VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #1  
Old 03-12-2008, 07:53 AM
mcsteatlh mcsteatlh is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kingwood
Posts: 80
Default All by myself.

Said a quick prayer about airspeed and trim, pushed the altitude adjuster to the wall and just like that, I was going to land that 172 by myself whether I wanted to or not. It was all good and a non event I'm happy to report. Some of you may remember that I held a death grip on my instructers arm the first time he tried to get out of the plane. This time I tried to kick him out but I'm no contortionist. Couldn't get my leg up that far in the 172. Hit two red two white on my final which quickly went to three red, maintained that and like magic, chirp-chirp, chirp and I was down.

time for More.

Thanks all.

David
McStealth
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-12-2008, 08:05 AM
brayski98's Avatar
brayski98 brayski98 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Pecan Plantation, Tx.
Posts: 128
Default Congrats!

Congrats on your first solo. Before you know it you'll have an examiner in there with you.
__________________
Bryan Ray
RV-6A
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-12-2008, 08:07 AM
praterdj praterdj is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 264
Default

Congratulations David. I still remember how great that felt. Feels so good it's a shame you can only do your first solo once!
__________________
Donald Prater
Formerly 52F now Arkansas...Go Hogs!
RV-8 Empennage Underway
N-284DP (Reserved)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-12-2008, 08:37 AM
Bob Axsom Bob Axsom is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
Default That is good but ...

That is a good accomplishment but I almost lost it on my third solo when I got too slow at low altitude - watch your airspeed. The solo seemed like a non-event to me because I had flown the pattern so many times with the instructor but the first solo cross country was when I really knew I was passing into a different realm in life. Maybe the environment emphasized the moment, climbing out of the Los Angeles basin from Orange County Airport (it wasn't called John Wayne then) and climbing over the mountains to Apple Valley. After I landed and shut down on the ramp I popped opened the side window and just sat there soaking in the enormity of what had happened. Approaching 5,000 flight hours later I still remember the difference of this flight hitting me as I climbed through 7,000 feet and later sitting on the ramp at Apple Valley. Don't worry, you still have big moments to look forward to.

Bob Axsom

Last edited by Bob Axsom : 03-12-2008 at 10:48 AM. Reason: Typos and cleanup
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-12-2008, 09:12 AM
Mike S's Avatar
Mike S Mike S is offline
Senior Curmudgeon
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
Default Congratulations!!!

Way to go.

You have now done something only a very small percent of the worlds population has experienced.

Cherish and nourish it.
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909

Rv-10, N210LM.

Flying as of 12/4/2010

Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011

Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.

"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-12-2008, 09:17 AM
Phil's Avatar
Phil Phil is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Waco, Texas
Posts: 1,658
Default

Great News, David!!

I'm in Kingwood too, let me know if I can do anything to help you.

Where are you doing your training?

Phil
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-12-2008, 09:23 AM
ulrichw ulrichw is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 3
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Axsom View Post
[...] The solo seemed like a non-event to me because I had flown the pattern so many times with the instructor but the first solo cross country was a when I really knew I was passing into a different realm. [...]
Bob Axsom
First, congrats to David! I'm just a few lessons ahead of you, but the solo is a big milestone.

Second - (sorry about the thread hijack) I had to respond to this, because I feel exactly the same way as you, Bob.

I just flew my first solo cross country yesterday, and it felt like much more of an accomplishment than doing the pattern. As I was pushing the plane to it's tie down and closing it up, it hit me that I had just done everything a "real pilot" would do - navigation, flying, communications with ATC - the works.

Now it feels like it's all downhill from here.

-- Ulrich
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-12-2008, 09:59 AM
Geico266's Avatar
Geico266 Geico266 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Huskerland, USA
Posts: 5,862
Default

Congrats! There is only one 1st solo. Remember this day, fly safe.
__________________
RV-7 : In the hangar
RV-10 : In the hangar
RV-12 : Built and sold
RV-44 : 4 place helicopter on order.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-12-2008, 10:24 AM
WilburD2 WilburD2 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 163
Default Remembering mine..

I remember my first solo 23 yrs ago.. Instructor told me to do 3 stop and goes. Between numbers 2 and 3, just as I was about to turn base, Some clown in a bonanza called turning base as well. I didn't see him, so I took the prudent way out and bailed out of the pattern to the south and came back around. After landing I asked my instructor if he ever saw the guy. Turns out that there was (at that time) another airport a few miles away using the same unicom freq and the guy called the wrong airport!
__________________
Bill S.
A+P, RV Dreamer + Schemer
RV-9 preplans in hand
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-12-2008, 11:02 AM
Rick S. Rick S. is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 736
Default

Congratulations!!

That's one feeling I wish I could bottle and sell. I wrote my thoughts about that day and keep it in my log book. It's fun to pull it out and read every once in awhile...almost as good as the day it happened.
__________________
Rick Sked
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:27 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.