Your first solo

[beefhole]

Mine is coming up

My CFI claims he has a perfect record, but he may be lying

Was wondering if anyone had anything interesting...

[Mobius]

Cool, good luck!  I don't have any first solo stories, but here is an "after" first solo story:

One of my first solos I was doing rounds in the pattern and there was a woman flying in the pattern also who would not acknowledge anyone on the radio what-so-ever.  So, I was trying to enter the downwind leg and I made my radio call but she wouldn't tell me where she was so I circled back away from the airport and called UNICOM for a radio check and everything was working fine.  She finally said only who she was and that she was on "base for landing" and nothing else so I headed back to try to enter the downwind leg and she mucked up her landing and had to go-around so I called her asking where she was so we wouldn't have an "incident".  She wouldn't respond and I couldn't see here so I circled again.  We did the same thing one more time before I dropped to 200 feet below pattern altitude, pushed the throttle forward and flew around the pattern fast and turned to a really short final and once I landed I got off the runway as fast as I could.  Everyone at the FBO told me that the woman flying the airplane never talks to anyone while she is flying.

So, let this be a lesson, listen to your radio and watch where your going, it makes it alot easier for everyone.

The best part of the story though is as we were both leaving the airport, the woman who would not talk to me on the radio waved at me as she drove by.


Do try to avoid this



P.S.  Wear an old shirt.

[Woodsup]

Are those planes friends?

[beaky]

I think I posted this story earlier in another thread, but my 1st solo went great except for one thing: the wind was light and variable, so my CFI warned me that the runway in use might change (this was at an uncontrolled field). I nodded, but did not inquire further. Takeoff from Rwy 01 was fine, made my xwind leg in textbook style, turned to downwind right on target, then somebody announced that we were now using 19. Now, at this field, you can't fly on the west side of the runway, so I couldn't just continue on, turning my base leg into an xwind leg... "I've gotta turn around", I thought, "but where? How?" To complicate matters, there was now a plane in front of me, and one behind. I decided to try to follow the guy in front of me, but he left the pattern altogether. Hmmm... for some reason I didn't think to ask for advice on the radio (dumb!). Finally, as the turn-to-base point approached, I decided to extend my downwind and get the hell out of the way before making a 180. and hauling it in on a looonnng final. Made three decent landings that day, but it was interesting  trying to figure out what to do. I'd never read about the standard procedure anywhere, nor heard of it from any CFI. Afterwards, I asked my CFI, and he seemed surprised I didn;t know: "Oh- when that happens, just make a teardrop turn at the midway point on downwind, towards the outside.... you mean you didn't know? I was wondering what you were doing!"
  Anyway, don't psych yourself out, you've done a pattern before most likely without any input from your CFI, so it's no big deal. Just remember my story- think about any oddball surprises beforehand, and have a little plan in mind for each. And if you're in doubt at any point- speak up!!  And one more thing: assuming it's a C172 or similar light single, she'll be a little friskier without the CFI's weight in the right seat, and a little more reluctant to descend. In a 150, the difference is quite pronounced: you may find yourself compensating for a slight left-rolling tendency. Good luck- and have fun!! That first solo pattern is something you'll never forget!

[beaky]

Fun story, mobius: it's stuff like that that makes you understand why so many midairs and near-misses happen right there at the airport, in fine weather. I've had a few close encounters myself...like the time I  found myself in formation with another plane on downwind at a controlled field! "I don't know if you can see him, but he's right next to me", I told the controller,"who goes first?".
PS- Love that picture, too- I remember that story. Wasn't the Cessna on a training flight?

[Mobius]

I don't know, but when one airplane loves another very much...

Nice story, I hate getting that feeling when your up there alone and something happens that catches you off guard.  But don't worry, your CFI wouldn't let you go up if he didn't think you could handle anything that may come up.

[beaky]

[quote]I don't know, but when one airplane loves another very much...

lol-
so THAT'S how they make airplanes....! At any rate, I remember hearing that everybody got on the ground without a scratch... both PICs managed to keep their cool and ride out the approach and landing. Very close shave, and a classic example of a low-wing driver not seeing a plane below, and a high-wing driver missing traffic from above and behind... probably some lax communications there, too...

[beefhole]

Are those planes friends?

LOL yea, I hope that was consentual.

