First solo
 

Hi everyone,

I have had a quick look for a thread on this but could not find one, so hope any readers do not mind me asking the following:

I have done so far 13.5 hrs and now doing 'circuit-bashing', everything seems to be coming on ok. All my climbs/descents/turns/stalls are up to scratch and my circuits are ok (just got to master the right point to flare but getting there).

I am wondering about anyones views on the averge number of hours students go solo on their circuits? I have heard some wild suggestions of anywhere between 6 and 30 hrs!!! Not sure what to believe.

I am flying 3-4 times per month and making steady progress. I would be greatful of anyones, helpful, views:

If any reader, who holds a PPL, and does not have time to go into detail or give me any specific thoughts your hour you went solo and also how many months it took you to pass your PPL. If provding the latter how often you flew would be useful.

In addition any views on tackling the next section of the syllabus would be really useful, but as I say only if you have time and want to help me.

All helpful responses really appreciated.

Adam

Hi Adam,

I'm a fellow PPL student and have completed 19.5 hrs and started the navigation.

I solo'd at 12.6hrs and have now logged 2.8 hrs solo (P1) circuits. My first flight was on 17/08/10 and my solo on 18/09/10.

Good luck and don't stress about it as it will happen when everything is ready.

Regards,
Dan.

Hey Adam,

I recently flew solo on the 10/10/10 (Lucky day) after 13 hours flying.

I was 16 in August and I wanted to complete it as close to my birthday as
I could however bad weather dragged it on a few months.

It's said that reaching solo flight in under 2hrs is good and anything under 15hrs is very good.

In my opinion it does all depend on the conditions etc because if I didnt fly on the
days which I had bad weather then the time it took me to fly solo would have been
reduced but any flying is good flying so even if it does take you more than 15 hours
to solo you have probably gained alot of experience out of it.

Michael

A an instructor between 6 and 30 hours is about right to be honest. There are so many variables that comes into play.

Ex int. student and solo'd at 14 hours, as scheduled. The only time it changes is if someone needs extra hours.

Sounds like you are making good progress.

& for "dan_vector", where are you flying from?
I'm from down that way!

I am in the same groove as Mad Jock, as an instructor there are a fair few variables.

Quite a few people seem to get hung up on how many hours it took them to go solo, but to be honest, it really is not important.

When people suggest they went solo in 7 or 8 hours in a bragging fashion, I would always ask the question, how thoroughly were the lessons taught? You have to remember that exercise 12 and 13 are circuits. From my own experience, students would solo anything from 10 hours to 30 hours. If you have a student that flies every day, and is lucky with the weather, they will solo far quicker than someone who flies once a week, and is unlucky with the weather.

In terms of your stratergy for the rest of the course, I would try to be ahead of the game. Read the books, get your instructor to brief lessons on rainy days and take everything on board and really prepare for those lessons. It will make it so much easier for you, when you come to fly the detail.

With regard to your question about how long it takes to complete a PPL, it depends on the individual. I have seen 3 months to 2 years. It all depends on the person, learning ability, commitment, flying frequency, natural ability, and the list goes on.

Dont get too hung up on the above, just enjoy it, its such good fun.

All the best and enjoy your course.

CAT 3C.

Did it in 11:00, according to my integrated programme.
Some guys did it in 20:00.......no sweat if it takes you longer !
You'll get there, and i'm sure you're first solo landing will be better than mine :ok:

I might add i was sent solo in 6 hours and it wasn't until I did my FIC that I realise how much I had not done before solo. So completely understand where CAT III is coming from with what did the instructor miss out.

Now I have sent folk solo in under 10 hours but they are the exceptions. And everything has to go like clock work for it to happen. Did they turn out better pilots than the guys that need more time?. Usually not to be honest you usually find that the ones that are poo hot at handeling couldn't find there arsehole with a map and compass. And the ones that the basic handeling took a bit longer to bed in found Nav to be a walk in the park.

Most folk think wanging around the sky is the be end of everything being a pilot. Its not actually, the having the mental understanding and capacity to not have to need **** hot handling skills even if you do have them is the sign of a good pilot.

Learn it properly the first time, it is the foundations for the rest of your life.

@ SupaMach
 

Hi SupaMach. I'm flying from Compton Abbas EGHA. Wonderful flying club with excellent instructors. Loving every minute so far!!
Regards.

4.5 hours to solo on microlights though with some previous on gliders though a few years before. Didn't complete the PPL that time though when I got back in the saddle 12 years later it only took 6.5 hours to solo.

Bear in mind that your time to solo is down to three things: Your competency, the weather (i.e. your currency, how often you can fly) and your instructor's comfort level with sending students solo. Some are fine with it if they think you are ready, others will keep you dual for as long as possible to be absolutely certain that you are ready. Most fall in between.

