A leap of faith

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Big-D
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A leap of faith

Postby Big-D » Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:48 am

5 Flying hours and about 3 weeks ago my instructor said to me “Dave, you are ready to go solo” – These instructors sure are crazy, expecting you to go it alone after a mere 20 hours and only about 300 landings!! I mean really, what does he know after all?, he has only been flying for 3 decades, he’s only got like a million flying hours, and so what if he wrote the manual for microlight instruction! Does all of this really qualify him to decide when I am an able pilot!!!???

I woke up at 4am on Saturday, got a sms from the weather service and what do you know….no wind – Damn!! No wind means perfect first solo conditions! Damn! :shock:

I drove to the airfield with a funny feeling in my gut and found myself kinda wishing for a storm to erupt to save me from what I knew I no longer could postpone – Anything to get me out of having to do what all microlighters have to do at some point – Go SOLO. Fly a trike all by yourself with nobody to help you out of the ka*k!! :shock:

I arrived at the airfield and saw that evil grin in Alan (My instructor’s) face – He knew it…, I knew it…, the rest of the flyboy’s at our club knew it… - The conditions were perfect and today was the day that I had to take that giant leap of faith in my own ability and go SOLO – All by myself (Like Celine’s song)

We flew 3 circuits together and then I heard Alan speak those dreaded words “Perfect landings Dave, How are you feeling…?” – Eish!! Couldn’t be honest and tell him that I actually felt like having a double Klipdrift and Coke (Met yssh ja.., met yssh...) and some smokes.

I don’t really remember Alan getting out of the plane or me taxiing back to the holding point – The next thing I knew I was lined up and rolling runway 03, SOLO, ALLEEN – The plane felt like it was airborne before I had even completely put my foot down and then it happened…. At that very moment as I reached 200ft AGL, I realized that there were only 3 ways that this trike could get back onto mother earth today

1. A gentle landing
2. A not so gentle landing
3. Using the GRS

Options 2 and 3 seemed expensive so I decided to go for option 1. I flew the circuit a little high, did not compensate for the minus 85kg but realized this before turning base in time and landed her like a champ. This solo business was fun and much more economical on fuel so I did a few more circuits solo before it started raining lightly which brought an end to my fun.

I think everybody will have to admit that the first time was scary and absolutely amazing at the same time – And boy, it is worth it! Got my solo certificate and took my instructor for a pub-breakfast.

What a day!!! What a hobby!!!
:D :D :D
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kb
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Postby kb » Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:52 am

YAY, well done Big D, here's a bunch of cold Draught's, (sorry, there are not Klippies and Coke Emoticons.) (^^) (^^) (^^) HAppy Landings.
"The universe is a big place, perhaps the biggest."
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Microwave

Postby Microwave » Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:15 am

Congratulations Big-D, now enjoy, but remember that you are your own instructor now for a while, listen to his intuition :!: (^^)
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John Young
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Nice one

Postby John Young » Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:34 am

Nice one Big D – well written – my solo experience was so recent that I could re-live it through your commentary.

Lekker feeling – congrats !! I will raise a glass to you at 17h01 today.
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Chaz
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Congrtas!!

Postby Chaz » Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:09 am

Congrats BIG - D =D* =D* =D*

Your's in Flying 8) 8) 8)
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kb
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Re: Nice one

Postby kb » Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:11 am

John Young wrote:I will raise a glass to you at 17h01 today.
Hey John, what's wrong with raising a glass now?? C'mon, it's 17.00 somewhere in the world.
"The universe is a big place, perhaps the biggest."
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Postby Wart » Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:24 am

Congrats Big-D; I actually got goose-bumps reading your post and thinking that soon it will be me.

(^^) (^^) (^^)

Many, many happy flying hours
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John Young
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Re: Nice one

Postby John Young » Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:35 am

kb wrote:Hey John, what's wrong with raising a glass now?? C'mon, it's 17.00 somewhere in the world.
Gee KB, you behaving like a real student – didn’t you write somewhere ….
“Comm ground school is going, been studying (reading, lying on the beach watching the “kittens” walk past, drinking, etc etc),
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Postby Red Baron » Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:20 am

Well done Big D (^^) (^^)
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Postby C205 » Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:53 am

Weel done! Congrats! :lol: (^^) (^^) (^^)
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Postby Tailspin » Mon Nov 14, 2005 1:39 pm

Well done Big-D (!!) (^^)
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Postby ACE » Mon Nov 14, 2005 1:40 pm

Congratulations BigD :D
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Postby Fairy Flycatcher » Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:33 pm

Well done BigD

I can relate to a lot of what you said. I don't even remember my first solo take-off. All I remember was the instructor getting out, telling me to go solo, and all the blood draining from my hands and face. The next thing I was on downwind and then base and then finals. It felt like rgw circuit took a loooong time. I guess I did it all safely, 'cause he let me go again. The second solo I DO remember, and treasure it as my first :D
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Postby Ratman » Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:31 pm

Well Done Big D :!: - Hope u have many hours of safe flying fun :!:

I recon the Wart has got to be next :!: ':-
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kb
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Postby kb » Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:14 pm

Batman wrote: I recon the Wart has got to be next :!: ':-
And we been saying this for how long now :roll: :roll:
"The universe is a big place, perhaps the biggest."
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