Advice/Experience for 1st Solo
Advice/Experience for 1st Solo
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Bristol
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went up, came down. Alive. Result.
It's a fact that very few people actually feel totally ready. I say that in the sense that there is quite often something in the back of ones mind saying, 'what, you, fly an aeroplane, by yourself, ha, get on', fact is once you've been up once, you're good to go.
I took a few photos, not the most sensible, but I needed the moment on film (or was it SD card) for posterity.
Enjoy it, it'll give you more of a thrill than actually receiving your little brown book!
Regards
CR
NB, the views contained herein are those only of Cpt Rossco, the stupidity of which only he can be held accountable for. PPrune in now way promotes/endorses the use of photographic devices whilst embarking ones first solo. In fact we'd probably discourage it, is this guy insane? He might be, he just might be.!
It's a fact that very few people actually feel totally ready. I say that in the sense that there is quite often something in the back of ones mind saying, 'what, you, fly an aeroplane, by yourself, ha, get on', fact is once you've been up once, you're good to go.
I took a few photos, not the most sensible, but I needed the moment on film (or was it SD card) for posterity.
Enjoy it, it'll give you more of a thrill than actually receiving your little brown book!
Regards
CR
NB, the views contained herein are those only of Cpt Rossco, the stupidity of which only he can be held accountable for. PPrune in now way promotes/endorses the use of photographic devices whilst embarking ones first solo. In fact we'd probably discourage it, is this guy insane? He might be, he just might be.!
Join Date: May 2005
Location: uk
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Just remember what you've been taught and you'll be fine,and as capt relax says,enjoy it-you only get one first solo and you will probably always remember it!!
For me it was one circuit and land,and it was over before I knew it,and not untill i was back on terra firma and the nerves had calmed did I fully appreciate what a great experience it was.
Good luck
For me it was one circuit and land,and it was over before I knew it,and not untill i was back on terra firma and the nerves had calmed did I fully appreciate what a great experience it was.
Good luck
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
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Two things to consider.
Firstly, you will be captain of the aircraft. If you are not happy with your approach, go around for another circuit!!!
Secondly, you won't have the weight of an instructor next to you so you'll probably shoot up like a rocket!
Cheers
Whirls
From a helicopter perspective!!!
Firstly, you will be captain of the aircraft. If you are not happy with your approach, go around for another circuit!!!
Secondly, you won't have the weight of an instructor next to you so you'll probably shoot up like a rocket!
Cheers
Whirls
From a helicopter perspective!!!
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
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Enjoy it, you will experience excitement, nervousness, an element of I have to land this thing when in the air and it will all be fine, in fact it is highly likely to be better than fine as all the training will kick in perfectly. Just remember that you wouldn't have been sent solo if you wern't deemed safe to do it. At the end of it, you will be the one smiling like a Cheshire cat. It is always over rather quickly, so try and get a family member or friend to take a photo or video for keep sake, if you feel that it won't put you off.
S
S
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: york
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yeh i found it really scary i do not think i was ready i went round circuit 5 or 6 times with instructor then he said do a full stop so i thought oh end of lesson already? then he just got out at end of runway n said now do it by yourself.
its true what has been said earlier, you are captain, if you dont feel comfortable with it go around. I wish i had i must hav done the worst landing they hav seen was too fast n wind caught me n i nearly ended up in the field next to me.
its true what has been said earlier, you are captain, if you dont feel comfortable with it go around. I wish i had i must hav done the worst landing they hav seen was too fast n wind caught me n i nearly ended up in the field next to me.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: KBOS
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Wouldn't advise brining anyone along and making a big fuss out of it. You don't need any additional pressure. Instructor just hopped out and said "Ok, the dead weight is out of the AC, be back in 40 minutes"...only nerves were taxiing and holding short, checking the "lights, camera and action"...once you get rolling the training kicks in.
Enjoy it, and like a few people have said already, don't be afraid to go around or decline an ATC request if unable, after all you're in charge now!
Good luck.
Enjoy it, and like a few people have said already, don't be afraid to go around or decline an ATC request if unable, after all you're in charge now!
Good luck.
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Enjoy!
And yes, you will fly up like a rocket without the dead weight beside you! I also found it unnervingly quiet without the said dead weight blathering on - so i talked to myself the whole way round, lol
My fixed wing first solo was scary. My helo first solo was even scarier. And i wouldn't change a thing! I too remember them both like they were yesterday
Good luck!!
And yes, you will fly up like a rocket without the dead weight beside you! I also found it unnervingly quiet without the said dead weight blathering on - so i talked to myself the whole way round, lol
My fixed wing first solo was scary. My helo first solo was even scarier. And i wouldn't change a thing! I too remember them both like they were yesterday
Good luck!!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The sunny south coast
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Order of the day,
Very nervous
More nervous
Damn this fine weather, damn the car has started,
arrived at airfield-
complete denial, decided I wasnt ready
Flying with instructor-
Tried to talk him out of sending me
Instructor out of aircraft-
Soiling of trousers an option
Lining up-
Mortal fear
Rotation-
No going back now, resignation to the impending fate
Downwind-
This is really quite cool
Base-
No this is really very f
cool
Touchdown- ( I think it was 3 in total off one approach!!!!)
wanna go again now now now now can I pleeeeeease!!
