Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Non-Airline Forums > Private Flying
Reload this Page >

First solo (ppl fixed wing)

Private Flying LAA/BMAA/BGA/BPA The sheer pleasure of flight.

First solo (ppl fixed wing)

Old 21st May 2011, 19:50
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: coventry, u.k
Age: 37
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
First solo (ppl fixed wing)

Hi guys/girls

I understand its different for each individual but what would be the average hours before going solo, you'r thoughts are much appreciated.

Again i stress the average hours

Thanks
BRAKES OFF is offline  
Old 21st May 2011, 21:14
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Cambridge, England, EU
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
If you're lucky the search feature will find you the previous 3,917,285 threads in which this question has been asked and answered.
Gertrude the Wombat is offline  
Old 21st May 2011, 22:16
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: I have no idea but the view's great.
Posts: 1,272
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
3,917,285 threads
Damn, I missed one.
J.A.F.O. is offline  
Old 22nd May 2011, 05:09
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Age: 61
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
First solo will probably come quicker if you are (a) flying every day, doing your PPL in a solid block, and (b) younger. Being older, distracted by other cares (work, family, etc) and going once a week or less frequently, will make it take longer.

For example, I did my PPL at Lydd, aged 17, on a Royal Navy Flying Scholarship, and was one of the last on the course to solo, at 8 hrs 40. If you didn't make it by 9 hrs, they could boot you off the course.

I've not met anyone in Australia who soloed in anything like that sort of time - most are probably 12-25 hrs. But that probably reflects the fact that most of the students here are older, and doing it part time between other committments.
HappyJack260 is offline  
Old 22nd May 2011, 06:52
  #5 (permalink)  
o7i
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Dorset
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
First solo will probably come quicker if you are.....(b) younger.
To a limit...My first solo was after about 30 hours, but that was mainly due to waiting for my 16th birthday (well thats my excuse and i'm sticking to it)
o7i is offline  
Old 22nd May 2011, 07:09
  #6 (permalink)  

Hovering AND talking
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Anything from 3 to 70.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

Whirls
Whirlygig is offline  
Old 22nd May 2011, 10:51
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I reckon average is about 16 hours these days.
FleetFlyer is offline  
Old 22nd May 2011, 19:05
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: South East
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It probably depends what type of course you are doing... ie how many hours a day/week you fly. If you are doing a few hours a day, solo will probably come quicker I would think. And age probably has something to do with it as well.
newfoundglory is offline  
Old 6th Jun 2011, 12:41
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North Wales, near EGNR
Age: 50
Posts: 68
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I did the RAF Flying Scholarship at age 17 and first solo'd in 6 hours 40 mins. Some took over 10 hours. It's horses for courses...there is no right or wrong time...just a safe and unsafe time!!
mark25787 is offline  
Old 6th Jun 2011, 12:54
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Dublin
Age: 42
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don't worry about when your first solo comes

Seems like a fair question, why is it that every Tom, Dick and Harry in here has to start by giving the original poster a bashing, he/she is only asking question, if it annoys you dont put a post up.

I think the root of most of these "how long till solo" questions are -

Is there anything you can do to help going solo early (for most its about having the money and would love to accomplish it quicker and get to that milestone for less money)

Secondly, to follow up on the 3-70 hours, and from other posts, you started flying cause you love it and its something you dearly want to do. You will probably be flying the rest of your life, so unless you are on an intensive course to get your ATPL, just enjoy learning and becoming compotent at flying.

I know I used to think the same, get my first solo less than 10 hours and do it all in 45, but now I am quite happy to plug along and I will get my licence when I get my licence.

Saying that I am purely flying recreational.
Cessna 172S Skyhawk is offline  
Old 6th Jun 2011, 14:53
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Norfolk UK
Age: 80
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think it was around 19 hrs to solo,I was OK on everything except the landing,which is quite important
I then completed the PPL in 53 hrs total,then aged 63
Lister Noble is offline  
Old 6th Jun 2011, 15:32
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Midlands, England
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was lucky enough to have an ex RAF instructor with 1'000s of hours and had 100% confidence in him.

I never gave any thought about my first solo, I just loved being in the air so it was a suprise whe he jumped out and sent me off, less than eight hours

Your instructor's experiance and your age will all be factors to consider.

With a 200 hour instructor and a 50 year old student I suspect it will take longer than a 20,000 hour instructor and a 20 year old student.

But then again, how long is a peice of string !!

Just enjoy your flying, that's the main thing !
coldair is offline  
Old 6th Jun 2011, 22:26
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Essex, England
Age: 29
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
First Solo

Don't get hung up on it! I did mine in about 13 hours, which I think is about average? I'm now at 35 hours and have done a majority of the course.