It may be that you really aren't ready but if you are convinced that you are being held back unecessarily there is nothing wrong with asking for a hop with a different instructor to get second opinion. I did exactly this when gliding and soloed after a 5 minute check out with a more senoir instructor than my regular one.

Flying is an expensive thing to learn. Its your money, and there's nothing wrong with questioning (politely!) those who are providing your training.

Also -the trick to flaring at the right time is to be looking in the right direction. Look at the far end of the runway, not the bit nearest to you.

If you have a flight sim at home to practice on it may help reduce the amount of airtime you need to get this nailed. I've used sims at many points of my training to get past sticking points. Sure, the 'feel' might not be there but if you do everything else as if it were for real (i.e. checks, radio calls, flaps, carb heat, mixture) and get good at it, then you'll find that the real thing will be easier as the practice will have given you spare mental capacity to use on the things that you aren't so good at.

Good luck. Your first solo will be the best thing that will ever happen to you in flying.

Don't use a flight sim for the flare.

Its a 2D simulation of a 4D enviroment. When I say 4D the 4th dimension is mother nature.

The trick with the flare is to try and not land with the power off. Also have a look at the attitude your instructor lands at when you get to that attitude hold it while wiggling the rudder pedals.

Then in a loud clear voice say "get down you whore"

Do that three times and off solo you go.

Many thanks everyone for all the info and advice, really helpful.

A few of you have touched on the flare an just wondered if anyone else could share their tips for getting this right. My problem is I am flaring too early (not juding when to squeeze the stick right/pull back) and when I do I am pulling back too much. Any tips on how to get this right would really help me i.e where best to focus your vision at what point/slow the sink rate right down

Thanks again everyone.

Adam

Adam
First solo August 04 after about 20 hours - I struggled with the flare too -, Qualifying cross country (QXC) - last Saturday! Not maybe the longest PPL in history, but probably getting there!
As others have rightly said, you will never forget your first solo, but for sheer satisfaction, the QXC is right up there too. Being held up for nearly an hour by two separate airport emergencies (Prestwick) certainly kept the adrenalin pumping!

Mad Jock - we flew a couple of weeks ago. Well QXC done now - thanks for your help!

:ok: build up time then for the test.

I don't think you will have any problems with a wee bit of polish.

Ps I really enjoyed doing that sortie should be back up north in 5 weeks.

Adam, have a look for my thread "Stuck in the circuit", there's a lot of helpful advice from various people in there. I got to solo at around, I think, 24 hours or so, around 15/16 of which were circuit-bashing, whilst flying once every two or three weeks. I've now done two hours of solo circuits, and am about ready to start going further afield as soon as the weather starts behaving... :D

EDIT here it is, to save you looking http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...k-circuit.html - looks like I was closer to 26 hours by the time I went solo.

Adam

In response to your original post, I went solo after around 22 hrs because of poor conditions. My instructor progressed me onto the advanced flying while I was waiting for the right conditions. Regarding your flare I tend to look at the far end of the runway like others have already stated. I did some circuits the other day, and promptly f****d it all up! But Hey Ho! you've gotta try and learn from what you did wrong. You'll get there in the end ;) anyway happy flying. And good luck with your training!

A couple of things; I went solo unexpectedly when I was sent off by an instructor I hadn't flown with before. I think it was well over 12 hours - something like that anyway. Slightly numb with shock I did the pre takeoff checks twice (just to be sure) and really enjoyed it. Take your time and enjoy it as well.

Regarding the flare, I think we have all had trouble with this, but the best bit of advice I had was when a new Instructor said when we were on late final 'you are leaving it late and then having to rush sorting out the flare'. After that I rounded out more gradually and let the aeroplane settle level and it went well after that. I hope that makes sense. Have fun.

I wouldn't worry about how many hours you've done. With commitment you'll fly solo sooner or later.

You've not mentioned what aircraft you're flying, but to avoid over flaring one of my instructors suggested to me to move the yoke back in stages. So when you get to the point you wish to begin levelling out, move the yoke back slightly then stop and hold it there, wait for the aircraft to change attitude, then move it back again, wait, then again etc. You'll find the changes get closer and closer together and you'll always land on the main gear. You should look at the end of the runway as this will give you an idea of sink rate and direction (if there is a cross wind).

The reason for doing it this way is that you'll likely maintain a low sink rate and you'll see the change your control input has made to the attitude of the aircraft before changing that input. It should also stop you over-controlling.

I'm not an instructor but this certainly helped me when I was learning.

Also making sure you have the right approach speed over the threshold and that your approach is stable and on the centre line will only make things easier nearer the ground.

I've always found the wing down method easier than a crab approach simply because you've less work to do during the flare but this could vary depending on what you're flying.

Best of luck. I'm sure you'll be flying solo in no time!