That's when I woke up and realized that today was the day that I solo;
First time in a week that I could fly (the eather in NW Indiana isn't always cooperative in winter)
It was cold (-5 F) and calm. Like perfectly calm.
So at 7 AM they unlocked the doors and I preflighted the plane. The last user had overtightened the oil cap, but other than that, the plane was good. (I loosened it using a pair of pliers from my toolbox ...oil level was good).
Then a quick flight check with the Chief Instructor. 2 stalls, some slow flight, an engine out procedure, and a landing...then another landing. First one was flat, second one was a go around (my choice) and then a really smooth landing. Touched down as the stall horn went off, exactly where I wanted.
Taxi back to the barn, turn around, he got out, and I taxied back to the hold short line for 18.
Now it REALLY got real. No one next to me. No safety net.
and I called for departure on 18 on CTAF, and warned everyone:
"Look out above,
Watch out below:
Y'all better be ready,
Here I go. "
and with that, I did my first ever solo takeoff .
Around the pattern....
And landing.
Was OK, the second landing was better than the first, and then a third one which was ok.
Then back to the barn and parked it.
Like most first times, it went too fast...
Maybe video later if I can get it off the camera.
ETA: Can't seem to get any good clips from the GoPro, so none at this time.
And yes, I did transmit that. Figured I'd better warn everyone.
First time in a week that I could fly (the eather in NW Indiana isn't always cooperative in winter)
It was cold (-5 F) and calm. Like perfectly calm.
So at 7 AM they unlocked the doors and I preflighted the plane. The last user had overtightened the oil cap, but other than that, the plane was good. (I loosened it using a pair of pliers from my toolbox ...oil level was good).
Then a quick flight check with the Chief Instructor. 2 stalls, some slow flight, an engine out procedure, and a landing...then another landing. First one was flat, second one was a go around (my choice) and then a really smooth landing. Touched down as the stall horn went off, exactly where I wanted.
Taxi back to the barn, turn around, he got out, and I taxied back to the hold short line for 18.
Now it REALLY got real. No one next to me. No safety net.
and I called for departure on 18 on CTAF, and warned everyone:
"Look out above,
Watch out below:
Y'all better be ready,
Here I go. "
and with that, I did my first ever solo takeoff .
Around the pattern....
And landing.
Was OK, the second landing was better than the first, and then a third one which was ok.
Then back to the barn and parked it.
Like most first times, it went too fast...
Maybe video later if I can get it off the camera.
ETA: Can't seem to get any good clips from the GoPro, so none at this time.
And yes, I did transmit that. Figured I'd better warn everyone.
7 comments:
Congrats!!!
the white silk scarf is yours! congrats!
That's awesome! I don't know if they still do it but they used to cut off your shirttails and sign and put on the wall of the FBO. I hadn't intended to solo that day (I was waiting on the student pilot medical/cert and doc had an unexpected opening for an appointment before my lesson). I was wearing a REALLY expensive shirt and didn't want them to cut it, so I took off my bra, the side panel was autographed and on the wall it went (my instructor was a 70 something year old grandfather). The next day no one said anything but I heard one of the young CFI's going "I just got a shirt tail".
It's a day you will never forget! Congratulations!
Congrats! :-)
And now the fun begins. Congratulations.
Congrats! Nicely Done!
Good job!
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