First Solo!!!!!

[Theotokos]

Here is is, the story I typed up. Long, yes, but for any of you who enjoy solo stories, which I do.

MY FIRST SOLO
Finally. My first solo. After countless landings with three different instructors, the right seat was empty—and what a difference the weight made!
After four landings with my instructor, I dropped her off at the FBO, got ATIS, and got permission to taxi to the runway, “Bowman Ground, Cessna 63552 is at Honaker with information November, closed traffic.”
The controller cleared me to taxi and I was off—perhaps to die—and how much faster the plane taxied without the weight of an additional person. Before I knew it, it was time to do the run up, which went by ostensibly quicker than ever and then I knew was time to taxi to the runway and prepare for takeoff. “Oh God,” I thought. “Here I go.”
I taxied up to the runway, switched frequencies and put the transponder on altitude. I pushed the talk button and said the words I feared would send me to my death, “Bowman Tower, Cessna 63552 is a Runway 6, ready for takeoff.”
“552, hold short, landing traffic.
Good. Time for a quick prayer.
Suddenly, a few moments after I finished my Our Father, tower spoke what I feared was my death sentence, “63552, make left traffic. Cleared for takeoff. Report when you are on left base.”
“Cleared for takeoff, 552. Report left base.”
With that I made a quick sign of the cross, and taxied onto the runway. I lined myself up, added full power, and quickly sped down the runway, hitting VR in a flash. I took off at about 60 kias, a few knots above VR, and was filled with an overwhelming exhilaration which said, “I’m flying! I’m flying all by myself! I’m free as a bird!” Sounds like something a hippie might say, I know, but there is nothing like the feeling of lifting off without anyone in the right seat for the first time—and no words can describe it.
I quickly speed up to near 80 kias, 15 knots higher than the normal climb speed, because the plane is so light. I pull back a bit to lose airspeed.
At about 800 MSL, I turn crosswind. A moment later to downwind. How easy the plane climbs and maneuvers amases me, and I cannot help but feel exhilarated again. I level off at 1500 MSL and pull the power back to 2300 RPM.
At midfield I pull the carb heat and abeam the numbers pull the power to 1700, adding some flaps—the same thing I do every time. Before I am about to turn base, I remember this controller likes us to report, so I do and he clears me. I make sure I turn before Bardstown Roast, so as not to penetrate the international airport’s airspace,
The first approach looks good, just a bit high, but no need to worry. I add ten more degrees of flaps and continue.
I float quite awhile above the runway and flare. I land a bit rougher than I’d like to, but too late now—besides it was a decent landing. The nose wheel beings to shake violently, but I do not worry. I retract the flaps, add carb heat, and add power, pulling slightly back on the yoke to lift the nose off the ground to stop the shaking. At 55 kias, I rotate, feeling another blast of exhilaration.
Near 800 MSL, I turn to base and do it over again.
This time I look down and feel close to the trees as I turn final, also noticing I turned to final a bit early. I look at the VASI and notice that I an actually a bit high, but add power for the sake of Prudence, the chief virtue of aviation—those trees were to close for my liking, and you can sink in an instant.
I line up and land roughly again, blaming the fact there is 130 pounds less weigh and this I float longer.
I takeoff for the last time, and before I forget and do another touch and go, as I many times have done, tell the tower this one will be a full stop.
I fly the pattern and set myself up. I have overshot the runway and give thought to going around—and trust me, I am very Prudent, and will go around more often than many—but decide I can make it and will go around if I have to.
I line up in plenty of time, and have another unsatisfactory landing. I get off at the first taxiway, the breaks screeching a little-I may haven going to a bit too fast to make this one, but so be it. Next time, in the same circumstance, I will take the second.
I do the after landing checklist—flaps up, transponder standby, and carb heat cold. I contact ground control and taxi to the ramp.
I shut down the plane and my instructor comes over to congratulate me. I get out and she ties it down for me. She asks how it was. “Good,” I say, “The landings were a bit rough. Also, moves a lot faster without another person.”
“Yeah, I noticed you were taxing a little fast. Try to slow it down. Congratulations though!”
She asks if I had any problems and I tell her just the nose wheel shaking and the overshot approach I almost went around on.
We make final notes in my logbook and she congratulates me again. She tells me what’s in store now and we part out ways—she’s off in the awesome little Diamond Star to take it down to the maintenance FBO, and it home for me.
I wish I had a bottle of champagne to celebrate, but alas I am under twenty one. Probably for the best though, as I fly again tomorrow—although a glass or two does not hurt if you have twelve hours until you fly. Only when I have a whole bottle, which yes, I have, do I go for twenty four hours. Oh well, cheers to happy flying even without the champagne.

