Solo at last!
Solo at last!
Hey guys, just thought I'd share my story with you.
I have been training on-and-off since December 2008 and got to around 7.5 hours and was told I was ready for solo (been flying with my dad since I was a pikkie, so have some previous experience), but it all came at quite a rush, so I had to write the tests and radio exams and send all the papers up country for the SPL, we continued to do dual while we waited. It finally got issued and I was able to go solo!
We went and did a few circuits in different configurations and approaches at Caledon and then I was instructed to do a full stop landing. This was my cue. We backtracked to the apron, instructor unbuckled his harness, gave me a few words of advice and commented on the flight characteristics one-up, unplugged his headset and walked away. Then the worry set in, not of the task ahead, but more of 'why am I not worrying about the task ahead' as I have heard about so many times. Where were my quivering knees? Where was my pounding heart? But then it dawned on me. The last bunch of hours I had flown had been with this passenger in the back that kept giving me instructions, he hadn't been flying the plane ..I had. So I must have been doing something right if he trusted me to take his baby up all by myself.
Self-evaluation stopped and I set about the task at hand. Checks done and radio call amended with 'Student', I opened the throttle for take-off.
The kick in my back was absurd, I looked to the air speed indicator and was stunned to see that it was time to ease back on the stick. The climb-out was just manic, I found myself continuously pulling back to keep the designated climb speed. I continued to do about 7 or 8 touch and goes and built up my first 0.3 solo hours. Days later and I still have the smile on my face to prove it, the bug, she has bitten!
It was such a blast and I do hope that more people get to do it! Can't wait to get back to the field!
Good luck to all you out there doing training. Safe and happy flying to everyone!
I have been training on-and-off since December 2008 and got to around 7.5 hours and was told I was ready for solo (been flying with my dad since I was a pikkie, so have some previous experience), but it all came at quite a rush, so I had to write the tests and radio exams and send all the papers up country for the SPL, we continued to do dual while we waited. It finally got issued and I was able to go solo!
We went and did a few circuits in different configurations and approaches at Caledon and then I was instructed to do a full stop landing. This was my cue. We backtracked to the apron, instructor unbuckled his harness, gave me a few words of advice and commented on the flight characteristics one-up, unplugged his headset and walked away. Then the worry set in, not of the task ahead, but more of 'why am I not worrying about the task ahead' as I have heard about so many times. Where were my quivering knees? Where was my pounding heart? But then it dawned on me. The last bunch of hours I had flown had been with this passenger in the back that kept giving me instructions, he hadn't been flying the plane ..I had. So I must have been doing something right if he trusted me to take his baby up all by myself.
Self-evaluation stopped and I set about the task at hand. Checks done and radio call amended with 'Student', I opened the throttle for take-off.
The kick in my back was absurd, I looked to the air speed indicator and was stunned to see that it was time to ease back on the stick. The climb-out was just manic, I found myself continuously pulling back to keep the designated climb speed. I continued to do about 7 or 8 touch and goes and built up my first 0.3 solo hours. Days later and I still have the smile on my face to prove it, the bug, she has bitten!
It was such a blast and I do hope that more people get to do it! Can't wait to get back to the field!
Good luck to all you out there doing training. Safe and happy flying to everyone!
- John Young
- The Boss
- Posts: 1973
- Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 8:38 am
- Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Solo at last!
Nice one Ledz
But please, tell all - what the heck were you doing "outta bed" at 12h42 am?
Keep us posted on your progress.
Regards
John ZU-sEXY
But please, tell all - what the heck were you doing "outta bed" at 12h42 am?
Keep us posted on your progress.
Regards
John ZU-sEXY
Was a sEXY trike. Now registered as N457YJ
Re: Solo at last!
Hahahaha!!!
I was up until 4 a.m. yesterday morning celebrating with some buddies, so my body clock is still slightly out of whack! The joys of being in your twenties.
I shall keep you posted as I start to do the solo air work! Thanks, John.
Cheers
I was up until 4 a.m. yesterday morning celebrating with some buddies, so my body clock is still slightly out of whack! The joys of being in your twenties.
I shall keep you posted as I start to do the solo air work! Thanks, John.
Cheers
- BOATCH
- Flying low - mind the power lines
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:52 am
- Location: ALIWAL NORTH
Re: Solo at last!
Congrats now the best part of the flying is done , go do the rest and be safe
Re: Solo at last!
Nice one, well done
Re: Solo at last!
Congrats Ledz
Quite a feeling to go alone the first time. It takes a couple of days to get the stupid smile off your face.
Again Congrats
Quite a feeling to go alone the first time. It takes a couple of days to get the stupid smile off your face.
Again Congrats
Gavin van der Berg - ZS-WWF
“The genius controls the chaos”
One of the Proud Chain Gang Founding Members
“The genius controls the chaos”
One of the Proud Chain Gang Founding Members
Re: Solo at last!
I don't think there is anyone who does not remember the first solo and the nerves that go with it. Its something not easily forgotten and cannot be explained to anyone who has never been there.
Think EFATO
Re: Solo at last!
Jip, it's like you know you can fly the aerie, but all the time the instructor was with you, so if something goes wrong you have that back-up (instructor) who's going to save the day. But now you are so alone all by yourself and you are coming in to land and you start thinking about things that can go wrong, but before you know it, you are safely on the ground. From there on everything just get better and better.
You only solo once and never again. Even if you solo again with some other plane if you do ppl or some other conversion, it's not the same as your first solo.
You only solo once and never again. Even if you solo again with some other plane if you do ppl or some other conversion, it's not the same as your first solo.
Life- I did it my way.....
The world is not enough!
- Manie Rossouw
The world is not enough!
- Manie Rossouw
Re: Solo at last! - ALL DONE, FINISHED LICENSE!
All done! Last week I went to the post office to collect my little orange book. Now endorsed with a NPL on CCM for the Hawk Arrow. Very chuffed with myself, can't wait to get back up in the air and eventually take my first passenger up (non-instructor).
Happy flying and training to all, remember, you never stop learning.
Cheers
Happy flying and training to all, remember, you never stop learning.
Cheers
Re: Solo at last!
Well done......... Wishing you many happy memories and safe flying hours.
"Hope the weather is calm tomorrow !!"
Re: Solo at last!
Well done, I too remember that first day, accelerates like a bat out of hell, climbs like a home-sick angel, performs like a sweet 18year old
congrats and good luck
congrats and good luck
Greg Perkins
Re: Solo at last!
Gees you into OLD chicksMorph wrote:Well done, I too remember that first angel, performs like a sweet 18year old
congrats and good luck
"Hope the weather is calm tomorrow !!"
Re: Solo at last!
Well Done , You will definitely now start enjoying yourself and the learning curve starts
Regards
Bryan
ZUBFR
Regards
Bryan
ZUBFR
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