, and you'll realise that I wouldn't have been. If you took offence then sorry, it wouldn't be the first time someone has taken my post different to how it was meant.
SS
PS. I've re-read the thread to try and figure why I would have addressed that post to you as it puzzled me. I think I can see my mistake
If you read Ivor Novello's post, (just above yours) then my post makes sense as a reply to that one. I think I must have confused the two and replied to you as if you'd written Ivor's one. So sorry about that!
Ouch! Where did that come from? I can't see what in your original post would have prompted me to even comment. Are you sure you haven't deleted a bit?
Anyway, whilst the post was addressed to you in answer to what you had written (I'm still puzzled as to why I addressed to you having looked back?) I certainly didn't direct the comment at you. I was trying to point out that there is no race to see how quickly one can solo, and that in the past posts on a similar theme have often just degenerated into ego chasing. I'd certainly not have been digging at how long you did or didn't take to solo. Read my other posts within this thread to get a flavour of where I'm coming from, and you'll realise that I wouldn't have been. If you took offence then sorry, it wouldn't be the first time someone has taken my post different to how it was meant.
SS
PS. I've re-read the thread to try and figure why I would have addressed that post to you as it puzzled me. I think I can see my mistake
If you read Ivor Novello's post, (just above yours) then my post makes sense as a reply to that one. I think I must have confused the two and replied to you as if you'd written Ivor's one. So sorry about that!
Last edited by shortstripper; 6th February 2008 at 10:10. Reason: To add the PS
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 647
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From: Brussels - Twin Comanche PA39 - KA C90B
Hi Andrew, despite what many people think of me on PPrune, i try to learn flying the good way, i solo'd at 44 hours, i do alot of extra training that most people never do because i wan't to be a good pilot, and alot of people hate me over here because Diamond planes really suck !!
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: UK,Twighlight Zone
Wow it did not take long to sink to the usual insults. We must be within a couple of posts of moving onto a discussion of the IMCR maybe even how many hours did you do your IMC in and then how many hours did you do the IR, tailwheel, CPL or how many hours before you got a job.
Loads more scope for slinging abuse at each other.......
Loads more scope for slinging abuse at each other.......
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: UK,Twighlight Zone
I don't know if it is me or is that every thread that appears on here these days just slides into abuse and spiteful personal attacks?
I think I will leave you all to it and head for friendlier climes.
I think I will leave you all to it and head for friendlier climes.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 1
If we are going down the petty insults line.
All PFA members smell of wee and oil
SS eats twiglets and Bovril sandwich's.
Female Pilots are all slightly mad. (but lovely though)
And BRL is a scouser who can't hold his beer
MJ
All PFA members smell of wee and oil
SS eats twiglets and Bovril sandwich's.
Female Pilots are all slightly mad. (but lovely though)
And BRL is a scouser who can't hold his beer
MJ
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
From: EuroGA.org
There is a formula going around, scarily accurate it is too, which is something like
#hrs = age/2
Or maybe I am getting it confused with the total time to get a PPL - (age/2)+30 would be about right.
I went solo in about 15hrs I think.
It's utterly meaningless because so much depends not only on aptitude but also how well you click with your instructor. This all happens at a time when the student is very green and would not spot a bad instructor from a good one, so not like to do something about it e.g. change schools. I have met at least two PPLs students who were to 100hrs and not went solo, which shows what is possible.
The preoccupation with "going solo" is counterproductive. In the USA it has been shown that one can turn out perfectly good PPL/IR pilots with about 50-70hrs of all-dual scenario based flight training. But aviation is full of ancient elitist practices and proving that you can "go solo" is one of them. You may as well be required to wear a leather apron and bare the left part of your chest while swearing the Masonic oath to never bust controlled airspace
#hrs = age/2
Or maybe I am getting it confused with the total time to get a PPL - (age/2)+30 would be about right.
I went solo in about 15hrs I think.