--Brandon Wainscott, Student Pilot, 19 April 2006, Cessna 150, N63552 at Bowman Field (KLOU)

[NW004]

Congrats man, i'm happy for you! So doesnt your flight school do the shirt tail tradition?

By the way how many hours do you have? I wasnt sure, because it says 24 somewhere up there!

Congrats again, Next Step PPL! Take Care

[SoFlo]

Congrats on the first solo. It has been awhile but I thought that the landings for a solo had to be a full stop. Regardless, congrats on it.

[Champcar]

Originally Posted by SoFlo

Congrats on the first solo. It has been awhile but I thought that the landings for a solo had to be a full stop. Regardless, congrats on it.

No i dont think so. Mine were touch and goes.


Congrats!! Now you get to look forward to your Cross Countries.

[bwade210]

Congratulations.....what a write up. My first solo was all a blur!

[ASpilot2be]

Congrats That is a heck of a write up

[desertdog71]

Good Job, now its solo XC time. Next thing you know you will be doing your checkride. Good Luck with your continued training.

[Theotokos]

lmao yes I know I wrote a lot. I like to write. I just realised I put "Bardstown Roast" instead of Bardstown Road, a road we use to mark the beggining of Class C Airspace

[Theotokos]

And no, they do not, at least not today. I think she had to go too--she had to fly one of the planes down to get worked on and it was alreayd getting late. She may not have remembered. I did wear a t-shirt that I have too many off--ones from the company I worked for in New Orleans so it would not hurt that one was mamed. The other CFI who was leaving when I came in did say they were going to cut my shirt, but maybe she just forgot.

[SteveC]

Congratulations young man!

First Solo is a great accomplishment, you should be proud!

[frog_flyer]

congrats g-unit. bought godddddummmm time






noooo calss tomorrow woooooo where ia m it ?!!? iosdhfaoisdfudsli;jvgh

[frog_flyer]

i cantg read what peoel wrote above... but i hope your shir tgot raped as mine did.

they better have ripped that *(sheeT* up and graffitieid it up like a crip would.


peaxdec3e

[British Pilot]

Well done old chap. Your confidence levels must have risen immensely, and for good reason. It seems like you followed the traffic pattern procedures to the letter.

You should never need a reason to drink champagne, but if there ever was a need, this would be it. Go and drink some.

Hmmm, roast....

[British Pilot]

Incidentally, why do you tell ground you are closed traffic, and not the tower?

[SoFlo]

Thank you frog_flyer for your much needed input. We can always count on you to "wrap" things up for us.

[Aero_Engineer]

Congrats man, my cross country solo is coming up too. Let's see how that one goes. Again congrats and good luck.

[frog_flyer]

i need to make my password really complex so i wont be capable of logging in at 2am on wednesday nights....

[pavelump]

Originally Posted by British Pilot

Incidentally, why do you tell ground you are closed traffic, and not the tower?

Generally at a controlled field, in the absence of a clearance delivery frequency, you advise the ground controller of your direction of flight, i.e. East, North-West, etc. If you want to stay in the pattern, you say so.

You can be more specific with tower if you want to do full stop taxi-backs, touch and go's, stop and go's, etc...

Dave

[British Pilot]

Aha! - I see. Thanks for the clarification.

[avi8tor]

Congrats on your first solo! It's an experience that you will never forget.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Congrads on the solo...did you take off with flaps 40?