Did it after 14:45 hrs of instruction - it was 11 years ago, but if I remember correctly I had declined a previous invitation from my instructor to do first solo probably about 2 or 3 hours (of flying time) earlier. What sort of a whimp am/was I??!!

A sensible one, that's what! If you didn't feel confident or comfortable, then you made the right decision. And that makes you a pilot-in-command, not a wimp!

Cheers

Whirls

Went solo on PA-28 at Fairoaks yesterday at 12 hours, unexpectedly but comfortably (well, I was comfortable - I assume my instructor was too :rolleyes:). Like another correspondent here, I vividly remember my T21 Slingsby Kadett solo at Kenley in 1985, when I was seventeen, though I can't recall the number of training hours (minutes!). Both wonderful experiences, just a great melange of excitement, responsibilty and liberation; the purity and open-cockpit sensuality of the glider solo contrasted pleasingly with the more complex and 'busy' powered thang, though I think the R/T gives the latter a more inclusive edge, even if it is only routine calls! Also, as I banked over-steeply from base to final over Kenley all those years ago I couldn't resist the urge to yell: 'Banzaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!' down at my long-suffering instructor (a Jaguar pilot as a day job) before bowling at an alarming rate of descent into the sward. He retired soon after :bored:. I avoided that this time. I didn't think ATC would be impressed. :)
Capt* W. E. Johns's (the 'Biggles' author) first solo was remarkable in that he stalled on take-off and wrecked his mount. He then later went on to crash three aircraft in three days. And he became a top instructor :\. Even M. von Richthofen was a distinctly un-natural novice and took a while to get going. So, I agree that the number of hours to 1st solo is irrelevant and potentially misleading. My instructor yesterday said; 'Well done! But remember you'll probably be crap next time - most people are'. :{

*(He wasn't ever a Captain either, but a Flying Officer - he claimed children would recognise 'Captain' more easily than F.O. So I'm going to put 'AVM' on my logbook, in that case. Seems fair enough. No, even better, I'm changing my name to....The Black Falcon. Er, yeah: The Black Falcon, of !!!!ehawk Squadron. Sounds much better...:D

Dougie
The solo flights in your training are milestones in youir progress through the course and all the dual training is there just to enable you to complete the solo flights safely.

It's a bit naughty of your instructor to tell you that you will be going solo next time as will raise your expectations and your level of nervousnes, but if you go solo next time, or the time after doesnt matter, as your instructor will pick the perfect time for it, both in terms of your ability, and the conditions.

This will be the first of many solo flights as you continue the course, each marking a new level of skill and confidence in your progress. Then, one day, someone will give you a pink slip and you will be a pilot!

I remember those times very well although they were a long time ago and even now, after all these years , my FOs sometimes catch me looking out of the side window and watching the ground fall away as we take off. Magic isn't it?

Anyway, enough of my ramblings. Now I have over 20,000 hours and taught hundreds of people to fly, I realised long ago that it matters not a jot how many hours it takes to go solo, but if it reassures you any, then 14 is perfectly normal for someone not on a full time course.

Good luck! (you won't need it but its nice to have)

MJ;)

no matter what, i will always find these "first solo" threads infuriating.

17th

Why is that?

MJ

for all the reasons whirlygig put forward about people measuring their ability by it...

Then why read them??

On my second solo at 300' the door popped open at the top and was flapping in the breeze-so if you are flying a PA28 (or whatever else for that matter) give the closure of the door a thorough testing once the instructor gets out.

This happened to me on second or third solo,I thought the airflow would hold it closed but of course the negative air pressure above wing would hold it open.

I continued flying in blissful ignorance,but the CFI said I should have landed back at the airfield ASAP.

Anyway the top latch on the PA28 is horrible and should be checked for complete closure before any flight.
Lister:)

Solo after 22 hours, at busy Geneva airport. With airline traffic, one must be rather cautious. I don't even want to imagine...

Some instructors send solo students in much harder conditions: The day I scared a solo student pilot

I did my first solo two days ago and i had 17.6 hours of flying time. We were doing touch and go's when my instructor said"This is getting boring now you know how to do this, make a full stop landning and let me out of the plane." I felt really nervous when i requsted taxiinstructions and during taxiing. Then i had to wait quite a while at the holding point due to trafic. I think i checked the fuel selector, mixture and so on 10 times just to occupie myself while waiting.:)
When i finally got airborne it was just amazing and also a bit scary to know that if i f*ck up now i'm on my own.:)

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I went solo on 6 and a half hours and enjoyed it !!! Will never forget the sensation...looking at thr right hand seat ...empty !!! I actually put my hand on the right hand seat to make sure it was empty.... then realised that I was in charge... Wish I had a video of my first landing ...what a beautiful landing it was !!!! You will nerver ever have another First Solo flight in your life .....enjoy it !!!!!

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Well said Whirls !!! I agree