First Flight... the pilot. Where did you solo.

[AlexPeterson]

Training at what was then Jeffco Airport in Broomfield CO, first solo at the Longmont airport, 1985. I recall seeing my instructor looking pretty small when I saw him on the ramp while on downwind!

[gap]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Mountain_Airport

Stone Mountain airport (00A) in Georgia. I soloed in N757AA, a C152. Was wearing a Georgia Tech shirt that was cut for the wall.

I was maybe 19 and vividly remember the geezers who'd sit on the porch of the FBO and critique everything. It was intimidating. Whatever you did, right or wrong, you'd hear about it when turning in the keys.

It was a great little airport and easy to find ... just head towards the big hunk of granite. It closed during the run-up to the 1996 Summer Olympics. There were some events in the area and they ended up using it for a parking lot. It never reopened and is now used by an R/C club. Sad.

[PaulR]

Learned and soloed at sleepy little Green Castle airport in Eastern Iowa. Don Nelson was one of my instructors. Very laid back place and a wonderful place to learn.

[2of5]

Took my instruction at Meadowlark Airport in Huntington Beach, California. First solo January 20, 1984, in N714YQ (a 152). Did my checkride at Long Beach, June 30, 1984, with Abe Paster (anybody remember him?) in N4946H.

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/...htm#meadowlark

It was a great place to learn, unfortunately it closed in August 1989 as the land it sat on was worth more to developers. I had been an airport kid there since I was about 10, my father worked as an instructor there for a while. And after my PPL, I would trade time washing and detailing airplanes for time in the air. I remember washing and waxing the 172 that I was renting from an individual, he told me to take it for a couple of hours and "dry it off".

It had a 2300x36 runway, but had severely displaced thresholds at both ends, so landing you had only about 1700 usable. Plus there was a church steeple off to the left of final to 19, if I remember correctly you were below the top of it when you crossed the end of the runway.

Like I said, good to learn there -- other schools at LGB, Fullerton, Orange County and others wouldn't allow their students to fly there as it was too short and narrow. I had one day of pattern work where I got in twelve full-stop landings (no touch and goes), in a litte over one hour, and was getting off by the first turnoff. I wasn't paying for brakes, so I know those poor planes took some abuse .

[Greg Dillon]

March 5, 1979, KFUL, N4603X--a somewhat battered 1966 C-150. It was amazing how well the plane climbed with just me in it. I still fly to Fullerton on a regular basis for lunch at the restaurant or FAAST seminars at the same FBO (AFI) I trained at. Good 'ol 03X had a long life and was eventually taken out of service and the N number released. I was able to reserve it and it now adorns my RV9A. It's cool to hear the controllers use that number now when I fly in...good memories.

[AlpineYoda]

Originally Posted by AlexPeterson

Training at what was then Jeffco Airport in Broomfield CO, first solo at the Longmont airport, 1985. I recall seeing my instructor looking pretty small when I saw him on the ramp while on downwind!

Wow! Same experience here! Training out of what is now Rocky Mountain Metro ten years ago, first solo at Vance Brand / Longmont. Wasn't expecting to solo that day. We were doing touch and goes at KLMO. The instructor told me to stop and taxi back, and I figured he was jumping out to take a quick bathroom break in the grass. Instead he pulled out a portable radio and said "I'll be listening to you on this. You are ready to solo. Let's see you do three laps."

I recall climbing through 500 AGL and thinking "well, I guess there really is only one way to get back down now!"

[Stitch462]

Solo'd in a PA-28-161 at KGEG (Spokane Int'l) got to do three laps around the pattern with 737s and FedEx Caravans thrown in just for fun. Good times.

[YellowPeril]

Merrymeeting Field in Bowdoinham, Maine.

Grass, Trees, Rocks & Saltwater.

I may have also been the last pilot to land there a night, before they decided that was a bad idea and turned the lights off forever.

https://vimeo.com/205893551

[2of5]

Originally Posted by Greg Dillon

March 5, 1979, KFUL, N4603X--a somewhat battered 1966 C-150. It was amazing how well the plane climbed with just me in it. I still fly to Fullerton on a regular basis for lunch at the restaurant or FAAST seminars at the same FBO (AFI) I trained at. Good 'ol 03X had a long life and was eventually taken out of service and the N number released. I was able to reserve it and it now adorns my RV9A. It's cool to hear the controllers use that number now when I fly in...good memories.

Small world, Greg! My checkride I mentioned was from KLGB to KFUL and back.

[PilotjohnS]

First solo was in S2-33 glider out of Rosamond, CA in late 70s ( yes i was only 8 years old). Seemed like it was always blowing 15 kts. Hung out with the likes of Paul Bikle and friends. Good times.