Your first solo - what were your feelings?

[Vargveum 53]

Fall of 2000. Schweizer 300CB. Rio Vista municipal airport in California.

 

The solo was the whole reason we were flying there, but when my CFI stepped out I still thought to myself "what the heck is he doing?" LOL. Picked it up into a hover (popped off the ground due to the lighter weight) and did three or four trips around the traffic pattern before I picked up my "passenger" again and headed back to KCCR. A lot of water under the bridge since that time, but still sits fresh in my memory.

 

Didn't "feel" too much when I was alone in the aircraft, but man I was totally stoked afterwards. If memory serves me correctly, I believe I had a beer that evening ^_^

[Spartan0536 49]

given I have not had my first solo, however, I have pictured it fairly accurately in my mind based off of my past experiences and I imagine that I would be nervous like you (the singing to make yourself relax and focus is a giveaway) which being nervous on your first solo is a very good thing so long as it does not turn into fear. I picture my first solo to be like my first fight as PIC, I think that would be probably the best way to state it.

[fppilot 4,407]

The solo was the whole reason we were flying there, but when my CFI stepped out I still thought to myself "what the heck is he doing?"

 

Ha! That reminds me of my first job out of college. Went to work for a major coffee company selling cases of coffee to grocers. My boss was supposed to make all the sales calls for the first week and I was to observe. Then the second week we were to reverse those roles. But halfway through Wednesday of first week we pulled up at a grocery store. It was mid-January in Chicago (Brrr!) I got out with the satchel and presentation folder and closed the car door. He continued to sit inside, doing paperwork. After a few seconds I opened the car door and looked him in the eye. He said "go ahead, you can handle it!". I was "butttttttt, its the first week still....." He told me to go on in and get started and he'd join me in a few minutes.

 

I walked into this vintage 1970's grocery store and as I passed beneath the elevated manager's office the manager leaned over the glass, looked at me, my satchel, and binder, and said "look Betty, it's another GD coffee salesman....." Talk about feeling insecure....

 

My boss still insists it wasn't a setup.

[Vargveum 53]

I walked into this vintage 1970's grocery store and as I passed beneath the elevated manager's office the manager leaned over the glass, looked at me, my satchel, and binder, and said "look Betty, it's another GD coffee salesman....." Talk about feeling insecure....

 

Haha. That's a good story.

 

Well, you know jumping from a cliff teaches sea birds the art of flight... ^_^ So, I am not completely convinced your boss is telling the truth.

[pilottj 198]

Like alot of other's have said, for me, the first take off was like holding the tiger by the tail without the weight of the instructor.

[fppilot 4,407]

I was fortunate as I learned to fly. Stationed at an army airfield during the Viet Nam era I had the fortune of being around the airfield a lot, even when off duty. I spent a lot of hours sitting as a passenger in the right seat or behind as a ride-along and as a result had good "feel" for light singles and twins. I got some closely supervised hands-on even before I started my flight lessons, which were bartered for my efforts to teach ground weather school. As as result I likely had a lot more experience prior to my first solo. Despite that, it was still an insecure experience. If I recall correctly, for my next 20+ hours I was mostly accompanied by experienced Army officers who were staying current after being removed from flying status by the Army. Not for any reason other than cost-sharing our flying hours. During that period I believe I was drawing about $398 per month pay, less $80 a month housing as I was living in separate quarters (not barracks) as I was Air Force on an Army post.

[mrusa 1]

I remember it well. It was 1973 and I was 16. My dad (who was paying) was a firm believer in the saying " Real pilots fly taildraggers!" I had around 11 hours in a Cessna 140. I had spent the last two training hours working on my landings. For those of you that don't fly taildraggers you can land 3 different ways. Wheel landing (2 main wheels first) Tail landing (tail wheel first) and 3 point (All three touch at the same time). Well on this day I showed up only to learn that the FBO's 140 was down for a motor problem and my instructor said we would take the FBO's 150 Aerobat. I wasn't to worried because my dad owned a Piper Comanche 250 that i had flown and landed a few times. So off went and did 3 or 4 laps of the pattern. I had no idea he planned on soloing me, But on the last trip around around the pattern he told me to let the tower know this would be a full stop. As I pulled off the runway and started back to the FBO he told me to stop, jumped out and and yelled " 3 touch and goes and come back and get me" I did that first take off and noticed right away that 150 was like a rocket! On downwind it really hit me that I was alone and this was way too cool. I didn't think I would ever get that silly grin off my face. (it disappeared about a minute later) I set up for the landing and the tower called my traffic ( I was #2) And I remember thinking I'm going to show him I'm the best student he ever had. ( BIG BIG mistake..LOL) I set it up and got down to around 5 feet and set up to flair and made the most beautiful TAIL WHEEL landing ever made! The sound that tie down ring made when it hit the runway was unreal! I thought the airplane had exploded! I got it back on the wheels and made a full stop and started to taxi back to the FBO to see how much of the tail was left on it. I don't think I've ever had the shakes that bad since. I saw my instructor standing next to the taxi way and he was glaring at me and I thought gezzz did i ever fail, I stopped next to him he opened the door and said "learn anything?" and then he started laughing and laughed until he had tears in his eyes. Then he took a quick look at the tail and said you ok? I said ya I was a little shook but ok. Then he said give me 2 more but without all the noise this time. I was still shook up but I managed to squeeze out 2 more landings. It really is a day I will never forget. :blush: :blush: :blush:

[fppilot 4,407]

I remember it well.

