Finally got to solo

[dmcummins]

Its been awhile since Ive posted. I started flying lessons in December, its something I have though about doing from time to time. And I realized I'm not getting any younger, I'll be 55 in May, so Ive started.

I have 20 hrs now in my logbook, and I wont say I wasn't a little disappointed that I didn't solo earlier, I though I was ready. But that is behind me now. So today was the big day, I didn't really expect to even get to fly, the visibility was 1 mile and overcast was 800 ft. But my instructor said we could at least fly around the pattern. After 2 landings he hopped out and said go ahead and do 3 more by myself. And stay out of the clouds.

So Whoo Hoo!!!

[wdfifteen]

Congratulations!! So, does this go in the "scariest thing you've ever done" thread?

[dmcummins]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Congratulations!! So, does this go in the "scariest thing you've ever done" thread?

No, not even close.

I was talking to myself when I lined up to takeoff, and in the pattern to touchdown. But I knew I could do it. I was surprised when he got out though, I wasn't expecting it. We were at the hold short line for the runway and he just got out and walked over past the taxiway and waited and watched.

[s_wilwerding]

You getting sport pilot, or full pilot license?

[dmcummins]

Private Pilot.

Now the search for a plane is really going to step up. I've met a few local guys with planes that are suppose to give me a spin when they get the time and the weather is better. One has a Bonanza, the other is a Mooney.

And the wife said just get what you want, as long as it will haul 4.

[pwd72s]

Obvious that you made a good landing...you're still here. Congrats! Hope you had an old shirt on.

[esample]

Originally Posted by dmcummins

Private Pilot.

Now the search for a plane is really going to step up. I've met a few local guys with planes that are suppose to give me a spin when they get the time and the weather is better. One has a Bonanza, the other is a Mooney.

Careful, both those planes are placarded against spins!

-e.

[Tim Hancock]

Congrats.... I remember my solo well... pushing the throttle forward once lined up for take off with no one sitting in the seat next to me was a slightly scary moment.

[Dottore]

Congratulations!

I remember my first solo very well. It is a moment of truth lifting off for the first time without anyone in the seat next to you.

Well done.

[peppy]

Did you get your shirt cut off? I remember my solo (took me almost 30 hours), man a 150 jumps off the ground with only one person in it.

Congratulations.

[Mrmerlin]

that sounds like flying in class G airspace.
Congrats on your solo stay with it.

FWIW about a special VFR clearance

In the Los Angeles basin, there is a phenomenon called the marine layer. Low clouds move in from the ocean and create IFR conditions at the airports close to the shoreline. At Santa Monica Airport, the ATIS may report 700 feet overcast, but that may mean that there is an overcast layer on the ocean-side portion of the runway while the inland side will have CAVU conditions. Time to request a special VFR clearance.

Any private pilot flying below 10,000 feet can request a special VFR clearance from ATC and, if the clearance is granted, need only stay out of the clouds – no minimum distance is required. The ground visibility requirement is also reduced to one statute mile from the general three statute miles for VFR flight in controlled airspace. Essentially, the weather minimums are brought down to Class G airspace requirements below 1,200 feet: one statute mile visibility and clear of clouds.

While the clearance issued by ATC is similar to an instrument clearance and must be read back by the pilot, an instrument rating is not required for special VFR. However, if the request is made between sunset and sunrise, the pilot requesting the clearance needs to be a current instrument pilot. However, special VFR at night is never a good idea since it is impossible to determine where the clouds are. Practice good judgement and request an instrument approach instead.

Special VFR clearances are only issued when cloud ceilings are below 1,000 feet AGL. No matter how familiar you are with the area, flying that low to the ground can be very disorienting and risky. So if the runway is mostly obscured, request an instrument procedure rather than a special VFR clearance or divert to a different airport if you are not IFR rated.

Another word of caution – with a cloud bank at the end of the runway, a go around could be very unsafe. So make sure you are proficient enough and that the wind conditions are such that you can make a full stop on the first try. If you’re not confident that you can achieve this, land somewhere else.

