*sigh* here goes

[beefhole]

I have my first solo x-country next weekend.  I'll be flying down to Wildwood (Cape May), routed over VAY to avoid the Philly class B.  I have, to date, 8.8 xcountry hours.  Well, I'm, just not the greatest at the whole VFR xcountry thing, so I'm glad there's GPS onboard (just in case I mean)

How'd everybody else's first solo xcountry go?

[Mobius]

Not bad, until I the storms came between me and my home airport on my last leg, not to mention the fact that I was paying too much attention to the acrobatic airplanes waiting to take off while I was landing at the last airport to realize I was landing with the wind instead of into it, finally realized it while I watched the runway just keep floating by beneath me.

But you'll do fine, and if not, we won't hear about it. :-/

Just kidding, it still is one of my best memories from flight training, being out alone for the first time, watching towns and everything just sliding beneath you, it's really great.

Good Luck!

[Rocket_Bird]

My solo cross countries were pretty fun!  There is nothing better than kicking your instructor out of the aircraft while you can enjoy the scenery!  ;D  On my first one, my instructor went out of town, to a place I was flying to.  Once I was in their vicinity, the tower there told me that my instructor said "dont forget to close off my flight plan."  Was kinda cool!  After exploring various towns on my own, and finally heading back, it was great and cozy seeing my home town appear right in my views, its awesome.  

Anyways, im sure you will have fun!  If you can flight plan properly, chances are, if you fly your calculated track from start to finished, you will be absolutely amazed how easy it is to navigate!  Take your time, clear your mind, remember the whole aircraft is yours for the trip and your in charge!

[C]

I can't really remember it that well other than I saw a pair of F-15s just before cutting it short due to weather, and having to wander back between the clouds at 1500ft. Thankfully I knew the area very well so the free nav wasn't a problem.

[Hester]

Hands down, my solo cross country was the best moment of my flight training!

[beefhole]

I'm the opposite - I LOVE flying by chart and dead reckoning and hate using a GPS

I love flying by the chart too, I'm just no good at it

[Rocket_Bird]

Have faith beefhole, have faith!  Fly the track and make it back!  ;D

[Sytse]

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so I'm glad there's GPS onboard

:-/

Only use GPS as a backup, don't rely on it or it might cost you your life. Seriously!

[Woodlouse2002]

You know that inless your chart is wgs-84 then it could be as much as half a mile out of sync with a gps position.

[beefhole]

Only use GPS as a backup, don't rely on it or it might cost you your life. Seriously!

It's broken twice, in flight, since I've been training.  I KNOW.  I'm not that type of pilot.

You know that inless your chart is wgs-84 then it could be as much as half a mile out of sync with a gps position.

But the GPS position isn't out of sync with the airports

Thanks for the encouragement guys

[Woodlouse2002]

But the GPS position isn't out of sync with the airports

Don't get what you mean there. But if a chart hasn't been gps confirmed then everything on it could be half a mile out. But as it's difficult to get a non wgs-84 chart these days I don't think you need worry.

[beefhole]

Don't get what you mean there. But if a chart hasn't been gps confirmed then everything on it could be half a mile out. But as it's difficult to get a non wgs-84 chart these days I don't think you need worry.

Basically, a direct line from airport to airport is the exact same on my chart as it is on my GPS.  There is only one way to go straight to something.  If the GPS brings you straight to an airport, and not a half mile off, then therefore it must be in sync with the map.  And I know the GPS is accurate, I've used it on several flights.  Not like I'll be using it as my primary navigation.

[Ben_M_K]

Good luck Brendon, in a few years I'll be doing the same thing...

Ben

[beaky]

 You'll like Wildwood- make sure you have time to check out the museum while you're there.
 Don't get a psych on about your pilotage skills, you'll get the hang of it after a few more x-cs, I bet.  It's hard to use the chart on short flights close to home, sometimes... on my recent BFR, I had a hell of a time at one point getting oriented; no significant landmarks nearby, except the home airport (!), which I couldn't see because it was under us...as I circled and fumbled with the chart...
 That's where ded. reckoning comes in. If you plan very carefully beforehand with a nav log showing ETAs for reliable landmarks about 20 miles apart or so, you should do fine. I've also learned to plan to fly abeam airports and other small landmarks- too easy to not know your time of passage because you can't see the thing under the nose.
 Of course, you should also remember your lost procedures, which includes calling ATC and admitting you're a noob and you're lost, if necessary. They'll be happy to help and won't laugh at you- not on the air, anyway...
Another thing about learning DR and pilotage: by all means use navaids as part of it. I'll often use a radial with a visual landmark ("OK, that's the river, but which part?"); that and NDB bearings and DME info. help you learn how to follow that line on the chart without "cheating", that is, flying from navaid to navaid.
So plan carefully, fly the trip in the sim, then go have a great time!
 And watch out for A-220... I don't know what they do in there, but I avoid it.

[beefhole]

Thanks Rotty, I've been told I may use VORs (not like they'd know anyway ).  I've been to Wildwood before, but only a quick touch and go.  I doubt I'll have time to get out this time around either, the 172s at Wings are generally booked solid.

I have more x-country time under my belt than your average student before they go solo x-country, so I expect it to go smoothly