Impending first solo - NOW DONE MY FIRST SOLO 20/10/2012 !!!
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The good thing about being a PPL student is the instructor makes all the big decisions for you, you won't go solo unless all the conditions -weather, airfield and YOU are right.
I recall the aircraft climbing much quicker without the instructor so reached circuit height quicker than usual, this reminded me it was all about running through the routines I'd been taught. After that I was so busy doing the calls, checks, positioning etc I didn't have much chance to think about the fact that I was on my own. Everything went well and it was only after I had landed my legs started to shake as I realised I'd done it!
So my advice - trust your instructor, if he says its right it is; focus on what you have to do, checks, radio calls as you have done many times; finally have confidence you can do it, a lot of sports/activities talk about visualising what good looks like, have that in your mind too.
When you get back in after a successful landing get a photo taken of you & the aircraft as its something you'll want to look at and smile for a long time.
Enjoy.
I recall the aircraft climbing much quicker without the instructor so reached circuit height quicker than usual, this reminded me it was all about running through the routines I'd been taught. After that I was so busy doing the calls, checks, positioning etc I didn't have much chance to think about the fact that I was on my own. Everything went well and it was only after I had landed my legs started to shake as I realised I'd done it!
So my advice - trust your instructor, if he says its right it is; focus on what you have to do, checks, radio calls as you have done many times; finally have confidence you can do it, a lot of sports/activities talk about visualising what good looks like, have that in your mind too.
When you get back in after a successful landing get a photo taken of you & the aircraft as its something you'll want to look at and smile for a long time.
Enjoy.
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Dont worry!
Enjoy it, as others say it is the best feeling in the world.... Close to the virgin bit
I also remember whooping and laughing and cheering to myself!
I thought it was just me that would do that haha
It will build speed faster, climb faster and feel much lighter. It could take a tiny bit longer to slow down.
Dont forget carb heat, flap speed range and airspeed! Do those (which you obviously already do) and it will go beautifuly!
Your instructor would NOT send you if you were not capable... Its more than his jobs worth!
Take it as a compliment.... Its a very nice one... Welcome to the world of being a captain
I remember my instructor just hopping out on a circuit lesson and saying "take your time, enjoy it and DONT bend it!"
Haha made confident and laugh, dont think i pood a little bit either
Enjoy it, as others say it is the best feeling in the world.... Close to the virgin bit
I also remember whooping and laughing and cheering to myself!
I thought it was just me that would do that haha
It will build speed faster, climb faster and feel much lighter. It could take a tiny bit longer to slow down.
Dont forget carb heat, flap speed range and airspeed! Do those (which you obviously already do) and it will go beautifuly!
Your instructor would NOT send you if you were not capable... Its more than his jobs worth!
Take it as a compliment.... Its a very nice one... Welcome to the world of being a captain
I remember my instructor just hopping out on a circuit lesson and saying "take your time, enjoy it and DONT bend it!"
Haha made confident and laugh, dont think i pood a little bit either
Last edited by Pilot.Lyons; 25th Sep 2012 at 07:26.
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Hi ya, hope all goes well.
I did my first solo about 5 years ago but the one difference i did notice with being in it on my own was i needed alot more right rudder input during the take off roll.
That was in a cessna 152 but aircrafts may vary and not sure what you are learning in.
Apart from that there was better rate of climb but i think that was about all that was different.
Main thing is smile and enjoy.
All the best and good luck.
I did my first solo about 5 years ago but the one difference i did notice with being in it on my own was i needed alot more right rudder input during the take off roll.
That was in a cessna 152 but aircrafts may vary and not sure what you are learning in.
Apart from that there was better rate of climb but i think that was about all that was different.
Main thing is smile and enjoy.
All the best and good luck.
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Mine was a long time ago, 1978. But I remember it like yesterday. It was at manchester Barton, and my instructor was the wonderful Tom Dugdale (still with us, but quite an elderly gent these days, still President of Lancs Aero Club).
Just enjoy it!
SSD
....when we got back to the Tower Tom's next student had cancelled. I was in no hurry to go home so I readily agreed to doing some more work with Tom in the circuit. After two circuits, he said "just drop me off by the Tower. You're fine, you can go do one on your own now". I was gobsmacked; I wasn't expecting to fly solo until I'd done a few more hours of training (I'd done about 10). But Tom had already gone, having stowed his seat belt and closed the door. He didn't look back as he strode towards the Tower.
