Well folks... I finally did it. This hard-of-hearing pilot got through all the red tape and over all the obstables and accomplished my first solo! I have LONG since been ready, says my instructor (since before I had 5 hours total time) but because of the paperwork that needed to be done because of my profound hearing loss (I'm deaf without the use of hearing aids), I wasnt able to solo until I had about 15 hours. But I did it! I will have a video shortly, as well as pictures. Stay posted!

Todd,I'm really glad you got it all worked out. CONGRATS my friend. :-)Well done!

Todd,Hearty congratulations. It seems that you had more of a hill to climb than the rest of us. Hats off to you. Add to that, getting solo in excellent time too. The challenges don't end there, I thought the most meaningful solo was the navex. You're really on your own then. Exciting and fun :)

Thanks :) I wanted to follow up with some pictures... Here are a few of the best I could find :) Sorry about the lousy quality... I had to take this directly off of the video. Kicking the instructor out of my planehttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/141630.jpg1st solo takeoffhttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/141631.jpg1st solo landinghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/141632.jpgNews crewman (Will talk about that in another post)http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/141633.jpgThumbs Up!http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/141634.jpgBringing it home for one last landinghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/141635.jpgParkinghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/141636.jpgThat's that!http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/141637.jpgThese three people are all the instructors that have taught me. Tenaya, the pregnant lady in the middle, is the one I have the most time with, and is by far my favorite instructor... what a wonderful person!http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/141638.jpgCutting off the shirt-tail! (I look so dirty because I work as a painter, and I had come straight from work to the airport to do this flight)http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/141639.jpg

Which station, KSEE? LOL. Can't rememebr my stations anymore. Looks like a fun time. :-) Great pics! FCH for the flight, right?

Wicked! Congratulations mate! :)

Jeff, KSEE 24 was the one. FCH was the place. :) Wish you coulda been there... it was a sight lol... I was looking at this camera guy like... umm... whats going on? "We're doing a story" "A story... on what?" "You":-lol

Hehe, ya. Make sure you get a copy of video so I can see it when I'm there this year sometime.

Todd,Congratulations! Looks like the Tule fog cleared up nicely for your solo.Because of your hearing loss did you have to do a Certificate of Demonstrated Ability? I'm curious since I've had two students who had color blindness, but never taught anyone with hearing loss. It would be helpful to know what the process was that you had to go through.Anyway, congrats again! It's a great feeling, eh?John

John, that was the bulk of the red tape... the SODA (Statement of Demonstrated Ability) or CODA. What happened was I got a medical certificate as anyone else would, with the sole restriction of needing to wear corrective lenses. However, I knew I would need to get a correct medical that stated "Not valid where radio use is required" before I could solo. That would require taking a flight to demonstrate my ability. Just before I was going to schedule that flight with an FAA Examiner, he called and said that he would skip the flight and go ahead and mail me the updated certificate. As soon as I got that certificate, I was good to go. Hope that helps with your curiousity!And yes... the best feeling in the world :) I will never forget this day. I think it hit home when he unplugged those headphones... *click* and he was gone. It hit again when I was climbing out, looking over to the right side, not having his head in the way... but a clear view out over the right wing... it was amazing.

Thanks for sharing Todd--I'm about fifteen hours behind you--took my first flight lesson in over twenty years today. Being in the real cockpit has no comparison, does it?-John

No it doesnt, John. It's a whole different world... naturually, :-lol. Flying in real life truly IS flying... where flight simulator is just that... it's just a visual simulator. Can be a great training tool but when I really need my fix, I dont get on the computer... I call and find out when the next available slot is to go flying. How was your first lesson?

"How was your first lesson?"See my post this evening in this thread: :)http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho..._id=25122&page=

Congrats Todd and welcome to the club!I hope you remembered to the write the .3 or whatever the hours were in the correct column of your logbook!! I know I didn`t..CheersJames

Well, Todd, I gotta tell ya':CONGRATULATIONS! :-)I looked at that Cherokee 140 and said:"That's what I soloed in, back in 1974!"I looked at the reg. number, 8168N, and noticed its proximity to that on my Piper Dakota, 8086N.I saw the video camera that filmed your solo, and realized that my solo was taped also, but back in 1974, by a Sony black and white video rig, that cost, well, more money than we would care to envision today (we borrowed it from my high school, and it would be worth about $30,000 in today's money).Small world, and my best wishes for many happy years of flying.Regards,http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...R_FORUM_LOU.jpg