You poor sod! And it was such a perfect day for it too... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" /> Still, it can't be too long though, if you're at that 'could be any day' stage. Maybe the change of instructor will help??? Did me, definitely, even if it did hold me back a few hours (don't ask me how many, you're as likely to get an answer as if you ask my weight!!).. .. .I'm still watching out for your big post soon (no pressure like!). Then I'll race you to first land away! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" />

Penguina,. .. .Actually I think the change of instructor did me quite a lot of good. I did the best 6 landings I've done for a long time <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .You've got a fair head start on doing the first solo landaway as you'll be working on your solo circuits before I get to even do my first solo.. .. .I'll probably lose the race, but ok. Let me know when you do your first solo land away <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

Yeh, I think it might be a good moment to get a new instructor, it can get pretty stale and demotivating doing circuits to infinity. Sounds good to me! Mmm, I suspect I might win too, actually - but then again, I'll probably be an incompetent navigator, so you never know! Will keep you posted.

I imagine it wouldn't make any difference what your mood was like before your first solo, that experience would make you happy, joyous, beaming, delighted........In fact I think what I'm trying to say is ....what a "p-p-p-pick up eh Penguina?!".

sorry...:rolleyes:

Grim,

You must be deathly bored to think of such awful puns!

Many congrats Penguina T'aint nothing quite like the feeling from the first solo.
I used to think that it was all so much hype and couldn't understand what all the fuss was about - you're just flying a circuit just like you've done umpteen times before…right up until my first solo that is everything seemed pretty normal maybe the a/c accelerated a little faster, ok rate of climb was higher. But the real moment of revelation? About halfway along the crosswind leg I looked to my right and …there was NOBODY there! Slowly but inexorably a grin split my face.
I'm talking about the full Cheshire cat - pig in shi! far too much beer type of grin. I just managed to relax the rictus long enough to make the down wind and finals calls. Then running down final as if on rails a thought stuck me "I could just decide that I'm not happy with the approach and go around - after all the last words my instructor had said were "remember you can always go around and don't forget to have fun" So I would be justified wouldn't I? At that moment the good angel popped on to my shoulder and whispered "You're approach is fine just land and you'll have your reward" The good angle delivered and with the lightest of contacts and just doubled chirp, chirp…rumble from the main gear it was over…"G-TE exit first left and congratulations".
But you know what ? It's not quite the same but the fun never stops

There's more to come: The first navex when landmarks turn up where they should be when they should do - the first solo land away, completing the QXC, hitting your own wake in four successive steep turns.
The first time with a retractable gear and wobbly prop - making that "finals - three greens" call etc etc all have their feelings of smug satisfaction

What about those sunny summer days when you taxi up in front of a load of non flyers at the airport caff, shut down hop out and swagger towards the caff for a sarnie and cup of tea with the "that's right folks I'm a pilot and this aircraft is MY command" kind of expression if not on your face then surely wizzing through your mind?.
Or how about when there a cross wind and a perfect crab down finals is converted with just the right amount of wing down and rudder and levelled just at contact and as the nose lowers you are rewarded with the centreline right in the middle of the windscreen?
What about when you park and as you walk away from the aircraft look back and notice that the nose wheel is bang on the spot?
Then there are those gin clear still days with viz that goes on forever the a/c is perfectly trimmed and you feel like you are just hanging suspended in space with the ground laid out below like a relief map.
Or last w/e for example, I realised another infantile ambition. On receiving parking instructions at EGHH I was able to reply "Copy West ramp between the Friendships. Any preference as to which Fokker you want me closer to?" rapture...
How about standing around the bar hangar flying and learning from the experience and knowledge of those who have gone before and sharing your thoughts with those who follow…priceless

Damn I love to fly

Do ground pounders understand? Nope. Will they ever? Only if they learn to fly

Sorry feeling a bit lyrical this afternoon

Nice post AR

I was up yesterday for my second solo - less memorable than the first, but a lot more fun. The great advantage of more than one circuit is that there is plenty of time to enjoy it all. Lovely weather, a slightly eratic first circuit but a good landing followed by a couple more smooth touch and goes and then a greaser to full stop. Magic :D :D :D