I did my checks very carefully and lined up at the 27 threshold, hand on throttle, looking along the short grass runway. "Once I get this thing into the air, I'll have to get it down in one piece" I thought; and pressed full power. The circuit went well, as Tom had known it would. My feet didn't touch the ground for weeks! I had actually flown an aeroplane entirely on my own! Tom was no fool; he knew it was exactly the confidence booster I needed at that stage of my training.
I did my checks very carefully and lined up at the 27 threshold, hand on throttle, looking along the short grass runway. "Once I get this thing into the air, I'll have to get it down in one piece" I thought; and pressed full power. The circuit went well, as Tom had known it would. My feet didn't touch the ground for weeks! I had actually flown an aeroplane entirely on my own! Tom was no fool; he knew it was exactly the confidence booster I needed at that stage of my training.
SSD
KIWI - any recommendations song wise? 
I must make sure I'm not hanging on to the mike trigger at the same time
I must make sure I'm not hanging on to the mike trigger at the same time
And who said I sang on my first solo?!? 
Last edited by flyinkiwi; 26th Sep 2012 at 22:43.
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Why first solo isn't quite like not being a virgin...
- If someone wise says you aren't ready to fly solo, you won't
- Your first solo flight won't end prematurely!
- Your parents will be impressed after your first solo flight
- It's ok to keep track of the number if landings you make
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Well I've got a lesson booked for Saturday. I may not solo as Its been a couple of weeks since I flew.
Bad weather followed by Bad cold
I'll let you know how it goes but my main goal is just to get those landings consistently good
Bad weather followed by Bad cold
I'll let you know how it goes but my main goal is just to get those landings consistently good
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First Solo
I remember my first solo, not long ago really, just a few months.
I knew I was close, I just needed the landings to come together, and when they did off I went!
FlyingLapinou post with the link to the article about how men and women learn with different styles, I think is very true. Men tend to "jump in at the deep end", whereas women like to have "all the bases convered". This is not to say be lax with your routines and procedures; god knows I did mine more accurately and slowly than I have ever done, but to take a typical male attitude and bite the bullet. I mean every time you get into a car, let alone an aircraft, is a risk. I don't know whether you are of the fairer sex, but I think a lot of the more senior pilots and members on this forum are correct in saying relax and enjoy it; I know I did
As has already been mentioned; you won't go solo until your instructor thinks you're ready. Besides, you never know, you may find you fly better without your instructor there! I know I do, which is no good as I've still to impress the examiner...!
Anyway here's to happy landings!
I knew I was close, I just needed the landings to come together, and when they did off I went!
FlyingLapinou post with the link to the article about how men and women learn with different styles, I think is very true. Men tend to "jump in at the deep end", whereas women like to have "all the bases convered". This is not to say be lax with your routines and procedures; god knows I did mine more accurately and slowly than I have ever done, but to take a typical male attitude and bite the bullet. I mean every time you get into a car, let alone an aircraft, is a risk. I don't know whether you are of the fairer sex, but I think a lot of the more senior pilots and members on this forum are correct in saying relax and enjoy it; I know I did
As has already been mentioned; you won't go solo until your instructor thinks you're ready. Besides, you never know, you may find you fly better without your instructor there! I know I do, which is no good as I've still to impress the examiner...!
Anyway here's to happy landings!
Last edited by StarChaser; 27th Sep 2012 at 19:55.
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You will love it. As has been said many times on here, it's a life experience you will never forget. I was lucky enough to have my first solo
filmed by one of the guys on the same course as me. I never tire of watching it.
I remember looking at the empty right hand seat, and realising that this moment in time was the fulfilment of a lifetime ambition. It had taken me 60 years, but I got there !
Have fun
filmed by one of the guys on the same course as me. I never tire of watching it.
I remember looking at the empty right hand seat, and realising that this moment in time was the fulfilment of a lifetime ambition. It had taken me 60 years, but I got there !
Have fun
Last edited by BobD; 27th Sep 2012 at 22:12.
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I was expecting mine anyway because the aeroplane went tech the day before. My advice to you is simply relax, concentrate and enjoy. There isn’t anything you’ll be doing that you haven’t done before.
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Remember to use the "Student" prefix on your first call, just to be sure that ATC (or the other aircraft in the circuit) know that you are a student.
About 40% of my first solo students forget to do it, even though I brief them to do so as I leave the aircraft - too excited I suppose.
Enjoy yourself - you will only ever do one first solo
About 40% of my first solo students forget to do it, even though I brief them to do so as I leave the aircraft - too excited I suppose.