The Bar-
Pissed.
Seven years on its the best feeling I have ever had, lots of flights lots of achievements but that one was still the best all 6 minutes of it.
Very nervous
More nervous
Damn this fine weather, damn the car has started,
arrived at airfield-
complete denial, decided I wasnt ready
Flying with instructor-
Tried to talk him out of sending me
Instructor out of aircraft-
Soiling of trousers an option
Lining up-
Mortal fear
Rotation-
No going back now, resignation to the impending fate
Downwind-
This is really quite cool
Base-
No this is really very f
coolTouchdown- ( I think it was 3 in total off one approach!!!!)
wanna go again now now now now can I pleeeeeease!!
The Bar-
Pissed.
Seven years on its the best feeling I have ever had, lots of flights lots of achievements but that one was still the best all 6 minutes of it.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: UK
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Mine went well, two touch-and-goes then a full stop landing. I was relaxing in the sunshine afterwards, with a well earned coke and mars bar when my Norwegian instructor and his mate threw a bucket of water over me. They said it was tradition... I didn't see it happen to anyone else when I was there. Fortunately it was Florida and a warm day. Cheeky bar stewards!
Anyone else had a post first solo drenching in the name of 'tradition'?
Anyone else had a post first solo drenching in the name of 'tradition'?
Join Date: Mar 2007
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I have found this thread very inspirational folks: I too have an impending date with a first solo with a week or so to think about it.
Should be an interesting experience!
Bri
Should be an interesting experience!
Bri
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Relax and enjoy! The aircraft will perform much better without the instructor aboard. But be a bit careful on subsequent solo flights - it's easy to be over-confident after the euphoria of the first solo.
Join Date: Mar 2007
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There it was-gone
So I was flying circuits at the weekend and the instructor says 'shall we land this time?'. So I said yes no problem, and vacated at the end of the runway. Then he says 'right, you don't need me anymore-off you go!'
At the airfield I'm at, and the runway in use, you have to backtrack almost the entire length of the runway. Turned around and stopped. Increased the power and without the instructor the performance was good.
I even remembered to do the downwind checks too. After a stable approach the landing was ok after a little float. Then, 6 minutes after it had begun it was over.
Strangely, I was more nervous after I had shut the aircraft down than before I went! Funny how these things can work!
Bri
At the airfield I'm at, and the runway in use, you have to backtrack almost the entire length of the runway. Turned around and stopped. Increased the power and without the instructor the performance was good.
I even remembered to do the downwind checks too. After a stable approach the landing was ok after a little float. Then, 6 minutes after it had begun it was over.
Strangely, I was more nervous after I had shut the aircraft down than before I went! Funny how these things can work!
Bri
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Middlesex, UK
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My first solo experience
This would have been about a year ago now, how time does fly!!!!!
My instructor didn't even warn me that solo was immemant, we just pulled up outside the school with me thinking that the lesson was over for that day, and he said ''don't bother shutting it down'', got out and said ''right, go and do one circuit on your own''. He shut the door and walked back into the office!!!!! Best way to do it in my mind, you don't have time to worry about it.
The problem was that there was a lot of inbound traffic, so I had to wait for about 5 minutes at the end of the runway. It was torture. Here are the basic thoughts that went through my head:-
Taxy out: He he this is fun I've been waiting for this.
At the hold waiting to get on the runway: Is this such a good idea?
Take of roll: What in God's name am I doing? I'm not a pilot!!!!!
Downwind: Still alive but my minds gone blank, what were the checks again?!?!?!
Base: Looking good so far, warm fuzzy feeling returning.
Final: Watch that airspeed.
Flare: Jesus that grounds coming up a bit quick. that was a hard landing!!!
Taxy in: What a relief!!!!!
The trouble was my instructors saw my landing, congratulated me on my first solo and told me to get a quick bite to eat and take a break, then go up again and do some more circuits until I could land properly.
A great experience, even if it was a little dawnting.
My instructor didn't even warn me that solo was immemant, we just pulled up outside the school with me thinking that the lesson was over for that day, and he said ''don't bother shutting it down'', got out and said ''right, go and do one circuit on your own''. He shut the door and walked back into the office!!!!! Best way to do it in my mind, you don't have time to worry about it.
The problem was that there was a lot of inbound traffic, so I had to wait for about 5 minutes at the end of the runway. It was torture. Here are the basic thoughts that went through my head:-
Taxy out: He he this is fun I've been waiting for this.
At the hold waiting to get on the runway: Is this such a good idea?
Take of roll: What in God's name am I doing? I'm not a pilot!!!!!
Downwind: Still alive but my minds gone blank, what were the checks again?!?!?!
Base: Looking good so far, warm fuzzy feeling returning.
Final: Watch that airspeed.
Flare: Jesus that grounds coming up a bit quick.
that was a hard landing!!!Taxy in: What a relief!!!!!
The trouble was my instructors saw my landing, congratulated me on my first solo and told me to get a quick bite to eat and take a break, then go up again and do some more circuits until I could land properly.
A great experience, even if it was a little dawnting.