Banner day

Flugmaschine · July 18th, 2004, 18:34

I soloed my first student today. Alchemy is right about the nervousness!

I almost didn't do it. We started off on a good note...a couple of notes here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary. Then a couple of more unstable landings (rudder!) with me that had me wondering to myself if today was really going to be the day. I deliberately got myself into the mind set before the flight (and got him into it, too) that today didn't have to be the day. Truth be told, his landings never were really unsafe, even in the beginning...just rough around the edges. For a first time instructor, though, I didn't want to screw it up. So, after a few more landings and a demonstration of his good judgement by going around due to a botched approach, I told him to pull off the taxiway and lemme out. I signed all the pretty endorsements and told him to give me 3 trips around the patch. He caught a bit of a gust on the last one, but still got it down just fine. I didn't realize how tight my fists were until I was walking back to the FBO.

Anyway, there were about 5 or 6 of us out at the ramp when he pulled in. I think everyone had brought a pair of scissors except me, but they graciously let me cut the shirt. Despite the loss of the shirt, he was fairly pleased with himself. I know this is gonna sound all "Lane Wallace", but I was driving home from "work" thinking about how I felt driving home from all the other jobs I've had. None of them made me smile on the way home.

JEP · July 18th, 2004, 18:51

Congrats on the first student solo. I know the feeling you are talking about, from a pilot standpoint. I remember driving home from my first solo and I kept saying to myself, "I just flew a friggin airplane all by myself, Pretty Cool !" Again, congrats and may there be many more.

- jim

viper548 · July 19th, 2004, 17:45

It's pretty cool to know that that student will remember you for the rest of his life. You're the one who taught him how to fly a plane by himself.

Doug Taylor · July 19th, 2004, 21:20

My first solo scared the death out of me!

I think I was more afraid than he was by far.

I soled my first student at KRHV in San Jose, CA and we had parallel runways. I was standing nervously by the hangar as he took off on the right hand runway, but then he turned LEFT. Holy crap! Panic! Landline to the control tower!!

"Oh, right traffic was full so we sent 757VX on a left traffic pattern to the left side".

Whew!

But then, Haris gave me three great stop-and-goes and didn't float a bit.

I was on cloud nine all week after my first solo. I think I was more ecstatic than he was!

Mr_Creepy · July 20th, 2004, 05:45

That always happens at KORL. I tell them I'm soloing a student and they do something "funny" like turn the airport around.

They did that on my first student and same as you Doug, I almost had heart failure.

cime_sp · July 20th, 2004, 10:11

I can't take it just standing there. I always grab a transceiver so I can atleast hear what's going on and know if he's doing OK. If he gets told something he doesn't understand I can always chime in and tell him.

If they are in a plane with 2 navcoms I usually have them set up to talk on tower/unicom and listen on 123.45 so that I can give them instructions if need be with the handheld.

kellwolf · July 20th, 2004, 22:11

Yeah, it always freaks me out to see left traffic on 25. Um, hello? Isn't MCO's airspace technically over there?

Mr_Creepy · July 21st, 2004, 03:44

If you stay at 900' or lower you can go as far south as Curry Ford Road.

I have a real problem with some of the tower controllers at KORL. Some are absolutely excellent as well.

music · July 21st, 2004, 04:13

Congradulations!!!!

Whats with the shirt cutting thing? I dont get it... Is there a old story behind it? I dont want anyone cutting my shirt for no reason. Gatorade to the head, spray me with something, I dont know anything else...... but your not cutting my clothes...

mtsu_av8er · July 21st, 2004, 08:15

[ QUOTE ]
Congradulations!!!!

Whats with the shirt cutting thing? I dont get it... Is there a old story behind it? I dont want anyone cutting my shirt for no reason. Gatorade to the head, spray me with something, I dont know anything else...... but your not cutting my clothes...

[/ QUOTE ]

(Pssstt....it's a good thing...)

music · July 21st, 2004, 08:43

[ QUOTE ]
(Pssstt....it's a good thing...)

[/ QUOTE ]

Like getting thrown in a pool on your birthday? hahaha There has to be a story behind it???????

But even if there is.... Im not going out like that!

gomntwins · July 21st, 2004, 11:36

I got my shirt cut... I'll remember it forever! It's definitely a good thing.

Doug Taylor · July 21st, 2004, 13:48

[ QUOTE ]
(Pssstt....it's a good thing...)

[/ QUOTE ]

You're just a regular Martha Stewart!

kellwolf · July 22nd, 2004, 09:11

[ QUOTE ]
Like getting thrown in a pool on your birthday?

[/ QUOTE ]

Or getting doused with water on your last day of work......

Damn, that water was cold.

