tangopapa
Pre-takeoff checklist
I soloed today!
I learned from my last lesson (http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55687) and came mentally prepared and ready to do it.
We went around the pattern 4 times. The first 3 landings were normal and for the last one my CFI asked me to do a full flap landing. I had a feeling he was about to cut me loose so I tried especially hard to grease that last landing and I did. Right after landing he told me to pull off onto the taxiway. I knew at that point I was going to go up on my own.
I asked him "Where to?" and he said "Pull up there... I'm gonna get out and you're gonna go by yourself." He pointed at the plane ahead of us and said "And he's gonna do the same thing." Another student and I were able to solo at the same time, which was a really cool experience.
What has surprised me a little bit is how delayed my excitement has been. When my CFI got out and the plane (and my life) was in my hands, I really thought I would have been woohoo-ing (that's a word, right??) uncontrollably the whole time, but it was really just business as usual, with the exception of the following:
a) The plane took off SO much faster without my CFI on board. I expected this but was still pleasantly surprised.
b) I had a much better view out the right window.
c) I was in ground effect longer than I expected with just me in the plane. It was expected, but just like the quick takeoff I was kind of surprised by it. It was almost more work getting a nice landing without the extra weight. I look forward to polishing my solo landing skills.
Back on track, regarding my level of excitement...I really didn't have much of an emotional response at all. Which I guess is a good thing. I just flew the plane like I had been taught and executed my mission for the day. It wasn't until I got in the car that it started to sink in. And my excitement has been building since then. I can't wait to get up and practice some more.
Well, I could talk about it all night but would likely just ramble on and on. In conclusion, all I have to say is...what a fantastic cap to my weekend.
I'll never forget this day.
I learned from my last lesson (http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55687) and came mentally prepared and ready to do it.
We went around the pattern 4 times. The first 3 landings were normal and for the last one my CFI asked me to do a full flap landing. I had a feeling he was about to cut me loose so I tried especially hard to grease that last landing and I did. Right after landing he told me to pull off onto the taxiway. I knew at that point I was going to go up on my own.
I asked him "Where to?" and he said "Pull up there... I'm gonna get out and you're gonna go by yourself." He pointed at the plane ahead of us and said "And he's gonna do the same thing." Another student and I were able to solo at the same time, which was a really cool experience.
What has surprised me a little bit is how delayed my excitement has been. When my CFI got out and the plane (and my life) was in my hands, I really thought I would have been woohoo-ing (that's a word, right??) uncontrollably the whole time, but it was really just business as usual, with the exception of the following:
a) The plane took off SO much faster without my CFI on board. I expected this but was still pleasantly surprised.
b) I had a much better view out the right window.
c) I was in ground effect longer than I expected with just me in the plane. It was expected, but just like the quick takeoff I was kind of surprised by it. It was almost more work getting a nice landing without the extra weight. I look forward to polishing my solo landing skills.
Back on track, regarding my level of excitement...I really didn't have much of an emotional response at all. Which I guess is a good thing. I just flew the plane like I had been taught and executed my mission for the day. It wasn't until I got in the car that it started to sink in. And my excitement has been building since then. I can't wait to get up and practice some more.
Well, I could talk about it all night but would likely just ramble on and on. In conclusion, all I have to say is...what a fantastic cap to my weekend.
I'll never forget this day.