Enjoy yourself - you will only ever do one first solo
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the "student" prefix, is that a British thing? I've never heard anyone here use it.
I'm almost 100% certain my husband didn't when he did his first solo (I was listening at the time).
I'm just wondering if it'll be a help or mark me as fair game fodder for the Dash 8s I play chicken with every lesson!
I'm almost 100% certain my husband didn't when he did his first solo (I was listening at the time).
I'm just wondering if it'll be a help or mark me as fair game fodder for the Dash 8s I play chicken with every lesson!
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the "student" prefix, is that a British thing?
Air Accidents Investigation: Download PDF document
From the investigation:
Safety Recommendation 2007-050
The Civil Aviation Authority should instigate the use of a suitable prefix, for use in civil radiotelephony, to signify a student pilot, flying solo.
The Civil Aviation Authority should instigate the use of a suitable prefix, for use in civil radiotelephony, to signify a student pilot, flying solo.
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the "student" prefix, is that a British thing? I've never heard anyone here use it.
I'm almost 100% certain my husband didn't when he did his first solo (I was listening at the time).
I'm just wondering if it'll be a help or mark me as fair game fodder for the Dash 8s I play chicken with every lesson!
I'm almost 100% certain my husband didn't when he did his first solo (I was listening at the time).
I'm just wondering if it'll be a help or mark me as fair game fodder for the Dash 8s I play chicken with every lesson!
Where is T.O.?
Title? What title?
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I remember mine first solo (at Bourne). Lots of smiles, cheering and fun until on final, an idiot in a microlight turned in ahead of me then it was time to decide do I throw in an orbit to ensure separation or do I continue. (I did the former). Still enjoyed it though.
Rememeber, you wouldnt be in the situation if the guy normally in the right seat had 100% confidence in you. Take any advice he offers, including 'no you are not going to confront affor mentioned microlight pilot'
Good luck
Rememeber, you wouldnt be in the situation if the guy normally in the right seat had 100% confidence in you. Take any advice he offers, including 'no you are not going to confront affor mentioned microlight pilot'
Good luck
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Mine was a complete accident! at 5 hrs!! had a major row with the instructor who as soon as we landed threw the door open and stormed off leaving me sitting there perplexed.
The row was about his insistence on pitch for speed and me sitting on the end of the runway pumping the elevator up and down with no effect just to win an argument!
That was the deterioration point!
I was told by other students to look out for the first solo and likely signs one which would be a silent departure of the instructor from the aircraft!
Taking that as the green light for solo I turned around lined up and was delighted to see so may instructors running to wave me off.
The low level fly past the control tower on my first attempt was not intentional!!! looking for the curled up seat belt on the seat I realized the instructor had wrapped it around the control column on his exit which initially gave me a few control problems but they all seemed well entertained on the ground as there was a lot of waving!
When I landed five times in the course of a few hundred meters they were all so excited they were red in the face and even sent the fire truck out to meet me and guide me to the parking space. (how kind)
Strange they advised another club for the rest of my ppl I suppose when you have someone that good you have to share him !!!
Have fun and enjoy it
As for a song to sing ? " Hey bitch you will do what I say Not what you tell me"
Pace
The row was about his insistence on pitch for speed and me sitting on the end of the runway pumping the elevator up and down with no effect just to win an argument!
That was the deterioration point!
I was told by other students to look out for the first solo and likely signs one which would be a silent departure of the instructor from the aircraft!
Taking that as the green light for solo I turned around lined up and was delighted to see so may instructors running to wave me off.
The low level fly past the control tower on my first attempt was not intentional!!! looking for the curled up seat belt on the seat I realized the instructor had wrapped it around the control column on his exit which initially gave me a few control problems but they all seemed well entertained on the ground as there was a lot of waving!
When I landed five times in the course of a few hundred meters they were all so excited they were red in the face and even sent the fire truck out to meet me and guide me to the parking space. (how kind)
Strange they advised another club for the rest of my ppl I suppose when you have someone that good you have to share him !!!
Have fun and enjoy it
As for a song to sing ? " Hey bitch you will do what I say Not what you tell me"
Pace
Last edited by Pace; 28th Sep 2012 at 15:11.
I sang, I yelled, I whistled, I grinned, I laughed and wiggled the stick around for fun. Nearly 40 years and 18000 hours ago and I remember it like yesterday. Don't take it too seriously, be safe and enjoy it. It may even be better than sex.