July 18th, 2004, 18:34	#1
Flugmaschine Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ft. Worth, TX Posts: 144	Banner day I soloed my first student today. Alchemy is right about the nervousness! I almost didn't do it. We started off on a good note...a couple of notes here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary. Then a couple of more unstable landings (rudder!) with me that had me wondering to myself if today was really going to be the day. I deliberately got myself into the mind set before the flight (and got him into it, too) that today didn't have to be the day. Truth be told, his landings never were really unsafe, even in the beginning...just rough around the edges. For a first time instructor, though, I didn't want to screw it up. So, after a few more landings and a demonstration of his good judgement by going around due to a botched approach, I told him to pull off the taxiway and lemme out. I signed all the pretty endorsements and told him to give me 3 trips around the patch. He caught a bit of a gust on the last one, but still got it down just fine. I didn't realize how tight my fists were until I was walking back to the FBO. Anyway, there were about 5 or 6 of us out at the ramp when he pulled in. I think everyone had brought a pair of scissors except me, but they graciously let me cut the shirt. Despite the loss of the shirt, he was fairly pleased with himself. I know this is gonna sound all "Lane Wallace", but I was driving home from "work" thinking about how I felt driving home from all the other jobs I've had. None of them made me smile on the way home.

July 18th, 2004, 18:51	#2
JEP Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN (KFCM) (KMSP) Posts: 10,727 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Banner day Congrats on the first student solo. I know the feeling you are talking about, from a pilot standpoint. I remember driving home from my first solo and I kept saying to myself, "I just flew a friggin airplane all by myself, Pretty Cool !" Again, congrats and may there be many more. - jim

July 19th, 2004, 17:45	#3
viper548 Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 814	Re: Banner day It's pretty cool to know that that student will remember you for the rest of his life. You're the one who taught him how to fly a plane by himself.

July 19th, 2004, 21:20	#4
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 40,543 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Banner day My first solo scared the death out of me! I think I was more afraid than he was by far. I soled my first student at KRHV in San Jose, CA and we had parallel runways. I was standing nervously by the hangar as he took off on the right hand runway, but then he turned LEFT. Holy crap! Panic! Landline to the control tower!! "Oh, right traffic was full so we sent 757VX on a left traffic pattern to the left side". Whew! But then, Haris gave me three great stop-and-goes and didn't float a bit. I was on cloud nine all week after my first solo. I think I was more ecstatic than he was!

July 20th, 2004, 05:45	#5
Mr_Creepy Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the O-zone Posts: 5,807	Re: Banner day That always happens at KORL. I tell them I'm soloing a student and they do something "funny" like turn the airport around. They did that on my first student and same as you Doug, I almost had heart failure.

July 20th, 2004, 10:11	#6
cime_sp Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: ATL Posts: 781	Re: Banner day I can't take it just standing there. I always grab a transceiver so I can atleast hear what's going on and know if he's doing OK. If he gets told something he doesn't understand I can always chime in and tell him. If they are in a plane with 2 navcoms I usually have them set up to talk on tower/unicom and listen on 123.45 so that I can give them instructions if need be with the handheld.

July 20th, 2004, 22:11	#7
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,667	Re: Banner day Yeah, it always freaks me out to see left traffic on 25. Um, hello? Isn't MCO's airspace technically over there?

July 21st, 2004, 03:44	#8
Mr_Creepy Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the O-zone Posts: 5,807	Re: Banner day If you stay at 900' or lower you can go as far south as Curry Ford Road. I have a real problem with some of the tower controllers at KORL. Some are absolutely excellent as well.

July 21st, 2004, 04:13	#9
music Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 68	Re: Banner day Congradulations!!!! Whats with the shirt cutting thing? I dont get it... Is there a old story behind it? I dont want anyone cutting my shirt for no reason. Gatorade to the head, spray me with something, I dont know anything else...... but your not cutting my clothes...

July 21st, 2004, 08:15	#10
mtsu_av8er Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Utopia Posts: 12,503	Re: Banner day [ QUOTE ] Congradulations!!!! Whats with the shirt cutting thing? I dont get it... Is there a old story behind it? I dont want anyone cutting my shirt for no reason. Gatorade to the head, spray me with something, I dont know anything else...... but your not cutting my clothes... [/ QUOTE ] (Pssstt....it's a good thing...)

July 21st, 2004, 08:43	#11
music Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 68	Re: Banner day [ QUOTE ] (Pssstt....it's a good thing...) [/ QUOTE ] Like getting thrown in a pool on your birthday? hahaha There has to be a story behind it??????? But even if there is.... Im not going out like that!

July 21st, 2004, 11:36	#12
gomntwins Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Dakota Posts: 478	Re: Banner day I got my shirt cut... I'll remember it forever! It's definitely a good thing.

July 21st, 2004, 13:48	#13
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 40,543 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Banner day [ QUOTE ] (Pssstt....it's a good thing...) [/ QUOTE ] You're just a regular Martha Stewart!

July 22nd, 2004, 09:11	#14
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,667	Re: Banner day [ QUOTE ] Like getting thrown in a pool on your birthday? [/ QUOTE ] Or getting doused with water on your last day of work...... Damn, that water was cold.

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