average hours to go solo
23 hours to solo in fixed wing. Before I soloed we had covered emergency procedures, flight by instrument reference (not much in a 1946 pa12), pilotage & dead reckoning, stalls, wheel and full stall landings. We didn't do spins until later. Then it took me about 8 hours to solo in helicopters, after I had my fixed wing PPL. At the time, it sort of mattered to me, though as I've gotten older I realize it matters not at all.
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By the way you missed out that going first solo increases the rate of learning and brings into play the natural ability that we all have to learn without being instructed.
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Curious that most posts here seem to follow the line "It doesn't matter how long you take but I took ***.* hours to mine!!!".
I'm not telling you how long I took, but I did have four of them. One in 1956 in a glider (ATC), Two, in a glider 1980, Three, Cessna 150 1986, Four, Cessna 152 2006, NPPL 2007 July. Enjoyed every minute, & will say that each successive solo took longer to reach. Age does that!
I'm not telling you how long I took, but I did have four of them. One in 1956 in a glider (ATC), Two, in a glider 1980, Three, Cessna 150 1986, Four, Cessna 152 2006, NPPL 2007 July. Enjoyed every minute, & will say that each successive solo took longer to reach. Age does that!
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normally its solo consolidation after a check with your instructor at the start, aka a few circuits on your own instead of just the full stop...
weather/ traffic dependent of course.
weather/ traffic dependent of course.
Upto The Buffers
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Generally a few hours of solo circuits, with a checkout circuit at the start of each session.
Incidentily, I was around 20hrs when I first went solo. Passed skills test with 45hrs exactly, so all this 'I went solo after 7 hours' rubbish has no bearing on how long it will take you to complete.
Incidentily, I was around 20hrs when I first went solo. Passed skills test with 45hrs exactly, so all this 'I went solo after 7 hours' rubbish has no bearing on how long it will take you to complete.
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Don't be fooled into thinking there is a set time scale for going solo. It will be upto your instructor to decide when your skills are of a satisfactory standard and you are safe with the aeroplane and competent with the R/T. I did my first solo at 11.5 Hrs, but as in previous replies everybody is different. One word of advice is when the moment arrives enjoy it as there will only ever be one first solo in your time as an aviator.
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That's good as the following lesson there was a fair crosswind so we did 4 circuits then he sent me off to do couple on my own and it went down as progress check again, so sounds like its all back on track.
On the last solo circuit it got quite interesting was advised number 3 when late downwind with a diamond star up my backside, could not get visual with the number 2 AC, already extended downwind finally got sight of him turning final 4 miles out to sea! Bet the CFI was having kittens...he told me that he'd not paid any attention and left me to it, but I bet that radio was on and the binoc's out...'Whats that idiot taking my plane to france for???' :-)
The extra hours in the circuit really paid off, not sure I would have been quite so comfortable with the traffic if I had only done a couple of hours circuits before being on my own.
On the last solo circuit it got quite interesting was advised number 3 when late downwind with a diamond star up my backside, could not get visual with the number 2 AC, already extended downwind finally got sight of him turning final 4 miles out to sea! Bet the CFI was having kittens...he told me that he'd not paid any attention and left me to it, but I bet that radio was on and the binoc's out...'Whats that idiot taking my plane to france for???' :-)
The extra hours in the circuit really paid off, not sure I would have been quite so comfortable with the traffic if I had only done a couple of hours circuits before being on my own.
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Not wishing to open up old wounds but...
...this month's Pilot magazine has a pull out on flying schools and learning to fly. In it they say that average solo time is 8 to 10 hours.
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When I was teaching I tried not to dwell on the time it took to send a student solo.
The most important aspect is that they are still enjoying flying. If they enjoy it, they learn faster.
We used to have the Air Traffic Control contract at RAF Woodvale, in those days you had to be able to send a student solo in 8 hours to keep the contract.
ATC students got 10 hours free flying as part of their training.
Some wanted to learn some did not.
I can remember on the first day getting a bunch of ATC studients to take the Airlaw exam, prior to the weeks flying training. We assumed that as ATC students they would have aleast studied this manditory exam prior to solo. The average mark was 38% well below the 75% pass rate.
Apathy was rife with this particular group and I went ballistic at the shear waste of flying resources based on non ATC students that had to skimp and safe just to progress their training. We sent two home on the first day and the rest bucked their ideas up and I am glad to say eventually went on to to complete their PPL.
So many factors contribute to going solo. Weather being a major factor. It might be fine for dual instruction but not fit for first solo. Also consistancy most students learn at weekends etc so will only do 4 or 6 hours a month due to finance and time. This group will take longer than those who fly every day on a consolidated course. The consolidated courses quote the fastest 0 to Solo time.
When I learnt finance was a problem I went solo in 20 hours. Over the years I have flown various types. Tail wheel solo was 2 hours. Helicopter solo was 8 hours. Experience helped alot.
So don't worry about how long it takes, you are still learning and hopefully still enjoying it.
The most important aspect is that they are still enjoying flying. If they enjoy it, they learn faster.
We used to have the Air Traffic Control contract at RAF Woodvale, in those days you had to be able to send a student solo in 8 hours to keep the contract.
ATC students got 10 hours free flying as part of their training.
Some wanted to learn some did not.
I can remember on the first day getting a bunch of ATC studients to take the Airlaw exam, prior to the weeks flying training. We assumed that as ATC students they would have aleast studied this manditory exam prior to solo. The average mark was 38% well below the 75% pass rate.
Apathy was rife with this particular group and I went ballistic at the shear waste of flying resources based on non ATC students that had to skimp and safe just to progress their training. We sent two home on the first day and the rest bucked their ideas up and I am glad to say eventually went on to to complete their PPL.
So many factors contribute to going solo. Weather being a major factor. It might be fine for dual instruction but not fit for first solo. Also consistancy most students learn at weekends etc so will only do 4 or 6 hours a month due to finance and time. This group will take longer than those who fly every day on a consolidated course. The consolidated courses quote the fastest 0 to Solo time.
When I learnt finance was a problem I went solo in 20 hours. Over the years I have flown various types. Tail wheel solo was 2 hours. Helicopter solo was 8 hours. Experience helped alot.
So don't worry about how long it takes, you are still learning and hopefully still enjoying it.