 

That's a classic! And so real to life! Thanks for sharing!

[Alec 370]

That's a nice story mrusa! I also expected to do a pretty good landing on my first solo, oh man... Was I wrong!!

[BimmerCop 332]

 

LOL

 

Seriously though, when I first soloed back in 1996, I was caught off guard, wasn't expecting it. We had done a few touch and goes and when we arrived to the terminal, CFI jumped out, went around to my door, opened it, and after double checking a few gauges, told me to do 3 touch and goes with the last one being a full stop.

 

I was cool with it, but it wasn't until the C150 took off, that I realized oh s%*#, I'm flying this thing and there is no one in the right seat! lol

 

Knees were shaking but I'm here to talk about it, so it was all good. Great experience indeed.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[WR269 367]

I was on "the other side"...when my first solo occurred...

 

Early 1990, fresh from ATC college, was sent to do a famil run at a General Aviation airport in Victoria...the tower boys were very friendly and in no time they slotted me in the ADC position with a rated controller sitting behind me.

 

Now this airport had parallel runway setup, and it was home to several aviation schools, one of which specialised in contracts to overseas students from various nationalities.

The setup is quite simple...when a first solo is announced, a ground controller or clearance controller fills out a "pink strip", so that it stands out, and writes "First Solo" in it...to attract the attention of the controller...then you follow that aircraft, and as much as possible, try to give him a clear run.

 

It was a beautiful morning and we had been toiling hard for a few hours...after a set of touch and goes, I had a new sequence...a Cessna 152 on a right circuit on base, followed by a Piper Tomahawk about to turn base, with an obviously foreign pilot in it.

 

All was going well until the Cessna turned final for a full stop...I spoke to the Tomahawk who was now on base and advised "Tomahawk DEF, you are number two behind the Cessna 152 on final"....all inofensive, right???

 

Well, at that point, the Cessna had left his descent too late, he was basically hanging from his tail, full flaps, nose pointing down hoping to come down...

 

The Tomahawk pilot, after hearing my radio transmission, instead of continuing in the circuit to complete the Base leg, turned right and aimed DIRECTLY at the Cessna, who seemed to be suspended in mid air.

 

After a couple of mumbles, I called the Tomahawk "DEF, resume base leg, traffic on final is a Cessna 152, you are number 2 to him, confirm you have him visual?"

 

No response...

 

By now I was, like they say "sh****ng bricks", you could hear a pin drop..the tomahawk positioned itself on final, basically right on top of the Cessna who was doing his best to descend...I grabbed the microphone again..."DEF, abort landing, turn right and climb to 2500ft"...silence.....I repeated this another 2 or 3 times, with traffic information.

 

The controller behind me suggested we use the Red light to ward him off...I declined...if the Cessna flier saw the Red light and thought it was for him, he would climb and comfound things....

 

Another 2 goes at repeating "DEF, make an immediate right turn, climb to 2500ft, traffic below you is blah blah blah"...obviously he could not see the traffic below him and the guy in a Cessna above him....right at that moment....Cessna called..."Tower, Cessna ABC going around".....AAGGGGHH...quickly we took control "ABC, maintain present altitude, give me best speed straight ahead, you stil have traffic above you blah blah"....by now he could not turn because he would hit the terminal buildings (and the tower)...just then, the Tomahawk decided he had also had enough pulled the nose up to go around, it looked like a perfectly choreographed climb of two aircraft, one right on top of the other...and he made contact with us..."Tower, DEF going around"....

 

I think I nearly broke the mike button pressing it to talk to him, when right at that moment, a strip comes along the chute.....a PINK strip....with the markings "DEF - FIRST SOLO - FOREIGN PILOT". We all turned to look at the guy who sent it over, and the look on his face said it all....

 

So he went for tea and biscuits, followed by myself and the controller who was sitting behind me, tapes were played, and punishment applied all around....I can tell you, that bottle of wine later that night didnt touch the sides, but boy did it taste good!

[EGLL77W 1,508]

Mine was back in October last year - whoa!

 

"Okay Luke, tell Tower we're just going to pull into the run-up area, you're soloing the next one.."

 

Yeah I freaked out a little in my head, especially when he got out. I just found it so weird being in an aeroplane with the engine running and no one next to me. No one to tell me I'm too high, no one helping me out on my glide back to the airport after loosing my engine, all on me. As much responsibility as an airline Captain - quite a strange feeling. But no sooner my training kicked in and as soon as I put full power in - rotate and off I went. Just like any other circuit, just no one blocking my view to the right (hehe!).

 

It's such a thrilling feeling to realise your actions and reality. I can remember my first flight out of John Wayne thinking - "God, when am I ever going to be able to learn and do all of this?".

 

Also I must say for myself, it was a MASSIVE confidence boost! Couldn't have been prouder of myself.

 

I have my first solo cross country next week actually, not been solo in around 15 hours! Very excited to take my little Red Arrow down to San Diego - more so on my own! (Currently still

 

To anyone doing their's soon - ENJOY IT! It's a once in a life time moment for yourself! ^_^