Now I get what it's all about - I solo'd

pikespeakmtnman

pikespeakmtnman

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Oct 19, 2012
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I finally got my solo in this morning. It's been a long time coming but I wanted to make damn sure that I was comfortable with my landing skills before I let my CFI out. Between switching CFIs, weather, and life, it took me quite a bit longer than "normal" but that's fine with me...I'm getting my pilot's license because I want to, not for a job or anything.

https://youtu.be/aQgbq2YGpbE
this is the raw video, about 30 min long and the cool stuff starts at about 13:00 (until then it's just me getting ready and taxiing)...unfortunately the camera stopped on my last approach when I was on short final, oh well
 
Congrats.

And remember..it was your CFI that had to be comfortable before he allowed himself to be kicked him out of the airplane. :D
 
What was the density altitude? Takeoff roll seems pretty long for an LSA with a 912, I see the airport is in CO...

Congrats. I still remember my first solo very clearly. I forgot all my other lessons though:)
 
Congratulations. Now the real fun begins.
 
fiveoboy01 said:
What was the density altitude? Takeoff roll seems pretty long for an LSA with a 912, I see the airport is in CO...
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I own a CT, and was thinking the same thing. I wonder if he was taking off with flaps 0°... I usually use 15°. Could easily be the altitude though.
 
bullwinkle said:
I own a CT, and was thinking the same thing. I wonder if he was taking off with flaps 0°... I usually use 15°. Could easily be the altitude though.
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It is because of no flaps. With 15º flaps the plane jumps off the runway. My first CFI had me takeoff with 15º and my current CFI prefers the no-flap takeoff....as much runway is available here it's not a problem at all and I like getting the training to be comfortable with both.

Density altitude was probably somewhere around 7700....high DA is a fact of life here and the plane performed exactly as I am used to.
 
Thanks everyone....now I'm really starting to have fun flying. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time because (besides the obvious) I was getting tired of either just staying in the pattern or the practice area, now I get to actually GO places with my XC flights up next.
 
pikespeakmtnman said:
It is because of no flaps. With 15º flaps the plane jumps off the runway. My first CFI had me takeoff with 15º and my current CFI prefers the no-flap takeoff....as much runway is available here it's not a problem at all and I like getting the training to be comfortable with both.
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dealing with 11,000' of runway must be a struggle...way too much taxi time...:D
 
pikespeakmtnman said:
It is because of no flaps. With 15º flaps the plane jumps off the runway. My first CFI had me takeoff with 15º and my current CFI prefers the no-flap takeoff....as much runway is available here it's not a problem at all and I like getting the training to be comfortable with both.

Density altitude was probably somewhere around 7700....high DA is a fact of life here and the plane performed exactly as I am used to.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the POH says either 0° or 15° for takeoff, dealer's choice.

I always use 15° except in high winds because getting up and out ASAP is a good habit to get into, if flying from shorter strips, which I sometimes do. Extra climb performance is never a bad thing.

Your landings looked good, congrats!
 
First-solo-flight.jpg


Congratulations, BTW! :)
 
pikespeakmtnman said:
It is because of no flaps. With 15º flaps the plane jumps off the runway. My first CFI had me takeoff with 15º and my current CFI prefers the no-flap takeoff....as much runway is available here it's not a problem at all and I like getting the training to be comfortable with both.

Density altitude was probably somewhere around 7700....high DA is a fact of life here and the plane performed exactly as I am used to.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation. I've done 0 and 15 flap takeoffs in the Evektor and the difference isn't huge, but noticeable. I actually prefer the 0 flap takeoff just because it's one less chance I have to forget to retract them.

Of course, my DA most days is MUCH lower(950 foot field elevation) than yours, so I REALLY jump off the runway:wink2:
 
fiveoboy01 said:
Thanks for the explanation. I've done 0 and 15 flap takeoffs in the Evektor and the difference isn't huge, but noticeable. I actually prefer the 0 flap takeoff just because it's one less chance I have to forget to retract them.
Click to expand...

In the CT, the climb difference is not huge, but the time on the ground and rotation speed change quite a bit. I like 15° because I'd rather get off the ground sooner than spend time rolling at higher speed.

I figure being on the ground at high speed is riskier than being in the air at low speed. :)

All personal preference, of course.
 
Agree with all of that. It's going to vary, I usually do 15 degrees for the reasons you mentioned. I just try to remember to put them up once I pass through 70 knots(top of white arc).

I don't know about the CT, but in the Evektor the Vy difference between flaps up and flaps 15 is about 10 knots. Vx the difference is something like 1 knot.
 
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