Solo flight poll
 

I am about to fly solo ! My instructor thinks that I am almost ready, all I need to do is to improve my radio skills. I think that my landings are still rough ,but he is ok with them. Right now I have about 17 hours and will get another 2-3 hours by the end of August. Should I go over 20 hours or I am already behind? I know that we all learn at different speed, just want know what is the average.

Your poll lacks a few numbers----------IIRC, I soloed around 6 or 8 hours.

I suspect if you also asked about when the person soloed, you would find the folks who soloed in the 60s or 70s got by with a lot less hours than folks who soloed in the last decade or two.

How about adding an entry for less than 10? I solo'd at 7 hours.

Yep
 

7.5 for me, with radio usage at a controlled airport....but then again, I was 21.

Best

This has been hashed out to death over on the red and blue boards. The actual number is pretty meaningless and really isn't a good indicator by itself as to whether you're ready or not. Your CFI should know and that's the opinion that matters, not a bunch of internet quarterbacks.

If you soloed under 14 hours you can vote 14. I don't want to crush my self esteem. Lol

Solo Hours
 

Ready to solo is not a number of hours, it is the mental readiness of you to be able to takeoff, deal with whatever happens in the air, and bring it back for a good landing. When you are confident of your ability, then you are ready.

The important point is...
 

The goal isn't to see how few hours it takes before you solo. The goal is to become a safe, proficient pilot. I soloed in 15.5 hours (17 days after I started). I took my check ride with 62.8 hours (4 months after I started). So what? These are just numbers that really don't matter. As a CFI I make sure my students have more than just the minimal training before they solo. I include the training required to allow them to fly to and land at different airports. This typically takes a two or three more lessons. But the advantage is that when they fly solo, they can go to other airports to practice and gain flying experience quicker.

The best advice I can give is to try to fly at least three or four times a week. This way you're not trying to remember what you did on the last flight. By flying often, you'll get you PPL quicker, with less hours and cost.

I hope this helps.

Jeff

I actually knew one guy with over 50. He never did get good and was an object of pity. It was sad. The variables of instruction, instructor, airport, aircraft, etc. make it moot....unless you're that guy. Don't stress, just fly.

I agree with you but I would add one more thing:

Ready also means you've obtained the necessary muscle memory and small motor control.