View Poll Results: After how many hours of training did you go for you first ever solo?
10-12 hours
197
33.91%
13-15 hours
107
18.42%
16-18 hours
62
10.67%
19-21 hours
47
8.09%
22+ hours
53
9.12%
Less than 10
115
19.79%
Voters: 581. This poll is closed
After how many hours did you go for your first solo?
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Surrey, UK
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Why would you be wary of anyone who had gone solo quickly? (4hrs for me)
Surely it just means that they can pick new concepts up quickly. PFl's circuits etc. When you have been shown them once you can then pick it up very quickly and have mastered it enough to do a solo circuit.
Just a thought
Surely it just means that they can pick new concepts up quickly. PFl's circuits etc. When you have been shown them once you can then pick it up very quickly and have mastered it enough to do a solo circuit.
Just a thought
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: UK
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9 hours - but, in common with a lot of the sub 10s that was with quite a few uncounted flying hours before - air cadets in my case. I went throught the general handling exercises in the first three lessons and thus got the the circuit relatively early.
My final total was more average though. I agree that first solo time is not a good measure of flying ability. Landing is a black art - catching on early doesnt really say much about overall ability.
Its fun though - definitely my favourite phase of flight.
Ali
My final total was more average though. I agree that first solo time is not a good measure of flying ability. Landing is a black art - catching on early doesnt really say much about overall ability.
Its fun though - definitely my favourite phase of flight.
Ali
Join Date: Dec 2002
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So as I read a number of the comments here if I have achieved first solo and licence in a miimum number of hours I am probably unsafe.
I have to apologise now. I got to solo after a little over five hours and achieved all skill tests etc. signed off in under 35 hours and had to complete hours burning holes in the sky to achieve the minimum number of hours for licence issue.
With 1,800 hours under my belt now and types ranging from Tiger Moth to Cessna 310 and R22 I owe a number of people apologies.
I realise I should have taken 20 hours to solo and 100 hours to licence issue. I am simply unsafe. I have to apologies to those people I have flown in that time for not injuring any of them.
I apologise to those people who have let mey fly their aircraft for not damaging them. I really must do something to achieve my appropriate 'less safe' badge.
I now accept the error of my ways and am prepared to make a public apology. Indeed I should attend the next PPRUNE fly in at Duxford and cause a major incident or two endangering at least five lives and damaging three aircrfat.
Only then can I feel that I have complied with the wisdom of many on this thread. Developing skills early is clearly a bad thing. Extending ones skill set by taking instruction in advanced techniques is foolish unless you have served your time cocking up approaches.
What right do I have, not being a superman, to have a broadly based incident free aviation history when I was not prepared to do things slowly as many suggest. Clearly none at all and I await the knock on the door from the aviation police asking me to surrender my licence.
I have to apologise now. I got to solo after a little over five hours and achieved all skill tests etc. signed off in under 35 hours and had to complete hours burning holes in the sky to achieve the minimum number of hours for licence issue.
With 1,800 hours under my belt now and types ranging from Tiger Moth to Cessna 310 and R22 I owe a number of people apologies.
I realise I should have taken 20 hours to solo and 100 hours to licence issue. I am simply unsafe. I have to apologies to those people I have flown in that time for not injuring any of them.
I apologise to those people who have let mey fly their aircraft for not damaging them. I really must do something to achieve my appropriate 'less safe' badge.
I now accept the error of my ways and am prepared to make a public apology. Indeed I should attend the next PPRUNE fly in at Duxford and cause a major incident or two endangering at least five lives and damaging three aircrfat.
Only then can I feel that I have complied with the wisdom of many on this thread. Developing skills early is clearly a bad thing. Extending ones skill set by taking instruction in advanced techniques is foolish unless you have served your time cocking up approaches.
What right do I have, not being a superman, to have a broadly based incident free aviation history when I was not prepared to do things slowly as many suggest. Clearly none at all and I await the knock on the door from the aviation police asking me to surrender my licence.
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Surrey, UK
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You're a great guy Chip! At the same time perfect and yet self deprecating. You can fly like no other. I really wish I had the skill to go solo in five whole hours but alas I have resigned my self to the fact that I can never meet your high standards. I just hope and prey that one day I migh be your F/O. I will be an incomplete pilot until that day.
On a final note, may I say "thank you" for adding so much to the quality of the debate.
On a final note, may I say "thank you" for adding so much to the quality of the debate.
Join Date: Oct 1998
Location: Kalgoorlie, W.A. , Australia
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I get the impression that the longer ago you did your training the lower the time. Is this because nowadays clubs/instructors are more liability minded?
My score 8.0 thought I was backward because believed the average was 6ish.
Had previous gliding experience like most of the sub 10s, plus plenty of time standing behind or sitting beside the driver as a directional consultant.
My score 8.0 thought I was backward because believed the average was 6ish.
Had previous gliding experience like most of the sub 10s, plus plenty of time standing behind or sitting beside the driver as a directional consultant.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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It was forty years ago, in a very remote rural area of NY state that I did my primary training at age 18. It was a piper cub fitted with skiis. The unpaved runway was marked by tires. There was no radio, no traffic, and no advanced navigation skills needed for solo. Spin training was required however, which is a real attention focuser if ever there was one! It took me 8 hours to get signed off, or about six more than I felt I needed at that age.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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hours to solo?
Pilot16,
8.75hr.. though it was a while ago. I was lucky, trained during the week at a small 'drome so nil traffic. Etched in the brain, greased the first landing in, rest of the week I could NOT get it.
Then the CAD changed rules on sight correction parameters. Haven't tried to go again....
8.75hr.. though it was a while ago. I was lucky, trained during the week at a small 'drome so nil traffic. Etched in the brain, greased the first landing in, rest of the week I could NOT get it.
Then the CAD changed rules on sight correction parameters. Haven't tried to go again....
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Here's my story - 10.5 hrs... Medical problems
At my initial medical the AME found a snag. This started off a whole process of examination.
I got referred to my GP - he referred me to a consultant, I had barium meal X rays done and other painful 'explorations'. My (former) GP then summoned me in and explained, matter of fact, that I probably had Cancer...! I was rushed in for an indescribable test that involved a general anaesthetic - The outcome? ... Absolutely NO PROBLEM.
Throughout all this I kept the lessons up and was ready to solo at about 6or7hrs... was a Bronze 'C' glider pilot.. My logbook shows about 3hrs of EX16 and 17 to fill in the time as the medical was holding things up.
It took 6 months of worry from the initial exam to getting the medical signed off and I was dismayed to find it back dated from the initial exam!
My actual first solo came a day after the medical arrived and, although chuffed, I was much more pleased just to be alive!
Kingy
At my initial medical the AME found a snag. This started off a whole process of examination.
I got referred to my GP - he referred me to a consultant, I had barium meal X rays done and other painful 'explorations'. My (former) GP then summoned me in and explained, matter of fact, that I probably had Cancer...! I was rushed in for an indescribable test that involved a general anaesthetic - The outcome? ... Absolutely NO PROBLEM.
Throughout all this I kept the lessons up and was ready to solo at about 6or7hrs... was a Bronze 'C' glider pilot.. My logbook shows about 3hrs of EX16 and 17 to fill in the time as the medical was holding things up.
It took 6 months of worry from the initial exam to getting the medical signed off and I was dismayed to find it back dated from the initial exam!
My actual first solo came a day after the medical arrived and, although chuffed, I was much more pleased just to be alive!
Kingy