Ist solo 24th April, 1956. North American Harvard Mk II. 64 Years. 24th April 2006, 50 years to the day, almost to the hour, flight in a Harvard MkII of New Zealand Warbirds. They didn't let me go solo !

Well, I was going to try to help a little more, as my first helicopter solo was in 2007. However, since I got my PPLH in 20098, I have not flown a helicopter solo since. Dual, as PF, yes, but not solo. It is not possible to rent a helicopter, which is why I spent two years as a helicopter student pilot, so I could fly it solo, before I lost the possibility as a license holder! So, I would have liked to add to the 769 years, but I can't really say that those additional 13 years count as "solo" flying!

769/15 pilots = average 50.8 years of flying per pilot posting, that's quite something!

First legal flight 22/6/1962 DHC-1, solo 29/7/1962, final flight as PIC 3/6/2004, 20,000hrs. I say legal because as an airport rat had many hours prior riding/having a go with various good folk, including a left seat drive of an F-27. Sorry to bring the numbers down, can't be bothered with the costs associated now to keep the hand in, $35 for a landing the last time I took a ride.

My first flight/solo 13/28 Aug, 1977 in a C150.
43 years
Happy Days!

My last commercial flight as PIC was last March.

It’s often said flying is the best job in the world and the worst career. I agree and wouldn’t change a minute of it!

Three very memorable flights (for all the right reasons) were my only glider flights - so I’m looking forward to directing my aviation interest and energy there.

pithblot

First solo T21 at Lasham March 1957. Lots of first solos on Piston Provost, Vampires, Hunters, Sycamore, Whirlwind. Last P1 flights Europa and R22 July 2019. 62 years, 13000 odd hours, 101 types and variants. I wish I could do it all over again.

769 years of SOLO flying? But they even let some of us fly with someone else in the aeroplane afterwards!

Laurence

My first solo was in May 1967 in the Cessna 150 in the background of this photo taken a couple of years later about to take a couple of friends in a 172. I retired from full time engineering over 10 years ago but still working part-time as a flight instructor, mainly aerobatics.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c344ea731e.jpg

Without starting a certain controversy again, what I meant was years since your first solo and still flying PIC.

I can contribute just 10 and three quarter :E years solo time. A beautiful summer day on G-BWNB at Wellesbourne Mountford courtesy of an Air League Flying Scholarship, the 12 hours of which I completed at South Warwickshire Flying School.

I'll find a photo later!

All contributions welcome!

1st solo July '82 at Denham, in Rallye G-BECC, sadly rotted away. Continuously current from then. Still instructing in PA28 etc and flying for fun in a C42 so add another 38, not mega by other posts but I started late.

TOO

Although I only have a tenth of the hours of some that I know, I can get you a little closer to the thousand years you desire. 38 years since solo in a four year old PA38. Still pinch myself regularly on my way to "work".

G-EORG visited our field last summer, still in her late nineties BA ethnic paint.

We have a beautiful and extremely well equipped 1979 example on our fleet. I think of her as a nod to George.

Snap TOO! (Not only were we typing together but typing the same years) I didn't know you started at Denham, I always thought of you as a man of Kent.

Congratulations, that's an impressive achievement! I will work on matching it, but so far I can barely claim 54 weeks since my 1st solo.

First solo April 1981 at Glasgow Airport. PA38. Each landing was 80p. Bargain! 1200 hours now.

First solo Marshalls Cambridge 21 March 1954 T31 thanks to CCF. First power JP1 XD675 Hullavington 2Aug 1956. Flew LS4 and Duo Discus last week.
My first flight was in that Tiger at Cambridge with my older brother who did a flying scholarship.

First solo glider, 1965 at Kirton in Lindsey courtesy of ATC. First solo power Carlisle 1967, a flying scholarship from the same organisation. I note there are still a few alumni from Carlisle around that time on Pprune. So 63 years burning dead dinosaurs.

Still at it, when Covid lets me get at my aircraft again.

And the man above me, "Well done that man, take his name sergeant!"

I can only add another 45 years.

First solo 23rd August 1975, Edinburgh (now international) Airport. Sent off by Hugh Allan of Edinburgh Air Centre In C150 G-BCCC

Solo with flying scholarship during Summer 1973 at Halfpenny Green, military then charter until September 2019, just the 46 years.

First solo, 1960, T31 at Catterick, first jet solo, 1962 at Acklington. ( Thanks, Quiet please !)

Still doing it in a PA28 at White Waltham !