It's utterly meaningless because so much depends not only on aptitude but also how well you click with your instructor. This all happens at a time when the student is very green and would not spot a bad instructor from a good one, so not like to do something about it e.g. change schools. I have met at least two PPLs students who were to 100hrs and not went solo, which shows what is possible.
The preoccupation with "going solo" is counterproductive. In the USA it has been shown that one can turn out perfectly good PPL/IR pilots with about 50-70hrs of all-dual scenario based flight training. But aviation is full of ancient elitist practices and proving that you can "go solo" is one of them. You may as well be required to wear a leather apron and bare the left part of your chest while swearing the Masonic oath to never bust controlled airspace
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
Likes: 2
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
But aviation is full of ancient elitist practices and proving that you can "go solo" is one of them.
) However, as an instructor I'd say that going solo does two things - it increases a student's self-confidence, and also makes him/her a lot more careful and self-reliant once they realise they're on their own up there. So I think you need to do it...but who cares when?
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: gosport
Chris 68 ...
Ouch! Where did that come from? I can't see what in your original post would have prompted me to even comment. Are you sure you haven't deleted a bit?
Anyway, whilst the post was addressed to you in answer to what you had written (I'm still puzzled as to why I addressed to you having looked back?) I certainly didn't direct the comment at you. I was trying to point out that there is no race to see how quickly one can solo, and that in the past posts on a similar theme have often just degenerated into ego chasing. I'd certainly not have been digging at how long you did or didn't take to solo. Read my other posts within this thread to get a flavour of where I'm coming from, and you'll realise that I wouldn't have been. If you took offence then sorry, it wouldn't be the first time someone has taken my post different to how it was meant.
SS
PS. I've re-read the thread to try and figure why I would have addressed that post to you as it puzzled me. I think I can see my mistake If you read Ivor Novello's post, (just above yours) then my post makes sense as a reply to that one. I think I must have confused the two and replied to you as if you'd written Ivor's one. So sorry about that!
short stipper,
my appologies,was a bad long day,i hadnt changed or deleted my post,and i think you may of mixed the posts up as you said, that aside i was a little harsh, and you live a little to close for comfort and you may be bigger than me
Ouch! Where did that come from? I can't see what in your original post would have prompted me to even comment. Are you sure you haven't deleted a bit?
Anyway, whilst the post was addressed to you in answer to what you had written (I'm still puzzled as to why I addressed to you having looked back?) I certainly didn't direct the comment at you. I was trying to point out that there is no race to see how quickly one can solo, and that in the past posts on a similar theme have often just degenerated into ego chasing. I'd certainly not have been digging at how long you did or didn't take to solo. Read my other posts within this thread to get a flavour of where I'm coming from, and you'll realise that I wouldn't have been. If you took offence then sorry, it wouldn't be the first time someone has taken my post different to how it was meant.
SS
PS. I've re-read the thread to try and figure why I would have addressed that post to you as it puzzled me. I think I can see my mistake
If you read Ivor Novello's post, (just above yours) then my post makes sense as a reply to that one. I think I must have confused the two and replied to you as if you'd written Ivor's one. So sorry about that! short stipper,
my appologies,was a bad long day,i hadnt changed or deleted my post,and i think you may of mixed the posts up as you said, that aside i was a little harsh, and you live a little to close for comfort and you may be bigger than me
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
From: England
First Solo = ££££££
My first solo cost me a fortune..........not cos of the cost of a huge number of hours (It was UAS!) - but rather it was traditional to fund a 9 gallon barrel of beer in the bar!
Quite a hit for a first year Uni Student!
btw - Time to solo 9 hrs over 5 months.
Quite a hit for a first year Uni Student!
btw - Time to solo 9 hrs over 5 months.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 0
From: South Norfolk, England
my appologies,was a bad long day,i hadnt changed or deleted my post,and i think you may of mixed the posts up as you said, that aside i was a little harsh, and you live a little to close for comfort and you may be bigger than me
Mind you, the bigger they are .... 
SS