Special VFR can be helpful for proficient pilots who are intimately familiar with the area around the airport, in conditions where the runway is minimally obscured by clouds. In busy airspace such as that around Santa Monica, a special VFR clearance can be a nice shortcut. But, as with many flying-related shortcuts, realize they often come at the expense of increased risk.

[wdfifteen]

I remember my first solo. I think the guy in the tower was on his first solo too. He gave us the full weather detail at every single touch and go, and my instructor was talking about how the guy should lighten up. He got out and I took off, holding the mike in my hand waiting to acknowledge the tower guy's weather report, with the engine at full throttle. I was halfway downwind, pushing hard on the yolk with my left hand and helplessly holding the mike with the other, trying to maintain altitude and waiting for him to shut up so I could acknowledge and throttle back. My instructor stopped me on the runway and knew what was going on. He told me to ignore the guy, just leave the mike on the hook and make a couple more. It was a lot easier to do with two hands. I was so green, I thought the tower guy was God. My instructor had a talk with me afterward, "Aviate, navigate, communicate - in that order!" That was in a PA 28 in about 1969, when the mics weighed about a pound and the wire was thicker than a phone cord.

[MT930]

Congratulations !!!!!
Soloing is a real milestone in life, it's a real accomplishment.

Your instructor was probably more concerned than you.
Element of surprise to the student in a majority of cases.

In the old days we would have the student taxi to the base of the tower, we would get out, tell them it was time to try it alone. We would open the unlocked door to the tower, climb the stairs and sit with the controllers and chain smoke cigarettes with them. While your student did 3 touch and go's. You could hear if there was stress in their voice as they reported pattern locations. Very rarely would they be nervous.

The funny thing was, with the smoke inside the tower you had to struggle to see your student in the pattern on a clear day.

You can't just show up at the tower any more. It's smoke free now. I am sure now you would be arrested for knocking on the tower door or smoking

[Dantilla]

I was pretty amazed how much better the tiny Cessna 152 climbed with only me aboard.

Loads of fun.....

[dmcummins]

Thanks guys, I'm training in a 172, but could also tell the difference without the instructor beside me. It jumped off the runway. Were both a shade over 200 so the 172 was a better fit, I think it cost about $25 an hour more thou.

I'm at an uncontrolled airport so I only have to let everyone know where I am. But we are only 12miles from Lambert, so have to stay below 3000 to stay out of the class B. At the practice area the bottom is 4500ft. Ive never been above 4000ft. The ground elevation is around 450. But the cross country's will be coming soon so that may change.

[slodave]

Congrats!

[slodave]

Next step is to get in the plane yourself for the first time! That made me nervous. I worried for a moment on my first solo, since I now had to put the plane back on the ground without my instructor sitting next to me, but the day I showed up and to the flying club and jumped in the plane for my first truly solo flight from start to finish was unnerving.

I am at the point where I need to take some short solo flights to another airport by myself. That's my next hurdle. I am very comfortable with my home field! Even though it's a very busy airport.

[azasadny]

Congratulations!!!

[Jim727]

Congrats!!

A big day and the start of a great journey.

[dmcummins]

Originally Posted by slodave

Next step is to get in the plane yourself for the first time! That made me nervous. I worried for a moment on my first solo, since I now had to put the plane back on the ground without my instructor sitting next to me, but the day I showed up and to the flying club and jumped in the plane for my first truly solo flight from start to finish was unnerving.

I am at the point where I need to take some short solo flights to another airport by myself. That's my next hurdle. I am very comfortable with my home field! Even though it's a very busy airport.

My instructor said he had a guy with close to 30hrs in and he sent him on his first solo cross country. The airport was about 50miles away and they had been there together. He said it wasn't but about 10 to 15min later the guy came back and said he just couldn't get past the practice area that was about 5 miles away. Said he was done flying and never came back.