First solo!
 

Just done my first solo today at Humberside (EGNJ) and I just have to say it's the most breathtaking, exhilarating and most exciting thing I've ever done in my life!

My very first time in the circuit, infact, and my very first time at landing came just 40 minutes before my first solo. The weather was right, calm winds, 10km vis and really nice autumn day!

So my instructor climbed out, I checked my DI, temps and pressures and quickly gave the ATIS a listen just to see if there was any change - No, everythings still perfect. My mouth began to get dry, I reach over to the PTT and transmit "Solo 05, southern apron, first solo, request taxi" - A few seconds later, a response comes "Solo 05, hello again follow the C152 taxi hold bravo" - Of course, I repeat.

Once I approach the hold, I hang back a good 7-8 meters from the C152 ahead, ATC kindly asks the aircraft to move over as he would like me to get out first before commercial traffic is inbound. The pilot responded "Well I can move about another 5ft forward" so the very very helpful ATCO said "CALLSIGN move to the left, there is a PA28 behind you to pass your number 2 for departure" reluctantly the pilot moved and I was given a line up clearance.. My heart really started to pound now, I performed my pre-takeoff checks.. Checked the DI and called ready for departure and sneakily asked for a left hand circuit which was approved :)

"Solo 05, runway 21 cleared for takeoff, surface winds 220/05 knots, left hand circuit" - Ooo, it's really happening.. "Cleared takeoff 21, solo 05" - Full power is applied and registered, T's and P's are fine, airspeed just passed 40 and increasing nicely.. 60 knots, I start to rotate, I feel how different the aircraft is with just 1POB. 300ft, T's and P's still fine, flaps would come up if I had any. 500ft, gently start the left turn onto crosswind, still climbing gently to the circuit height of 1000ft. 1000ft comes, I turn downwind, once established on a heading of 030 and I was happy I made the downwind call to tower - I was told to continue on downwind and he'll call me when it's ok to turn base.. Ok, so I plod along nicely doing my checks as we go along, I complete my checks and expect a call any second. Then I hear a A321 inbound a R22 helicopter just departing from runway 03, makes sense to me now.. About 4 miles from the threshold I was finally told to turn base and report final, with me being number 1. :)

I started the turn onto base, then onto final still at 1000ft because of the range. Once "established" if you like, carb heat went out, power to 1500rpm and 2 stage of flap. Nicely setup, 2 red 2 white on the PAPI which is always a good sign. Reported final, given a landing clearance - A few minor adjustments with the power for height, then my heart really started to pound when I realised there is no instructor to takeover if I mess up - Soon, the nerves where forgotten as I passed the perimeter fence, dropped all the power and made a fantastic landing right on top of the numbers! - "Solo 05, congratulations on your first solo Captain, backtrack and vacate Alpha" "Thanks a lot :D Backtrack and vacate A, solo 05".

Backtracked, parked on the apron and met my instructor.

Needless to say, I've had a smile on my face since this happened at 13:30L time and I doubt the smile will be going for a long whileeeeee.

congratulations mate....only ever one first solo and dare say u'll remember it for years to come! A hell of a lot more solo flying ahead of ya....so just enjoy every minute of it.

Are you being serious when you say you only did 40 minutes practise in the circuits before you were let solo?? If so, i think your instructor is playing with death and if he lets all his students loose after 40 mins...it'll just be a matter of time before an accident happens!

Sorry, just had to throw that in.....it aint your fault. how many hours did you do before you solo??

Well done again mate,
Mark.

I'll remember every detail for the rest of my life, it was such an amazing experience.

Yep, 40 minutes in the circut, 5 circuits to be exact. I'd done 12 hours before, I knew I was ready for it - I could do the circuits both left and right hand just perfect! - I wouldn't have agreed if I wasn't 100% confident I could do it. I'm the only student he's let go solo after a short space of time in the circuit - But I do learn very fast, not to sound big headed.

Congratulations and well done!

I did my first solo at the same airfield with the same school and now fly the Airbus at Heathrow. It's pretty amazing where that first solo might eventually take you :ok::ok::ok::ok::ok:

oh..thought u meant you'd only done 40 minutes of circuits...ever. apologies :ok:
yea...i did my first solo beginning of this year...and my skills test about 6 weeks ago. Dare say you'll be bookin you test before you know it!

:cool: Hopefully I'll end up the same as you then, thats what I'm hoping for anyway :p

Thats because that is what I meant, I'd done 12 hours flying, but only 40 minutes in the circuit :) - As I said, I was ready for it.

:p When I get a licence, the sky will never be a safe place.. So my parents keep saying??

Seem to remember I had to extend downwind for commercial traffic. Seemed like an awful long way from the runway :-) I don't think any of the original aircraft are still there but I still have fond memories of the those PA-28s.

In fact, I would happily swap my Heathrow-Athens daytrip for a couple of hours of steep turns, PFL, stalling and circuits!

It really doesn't it - Especially when you turn base and you can only just make the runway out and they say it's 10km or more? Then you realise your just being silly and the runway is perfectly visable :sad:

I'm still in a high from the flight, I'm so excitable!

I'd love to swap, but I guess a Airbus is a little more complicated than a PA28 :eek:

Both obey the laws of aerodynamics. You just need to start the flare a bit higher in a 'Bus! :ok:

:ok: - On second thoughts, them call outs would confuse me - I'll pass!

Well done. Nice write up too. :)

Congrats !

What did you sing on downwind ?

Well done and congratulations.
As far as
This is something only the instructor can judge, there are some I would have sent at this stage, and at less than 12 hours total, others that will take a lot longer, all depends on currency and ability.

Thanks alot everyone, :)

I didn't sing anything on downwind, but the song "I want to break free" was in my head during taxi for departure, haha.

Well done! It's a great day and tremendous boost to your confidence - I know it was for me.

Does seem unusual to only start circuits after 12 hours. Is there a restriction on circuits at your airfield perhaps due to commercial traffic? Obviously whatever your instructor did with you previously prepared you well for it anyway. Also when the tide is right one needs to take the opportunity - you can wait weeks for the right weather.

:) It certainly is a tremendous boost to my confidence, I'm really confident in myself now, not too over confident mind.

Weather has been an issue with getting in the circuit, plus commercial traffic does play a part in the circuit being inactive for a good part of the morning - But never the less, everything we'd been doing previous to the circuit all came into place and everything seemed, well natural? - Thats exactly what my instructor said, he said it was not his intention to send me solo today but as I'd excelled and exceeded his expectations, I was landing perfectly and my circuits where fine that it would have been a shame to wait for another day which might not have the right conditions for another month or so.

Nice one!
 

Congratulations! I wonder if everyone gets a dry mouth before first solo? That's certainly the only time I've really ever noticed it!

13 hours is pretty good, nay excellent going, you should be proud :ok:

Downwind (after checks of course) I had David Lee Roth's "Just Like Paradise" knocking around in my head. Go figure.

Getting out of the circuit on your own is fun. Did my first solo cross country last week. Amaaaaaaazing!

JR

Congratulations mate :ok:

Less than 2 weeks away from the first anniversary of my 1st solo, it's a fantastic feeling & the big smile lasts for.......... actually I'm still smiling just thinking about it :):):)

Gav
www.madgav.org

Congrats!

You'll remember it for a long time.

/LnS

Congrats!

Solo after 12 hours sounds impressive. I'm on 20 (ish!) but think I'm nearing solo time (eeek!) I put it down to my old age ;)