First solo for me

CJ Rader

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Nov 21, 2017
Messages
120
Location
AR
Display Name

Display name:
TIE-Fighter
Well, I just completed my first solo flight.. My adventure started back in late September 2017. I work full time, and between that schedule and the weather dumping on some of my scheduled flying days (and/or giving me extra special bonus experience in x-wind landings), I finally arrived at the fateful 'first solo' moment, yesterday. I'm one of those people, maybe there are several, who actually felt trepidation at the thought of my instructor exiting the airplane and leaving me with it. Some can't wait to kick their CFI out of the airplane, I hear. I, on the other hand, have been quite content to have him in my ear and in the right-hand seat. For one thing, he's a Navy pilot and I always feel completely safe in the air with that guy, and secondly, he's just a lot of fun to fly with. In any case, once he exited the airplane after three landings with me, and there was no one to rely on but me, myself, and the tower, a funny thing happened: Everything sharpened up. I kept an almost constant step by step monologue going with each of my three landings (Yes, I was talking to myself), and they were among the best of my some 80+ landings thus far. My CFI asked me if it was anticlimactic after all was said and done. I told him I was glad it wasn't climactic to begin with as that would imply there was drama, and I was looking for drama-free, by-the-numbers takeoffs and landings... No white knuckle, edge of seat experiences please. Anyway, it's the end of the beginning, I suppose. The adventure continues..
 
Wohooooo! congrats Pilot. that's feeling is funny... O Crap.. I HAVE to land this myself.

b/w I talk to myself quite a bit while flying (and sometimes when I am not :p)
 
Northwest corner of the state. Fayetteville. I fly out of KVBT and KASG.

Weeeellll . WPS!! Flying w Summit I suppose ? Congrats on solo. Who is your instructor. Maybe looking to get back in air soon. Been + 2 yrs.
 
congrats! what are you flying? I started in a C-152 and was really surprised how different it felt with just one soul on board.
 
congrats! what are you flying? I started in a C-152 and was really surprised how different it felt with just one soul on board.
C-152. Im just a hair over six feet and feel like Im stuffed in a shoebox, but man, what a great little trainer it is.
 
Very nice! Solos are a mixed bag of emotions... I talked out loud through everything, my most intense emotion had nothing to do with fear, it just felt lonely without my CFI to bump shoulders with...
 
Congratulations. I was so nervous when my instructor stepped out of the plane that my feet were involuntarily tapping on the rudder pedals. Once I left the ground I was alright and it was all good.
 
Congratulations. I was so nervous when my instructor stepped out of the plane that my feet were involuntarily tapping on the rudder pedals. Once I left the ground I was alright and it was all good.
I seemed to make stupid errors while my instructor was with me. Found myself forgetting little things I normally dont. Nerves, I guess. Once I was by myself, I knew I had to cut that crap out, especially when the wheels left the ground and I was on my own..
 
Congrats! Im sure its an experience you never forget, its been 23 years but I still remember my first SOLO very well.
 
Back
Top