There was, however, a slight embarrasment. I did two dual circuits first, after which we taxied to the tower and my instructor turned down the radio volume and gave me a few words of encouragement. He then hopped out and I hit the push-to-talk "G-KBPI, request radio check and taxi for circuits, student pilot on board". Silence. um.... "G-KBPI, request radio check". Silence. Instructor waving at me from the tower. What the **** is going on? "G-KBPI, request radio check". Instructor runs up and tells me to stop doing radio checks and turn the volume up because the radio is fine and I'm talking over the top of everyone else.... :o :o :o

Oh well, it was a great session and if that's the dumbest thing I did then not too bad. I'll remember next time.... :)

Hehe, Evo....:D

My embarrassing moment last Saturday was on my first solo flyaway and back. Sorted everything out and called ready for departure, which was given. I lined up and called the TWR only to be asked if " G-PC, are you lined up on the 19?" which I thought was a bit unusual....:confused:

It turns out that I wasn't even on the RWY but sitting next to it on what I thought was RWY 19 - felt a right prat...:rolleyes:

In my defence, the RWY markings are not that great for a novice at Redhill.

Penguina - well played, only managed to solo myself recently. Also can't quite remove the grin yet!!

Penguina,

It's just a case of knowing who you can swagger in front of.

e.g.

(a) The FISO, who, when your turned downwind, pointed out you were heading for the wrong runway. No swagger. (More like 'hiding').

(b) The people in the caff who didn't see this little debacle unfolding. Swagger on!

This is obviously not based on any actual experience, it never happened at Lydd, etc etc...
;) ;)

Pardon me if I hi- jack this "another first solo announcement thread" with : another first solo announcement!:D
The best bit was probably when I realised I was going solo as we turned around on the runway after landing because I had been given the impression that I definetely wasnt going solo that day. It was a complete surprise!
Congratulations penguina, I know how you feel!

Tiger,

Congrats, well done. :)

Did you do it in a moth?

Cheers

SD

Congratulations to those who have gone solo!

Maybe my turn will come one day, I have done so many circuits! Just looking for a sign that today may be 'THE' day.
After 25hrs and some reasonable landings I would have thought that my day should be soon :(

Tiger_Moth - Congratulations! :D


Thumpango

I've been there. I hit a plateau just below solo standard, so for a while I was doing circuit after circuit and getting nowhere. There was nothing wrong with them, but equally they weren't quite there. After a while things clicked into place. I've been up by myself twice now, and I can't wait to get out of the damn circuit. Feel like I've done hundreds, and there's still flapless and crosswind to go.... :rolleyes:

Congrats Tiger_Moth.

Congratulations Tiger!

It's nearly 2 weeks on now and I'm still caught gazing into the middle distance with a vague smug grin and dribbling slightly from time to time!

Ace - dammit you're making me want to go flying right NOW. Stop it.

Paulo - He he! Bloody FISOs are very good at sticking metaphorical pins in us novices, aren't they? I still remember being told dryly that I was gabbling and to start again! I tend to creep around the back of the tower when I can to avoid being coupled with the phantom clueless voice!

____________________________________________________
The bird that can't quite fly...

Thanks everyone
SD, why OF COURSE it was in a moth. Nothing else would do!

Still going to use it for the Navs?

Congrats to everyone who's soloed recently. But especially to Tiger_Moth. I remember when I first turned up on PPRuNe, you always seemed to take a load of stick off everyone else, and I never figured out why. But well done for sticking it out on PPRuNe and showing everyone, well done on your first solo, and especially well done because it was not only in a tail-dragger, but by all accounts (and I hope to find out for myself one day soon!) not the easiest tail-dragger to fly either! :D

FFF
-------------

Tiger,

Way to go!

I was at Lahenden last week and saw a couple of tiger moths in formation - what a lovely site and sound.

If I lived near there I'd want to learn on them too. I see your point.:)

SD