Mobius, your story just further proves how dangerous and unprofessional GA pilots can be. While some may find it amusing, I swear to god I would have smacked her (I'm kidding-of course I would ask my CFI if it was ok to smack her first ) once I got down on the ground.

That reminds me of a fella at my field who was strongly opposed to going around. It was a really, really busy saturday at my airfield (uncontrolled) and someones takeoff roll/rollout was taking longer than expected. people were shouting at him "go around! go around!", but I'm going to assume you can figure out what the moron did.

And rotty-I remember that story

And dude, you are like 0 for 5 on your last five quote attempts. You've somehow managed to mess up the code for them all. Straighten it out or else... I'll write angry PMs!

[beaky]

All I did was hit the "Quote" button...  I'll make it up to you with my favorite dumb-pilot story...
 I was on a flight w/ my CFI to Stroudsberg, Pa. (x-country training), and while the wind was very light, the traffic ahead of us landed to the north, so I set up my pattern accordingly, and made a very nice approach. Now, I learned very early the importance of announcing- and listening- on the CTAF at non-towered fields, so I wasn't expecting a conflict. Being intent on the end of the runway as I flared, I was surprised to hear the CFI say "...and what the hell is HE doing?!" I looked up as we rolled out to see another C172 swoosh over us at about 50 ft.- going the other way!  This idiot screwed up on several levels:
1- didn't talk on the CTAF: not illegal in that area, but I can't help thinking there was nothing wrong with his radio.
2- didn't listen for my pattern announcements: see #1
3-didn't see me, although I was already on the runway when he crossed the threshold (I missed him easily enough because I was on final, in a high-wing aircraft)
4- didn't even consider going around (he just went ahead and landed), leaving me to think he'd seen me the whole time, and just didn't care.
We were both angry; what if I'd had to go around? We would have had a freakin' airshow on our hands, at about 100ft. AGL. Not cool.
We back-taxiied on the runway; he took the adjacent grass runway for his taxi... if we hadn't both been leaving, I'd have definitely walked over to have a word with this Master of the Skies (and probably gotten arrested on an assault charge). Had to settle for an icy glare as we passed each other... I didn't get his N-number 'cuz I didn't see one! The plane was newly stripped for repainting, and I don't recall seeing any numbers.... beware blue skies and quiet little airports!

[C]

Enjoy it. Mine was on the evening of my 18th birthday at (RAF) Manston airport in Kent. C152, G-BHHG. My second first (RAF) solo was a year and a half later...

Looking forward to the third, whilst I get stick time on anything I can at the moment...

Charlie

[Eskimo]

Mine was 3 weeks after my 16th birthday.  Just one circuit, but I wasn't expecting it at all.  I thought I wouldn't do it when my instructer just said: "I'm gonna get out now".  ;D

Did one of my best landings ever and noone in the plane to see it.

[C]

Did one of my best landings ever and noone in the plane to see it.

Always the way...

[Craig.]

Let me guess, it was so good you didnt even realise you had touched the ground

[Eskimo]

Let me guess, it was so good you didnt even realise you had touched the ground

No, that heppened with my first passenger.  12 kts of x-wind and I was expecting to have a large bump, when I hear the wheels hit the ground.  I was a lovely landing, worthy of a round of applause.

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Hey, congratulations on reaching this big step in your flying career!  

I remember my first solo like it was yesterday.  It was an average day, and my CFI and I flew from our FBO at First Air Field (W16) over to Paine Field (KPAE) to do some landing practice on the big runway.  (31 L)  We did about 3 T&G's, then he had me taxi on over to the parking area, he got out and said, "Have fun!"  

So, I taxied out and man was it awesome not having someone next to me!  Anyway,  it was really neat because in front of me the entire time was the ONLY Boing Stratocruiser in flying condition.  Folowed her around for all four of my takeoffs and landings.  I had to do full stop landings because along with the Stratocruiser, there were also a couple of 727's and 737's landing/taking off ahead of me, so I had to wait for wake turbulence... my CFI initially told me to do three, but gave me the option for my fourth since I had to keep stoping. lol

The next big step for me was actually soloing at my home field, First Air.  Significantly more complex than Paine Field.. 34 foot wide runway, 2,700 feet long, up/down drafts on short final due to airflow over a huge hill and some horse barns... and airplanes lining the side of the narrow runway.  Man did it feel great sticking those 3 landings!  

You will do just fine, and BE SURE to post here as soon as you get back!!  Wohoo, that's awesome man!