KieranBal
KieranBal is offline  
Old 7th Jun 2011, 07:03
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ruislip
Age: 70
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I must admit that the thought of going solo fills me with excitement and terror in equal measure. I just hope to God that my instructor doesnt tell me when I am going solo. But once done it must be absolutely brilliant.
ChasG is offline  
Old 7th Jun 2011, 10:48
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: London
Age: 32
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I went solo at 30 hours took the skills test with 48 hours on my belt... - CAA medical department are rather annoying did you know!

If your getting annoyed by lack of progress move onto nav? We did all the duel instructing then I did 10 solid solo hours followed by a 6 month break while I caught up on the written exams - ooops!

Tom
tom6326 is offline  
Old 8th Jun 2011, 13:55
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: On the ground
Age: 38
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cool

Seems like a fair question, why is it that every Tom, Dick and Harry in here has to start by giving the original poster a bashing, he/she is only asking question, if it annoys you dont put a post up.
It's funny that. I wonder are they genuine @r$e holes in real life, or is it something that comes out in them when they're hiding behind their computer screens. Probably both. Anyway, back to the point...

I understand its different for each individual but what would be the average hours before going solo, you'r thoughts are much appreciated.
Just my two cents...

I have 12.5 hours; instructor told me on the lesson before the last that he would've liked me to have done a solo circuit, but the weather turned pretty quickly and all chances of that went out the window. The weather was good enough on my last lesson, but there was a fly-in at the airport and also some low flying demonstrations for the visitors - that made it another definite no!

So, I'm biting my nails to see if he hops out on this weeks lesson.

starrzo is offline  
Old 8th Jun 2011, 14:04
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are loads of variables. Your age, how often you train and the type of base you train from will have the biggest effect on the hours in your logbook before solo.

A young student training full time at a small GA airfield could easily solo in 8-10 hours. An older student training only twice a month at a big airfield where he has to fit in with ryanair and easyjet will probably take over 20.

Also, watch RAF figures, they usually don't count any taxi time so for us civvies you can add at least 10 mins to each flight.

So 12 to 20 hours is probably pretty average, but ultimately it takes as long as it takes. Often, a student will be pretty much ready for solo but the weather on the day isn't up to it, so I say lets take a break from the circuit today and cover steep turns. It's another pre-solo hour, but really makes no difference to the total course time.
RTN11 is offline  
Old 9th Jun 2011, 06:42
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ruislip
Age: 70
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
RTN11 - I have done 13 hours and just about to start slow flight and stalling. Your point about frequency of flying I think is key to making progress particularly for the older person. I have had big gaps because of the weather and illness and really only started to improve in the last 6 lessons having one a week. Looking back I can see that I should have started off by having a lesson a day for at least 2 weeks otherwise its relearn the previous lesson each time. If I solo by 25 lessons I will be happy.
ChasG is offline  
Old 9th Jun 2011, 13:18
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Essex UK
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lots of factors - I remember very well my instructor and I having a chat regarding first solo. He sort of inferred he might be worried about someone taking 30+ hours. At the time I had about that. So naturally enough I posed the question 'should I give this up'. To which he looked shocked and said, 'no not you, you would have gone months ago if the weather had been OK'.

So I would take from that the first solo timing has a lot of luck involved. If you have done 3 good 'uns, the vis and wind are favourable, chances are you'll be up and off to do the first solo. If that doesn't happen, it may be a lot of hours later if you generally choose to just fly every lesson you have booked, rather than wait for perfect days.

Weigh it up against minimal hours, low cost vs experience of different weather conditions and challenges. I easily doubled the total time to my PPL by preferring to just fly whatever the weather if possible. I was having a great time and doing it because it was fun.

When I did go solo I had already become a bit sick of the circuit and done plenty of dual nav. The actual solo was almost a total non-event, though of course I remember every second of it.

Glad to say these days I see doing a few circuits as no big deal. At the time I hated them because of the self imposed pressure to get that first 'solo' done.
Conventional Gear is offline  
Old 9th Jun 2011, 18:04
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Munich
Age: 53
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am currently at 10.5 hrs in my lessons for PPL-A. My last lesson was Monday, when I did 5 circuits before doing a little more airwork (mostly curves), and flying to a nearby field to fuel up, then fly back. Circuits are going fine, the problem is still the landings. But on Monday, we had 60-90° crosswind for the landings, so for someone new like me, it was rather difficult. My instructor said, after the last go around, something along the lines that I was doing rather well, considering the conditions, and he wouldn't have sent me up solo under those conditions. In the debriefing after the lesson, he is still fairly sure, that I could make it to solo by 15 hrs, but that is yet to be seen. Weather, and having to return back to "regular" work, will make it difficult to have as many lessons in a short period of time that I just did (4 lessons in 7 days). So the gap between lessons could quite cause a "delay" in making solo by 15 hrs. He said not to worry about it. 15 hrs is a goal, but not chissled in stone.
berno_wald is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.