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: Jul 2003
Location: South America
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I soloed at 11h 41min
C150 Aerobat ZP-EPF at Asuncion Intl. airport (SGAS
)
Would have soloed earlyer but I run out of money at 7h, I had to get a job first, so I spend 3 months without flying until I could resume the training
It was a memorable day. After doing some touch&goes my instructor said: "I'm wasting my time here, let me off at charlie intersection and make your solo patern!"
It was very special to see the airport from above with an empty seat beside you, knowing that all depends on you now!
The landing wasn't that great but I was very happy!
Following the paraguayan tradition, after returning to the hangar, I was poured over with a few liters engine oil........
C150 Aerobat ZP-EPF at Asuncion Intl. airport (SGAS
)Would have soloed earlyer but I run out of money at 7h, I had to get a job first, so I spend 3 months without flying until I could resume the training
It was a memorable day. After doing some touch&goes my instructor said: "I'm wasting my time here, let me off at charlie intersection and make your solo patern!"
It was very special to see the airport from above with an empty seat beside you, knowing that all depends on you now!
The landing wasn't that great but I was very happy!
Following the paraguayan tradition, after returning to the hangar, I was poured over with a few liters engine oil........
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
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Solo yesterday
Finally it also happened for me.
Went solo yesterday
It was the greatest feeling ever. Also quite scary being on your own in the cockpit.
Got down safe and well and couldn't stop smiling all night!
Went solo yesterday
It was the greatest feeling ever. Also quite scary being on your own in the cockpit.
Got down safe and well and couldn't stop smiling all night!
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Too far away from the cockpit...
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7.1 in a Citabria.
Many congratulations fonowah. It's an achievement that few people realise.
Did you look over/ behind at the empty seat on upwind?
It's a great feeling as you say! Glad you kept smiling for so long!
Cheers,
DOK001
Many congratulations fonowah. It's an achievement that few people realise.
Did you look over/ behind at the empty seat on upwind?
It's a great feeling as you say! Glad you kept smiling for so long!
Cheers,
DOK001
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Bay Area
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Solo
Yes, you’re correct pilot16 the amount of hours it takes to solo doesn’t determine what type of pilot you are.
I’m assuming you’re a US student pilot and if not this is probably true with most other countries that the minimum to solo is 10 hours. 61.87 established by the FAA was meant for the 60’s and 70’s. This was a time when most airports were slow, airspace wasn’t complex, and pilots weren’t restricted nearly as much as today. It took me 23 hours to solo because of the high density traffic in the Bay Area and the time it takes to get to our practice area. . You’ll solo when your CFI feels you’re safe and confident because it’s his ticket too. Don’t think of it as time, a solo is an indication of proficiency. Good luck and I’m sure it will happen soon.
I’m assuming you’re a US student pilot and if not this is probably true with most other countries that the minimum to solo is 10 hours. 61.87 established by the FAA was meant for the 60’s and 70’s. This was a time when most airports were slow, airspace wasn’t complex, and pilots weren’t restricted nearly as much as today. It took me 23 hours to solo because of the high density traffic in the Bay Area and the time it takes to get to our practice area. . You’ll solo when your CFI feels you’re safe and confident because it’s his ticket too. Don’t think of it as time, a solo is an indication of proficiency. Good luck and I’m sure it will happen soon.
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Yes, you’re correct pilot16 the amount of hours it takes to solo doesn’t determine what type of pilot you are.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: New Jersey, USA
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I am studying in the New Jersey, US (which is where I live) and the school I am going with won't allow students to just "solo" even if their instructor says they are ready ...
They have a rule that you have to pass a checkride (stage check ... whatever).
The bottom line is that I have to pass a written (school issued), an oral with a senior instructor (other than my own) and pass the practical test with that same senior instructor (practical test that consists in every flight manouver except for short and soft field landings and takeoffs).
To make a long story short ... I have been taking lessons for about 2 1/2 months and i have about 23 hours ... and I have yet to solo. If everything goes well I should be able to do it in a couple of weeks ... if everything goes well...
They have a rule that you have to pass a checkride (stage check ... whatever).
The bottom line is that I have to pass a written (school issued), an oral with a senior instructor (other than my own) and pass the practical test with that same senior instructor (practical test that consists in every flight manouver except for short and soft field landings and takeoffs).
To make a long story short ... I have been taking lessons for about 2 1/2 months and i have about 23 hours ... and I have yet to solo. If everything goes well I should be able to do it in a couple of weeks ... if everything goes well...
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: N55' 56' and a wee bit west
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22.4 hours till i got my first solo my instructer had been wanting to send me up at around 16 but due to the complete incompetence on the part of the C.A.A it took 3 months for me to get my medical issued which also means i lost 3 months off the period that is valid for
which also means i lost 3 months off the period that is valid for
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Finding Out on 121.50
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I went solo ofter 18 hours.
This was basically due to cr p instruction. I was being fed instructions that made no sense. I was also sitting too low within the aircraft and this had never been picked up on! Thanks guys that cost me nearly a grand
I changed schools and within 2 circuits had sloved the problem. I now grease the aircraft on every time no problems!
The moral of the story and I have confirmed this by talking to some well seasoned ATPLs si that if you are flying around making no progress then it is probably that your instructor can't instruct. Beleive it!
This was basically due to cr
p instruction. I was being fed instructions that made no sense. I was also sitting too low within the aircraft and this had never been picked up on! Thanks guys that cost me nearly a grand I changed schools and within 2 circuits had sloved the problem. I now grease the aircraft on every time no problems!
The moral of the story and I have confirmed this by talking to some well seasoned ATPLs si that if you are flying around making no progress then it is probably that your instructor can't instruct. Beleive it!
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: UK
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35 hrs at age 17.
Difficulty was - started training at 13, 1 lesson every 8 weeks (I was a paper boy!), got circuits out of the way but was WAY too young to solo, so had to move on to everything else dual , then at 16 and 10 months back to circuit practice in order to solo on my 17th bd then solo XC. Ended up with PPL at 47 hrs....phew!
What an epic paper delivery schedule it was!
Difficulty was - started training at 13, 1 lesson every 8 weeks (I was a paper boy!), got circuits out of the way but was WAY too young to solo, so had to move on to everything else dual , then at 16 and 10 months back to circuit practice in order to solo on my 17th bd then solo XC. Ended up with PPL at 47 hrs....phew!
What an epic paper delivery schedule it was!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: uk
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Having instructed for the last 15 years i would say the average first solo is close to 15 hours.
I would often tell students to halve their age and that would be a good guess to first solo with +/- 2 tolerance.
Time,continuity, money, competition (air cadets) and wx all make a difference.
I cannot believe or approve of anybody going solo in 5hrs without some previous experience, ie flying with dad (or mom) as pax.
I wonder what an insurer would say if an accident occured.
Time to first solo means nothing, its the attitude the student has to flying that matters.
I would often tell students to halve their age and that would be a good guess to first solo with +/- 2 tolerance.
Time,continuity, money, competition (air cadets) and wx all make a difference.
I cannot believe or approve of anybody going solo in 5hrs without some previous experience, ie flying with dad (or mom) as pax.
I wonder what an insurer would say if an accident occured.
Time to first solo means nothing, its the attitude the student has to flying that matters.