Solo flight poll - Page 3

fixnflyguy · #21 08-21-2015, 12:09 PM

I had 6.1 hrs. when I made my solo at the age of 16 in 1976. I took my private check ride with 40.1 hrs.(20 dual/20.1 solo)which was "the minimum" required then. Really means nothing, and I believe most flight schools and instructors lean towards 15-20 for solo, and more than minimum for check rides these days due to insurance and other factors. When I did my first long solo cross country, I was at a gas stop where another young pilot on a cross country was pacing nervously next to his plane..I asked him what was wrong, and he replied " next leg I have to land where there is a tower, and I have never really talked on a radio"! Hope he did OK, but that is why its good to learn at a controlled, sometime busy airport.

bret · #22 08-21-2015, 01:52 PM

One thing that I did not consider when he said stop here in the middle of the field and got out, was that the 152 just got 200 + lbs lighter, yes I bounced the first one......the other two were fine, but man, it was a day I will never forget!

KatieB · #23 08-21-2015, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schaplerrh

I too soloed in a Taylorcraft with no electrical system off an uncontrolled field, and my instructor was circa age 82. Where and when did this happen for you? For me, I was in high school in Portland at long-gone Evergreen airport near Vancouver, Washington.

Robert
RV-7

Nice! Mine was in 2002 in Rio Creek, Wisconsin. My instructor was Armond Ullmer. He received recognition from the DOT that year for 50 years as a flight instructor. The guy was amazing-- he was deaf as a post, so it was difficult having a conversation with him on the ground, but we never had any communication problems in the air, even without headsets.

springer · #24 08-21-2015, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV8iator

Just found the old and first logbook...

7.2 hours before solo..35.2 for PPL checkride. Course.. that was in 1968.

Sounds like you went through AFROTC FIP (Flt Instruction Program).
Those hours were pretty typical as the AF would only contract for 33 hrs per student with the local FBO. I believe the requirement back then was 40 hrs for the PPL but the FAA would waiver the last 5. Surprisingly, the ROTC students would usually receive more hours than those that graduated from the Academy.

DaleB · #25 08-21-2015, 03:30 PM

I would have soloed earlier, maybe 14-15 hours. On Friday my instructor said I'd probably solo next time out. On Monday the flight school was out of business. New school, new airport, new instructor and about 8 hours of "getting to know you" time later, I finally got signed off. Of course it only seemed like it mattered at that time... the only people who seem to care the least bit how many hours it takes to solo are pre-solo student pilots!

Go forth and fly.

Oh, and I was 51.

wirejock · #26 08-21-2015, 06:13 PM

You've received lots of good advise and stories so I will offer cogratulations in advance because I know you got this!

PP is one of the most challenging efforts you will ever accomplish and one of the most rewarding. Git 'er done!
And yes, I remember mine like yesterday. CFI said ok. Go for it.
I remember that 150 leaped off the runway and just as the tires left, I realized I was the only one who could get me back down safe. Pretty awesome day. Checkride was just as awesome. Holding my ticket was an amazing feeling.

Mel · #27 08-21-2015, 06:29 PM

1941 T-Craft. Solo @ 9 hrs. September 1967, White Rock Airport.
Went for my PP check ride with 40 hrs. (I thought).

While planning X-country the examiner asked, "How many hours required to take the PP check ride?" I responded with "40.".... "How many hours do you have?".... "40!"...."Nope, there's a math error in your logbook. Did you log your time coming over here this morning?"...."No!"...."How long did it take you?"...."How much do I need?"....".6 hrs."...."It took me 45 minutes to get here!"...."That's what I figured. Let's go fly."

DanBaier · #28 08-21-2015, 07:02 PM

I don't think the number of hours to solo really means much. Try and put the pressure of it all out of your mind and focus on the airplane - the hours recorded in your logbook are not as important as the next one.

Best of luck.

Dan

jsharkey · #29 08-21-2015, 07:29 PM

The worst flight of my early training was the one before my first solo. I thought my instructor was being as mean as he could be. He nit picked everything - but as we were taxying in he told me to stop, climbed out and told me to take the Bulldog around the pattern on my own. (RAF Universities Air Squadron - a long time ago

)

apkp777 · #30 08-21-2015, 07:45 PM

If you solo at 1 hour or at 100 it doesn't mean anything. The question is, are you ready to solo? Everyone is different. There are many who soloed at <10 that shouldn't have and many who soloed at 20 that should have soloed at 10. Sounds like you are right where you should be. I'll bet you will solo soon. We'd like to hear about it so report back here when it happens.