Does any flyer here still remembers his/her first solo, did everyting went as planned?, in what aircraft?, airport or lake? (for sea-planes), crosswinds? maybe foggy or had low ceilings?, or maybe you even got yelled by the controller, what I still remember is that a friend of mine who by then was already a commercial told me the day before, that in every first solo flight something unexpected happens, the sucker was right, a window popped open on the take of roll, It was nothing to freak out, I actually had the time to close it back on, but it sure did gave me a good surprise...
2007-02-10 22:12:54 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
First solo... laughing. 1991 and I was in a Cessna 152 (N5543M) learing at a military Aeroclub in Mannheim Germany. I had done some touch and go's with my instructor.. then he had me land and come to a full stop. He requested that we be allowed to taxi to a key hole (military airfield) and he then requested to be allowed to exit the aircraft and come up in the tower, which was granted. I felt panic as he climbed out and said "Don't worry, every airplane eventually comes back to earth!" It wasn't until after the flight that I knew what he meant.
I remember saying outloud as I rotated "Why am I doing this!". My first try at landing was not looking good so I aborted and went around for another try.. his last words still ringing in my ears. It started to rain and the sound on the thin Cessna made me think the engine was coming apart. I greased all the landings and when I got out the other instructor and mine both met me and ripped my T-shirt off me.
My cross countries went well until my long cross country. Beautiful weather, no clouds and I was flying up the Rhine to Koblenz. When I called Koblenz they said they were IFR and below minimums, HUH? as I got closer they were in the middle of the one and only cloud I could see. My second choice was close to Frankfurt International and I had to contact them to get clearance to come in under their airspace and actually penetrate just the edge to get to the second airport.
I was to spend the night at my 4th airport with a friend who lived nearby. It was a military airport (Vilseck) and when I called them to enter the pattern I had to circle while they looked for my written approval to land there. One the way home the next day I missed the NOTAM that my next airport was closed for runway maintenance so I had to land at Rothenburg O.D.T. (the famous walled city) I was running late and when I got back the military air traffic control center was upset. I was supposed to call them from Rothenburg on the phone and let them know I was changing my VFR flight plan.
Flying in Europe is so beautiful, but many of the tourist attractions have restricted airspace so as not to pester the tourist with the sounds of small aircraft.
2007-02-10 22:29:29 · answer #1 · answered by shovelkicker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I soloed on July 23rd 1983 in a Cessna 150.
Everything went well for me. The only thing that happened that day that was significant was I was invited by some friends of mine in the music business to join them at a recording studio here in Toronto to watch Kim Carnes perform during a recording session.
I already had my solo booked & was on my way out the door to the airport when the call came in from my friends.
I chose to pass on the recording session & go through with the solo flight. I don't feel much regret about that, besides most people don't remember Kim Carnes today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bette_Davis_Eyes
2007-02-11 02:54:07 · answer #2 · answered by No More 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, i agree, one will never forget that first solo flight, it was absolutely awesome. I did mine in a Cessna 172, ZS.CCX in 1989. I really felt a sense of achievement, and i enjoyed every flying hour ever since. Most of my flying after the PPL was done in a Piper Cherokee 235, 6 window with uprated 250 hp engine
2007-02-11 05:59:56 · answer #3 · answered by african lion 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cessna 150 approximately August 1972, Pitt Meadows airport British Columbia. I was having a horrible day, I just couldn't get anything to work for me. Finally, my instructor told me to head back in. I genuinely thought he was PO'D at me and was calling it quits. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he climbed out and told my to go do a couple of circuits by myself. The solo itself was totally anti climactic, every thing went as planned.
2007-02-13 07:37:22 · answer #4 · answered by al b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cessna 152 in January 2004. It was an awesome beautiful VFR day in La Porte, Texas. So much nicer to have an empty seat on a 152.
2007-02-11 13:47:36 · answer #5 · answered by norbertovalladares 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was great a P-51 Mustang was in the pattern with me.I flew
a Cessna 172 N53111.Sept '91
2007-02-11 02:25:41 · answer #6 · answered by thresher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh man. Trip down memory lane. I did mine in Cherokee 5321K in Sep. 05 at KCNO (Chino airport). My instructor just got out and I did a couple of touch n goes. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. It is something that you will never forget.
2007-02-15 16:19:00 · answer #7 · answered by batnat20 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No pilot EVER forgets his or her first solo. Mine was 37 year ago and I remember it as if it was yesterday. Heck, I even remember the car that I drove to the airport that day.
C-150, N1283Q (She's still flying, though I'm not.)
2007-02-11 00:00:47 · answer #8 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
one thing i really remember is that the plane suddenly reacted differently on takeoff because it was much lighter without the instructor. my instructor was a heavy person.
2007-02-17 02:01:50 · answer #9 · answered by HPL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i was flying an ultralight with max takeoff weight of 450kg /900lbs without my 120kg /250lbs instructor. it was like flying a mustang :)
2007-02-14 02:16:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