Well, it happened. Woohoo!

[Jake Bourdon]

Hey guys, I apologize for not keeping you all up to date with the flying lessons, but I feel that this is the time to update. Well, it occured. I soloed, last night at 6:30 p.m. EDT at Nashua/Boire Airport, in NH, in one of the best planes(imo); the Cessna 152. Callsign N4736B, made in 1982. She's a beauty, I have 12.5 hours and he(my instructor) told me that I've impressed him more than anyone else he's trained(which was a real confidence booster when I went to takeoff for the first pattern). I kept reading blogs and articles about people soloing and how nervous they were, and thought to myself; "Oh man is this really happening?" as my legs were shaking. Nervous yet anxious, I called up Nashua ground, told them where I was and my intentions and off I went. Both my parents and instructor went up into the tower to watch since my instructor's great friends with the tower controllers. I did my run up, clenching onto the checklist, reading every little detail, and when that was all set I taxied and held short of the runway(32) and called the tower. "This is real, the instructor isn't next to me and it's all up to myself to get this airplane up in the air and back down safely" I said to myself. "Cessna 4736B, cleared for takeoff, make right traffic and report midfield each time" said the controller. As I repeated I taxied out onto the runway and gracefully brought the throttle to firewall. At 50KIAS I pulled back and so it began. Looking directly at the sunset I climbed to 1000ft MSL and turned crosswind, entering the pattern and leveled out at 1200 ft MSL.

As I was cleared to land I told myself to stay confident and just have fun, because in the end that's all it was about, enjoying the flight. I have to admit the best part was looking at all the lights around me in the city, and on my first approach the airport lights turned on. All 3 landings were greasers(to my surprise), on the centerline, and all but one in the touchdown boxes/zone. Coming to a full stop and taxiing clear of the runway I heard the best statement in my life, the controller said "Cessna 4736B congratulations, monitor ground on 121.8 and taxi to the ramp, have a great night." As I wished him a wonderful night as well, I taxied back to the ramp and cut the lights, avionics, and then the engine, soon after following the 3 M's. I stepped out of the airplane and could see my parents sprinting to the plane, and my instructor shook my hand congratulating me as he cut the tail of my shirt. What a wonderful night it was. I will always remember it.

Here are some pictures   :

Taxiing to the run up spot -


Starting Up -


My first solo takeoff(from the tower) -




My instructor and I -


Me at the ramp -


-Jake

[Fozzer]

What a wonderful story, Jake... ...!

You will always love that little Cessna 152, for ever now...trust me... ...!

Comparing you and your instructor together , I suspect that that  little '152 has quite a big pay-load to cope with, Solo.. ...... ...!

Well done... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]...!

Paul....5' 7"...154 LBS... ...Cessna 150/152's love me!... ...!

[expat]

Congratulations. Seems like an excuse to use just about every smiley possible. [smiley=tekst-toppie.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif] [smiley=vrolijk_26.gif] [smiley=cheesy.gif] [smiley=cool.gif] [smiley=engel017.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Matt

[wifesaysno]

Well congratulations Jake!!! Fantastic news! Another aviator takes to skies!!

[Jake Bourdon]

Thank you all so much I really appreciate all the support and comments. Yes Fozzer, it indeed does have a fairly big pay-load to deal with solo; 6' 1" and 182lbs! But she flies like a beauty, I've always adored the 152 and am so happy/fortunate to be able to take lessons in one. Glad to hear that you love your 150/152 also Thank you everyone, it means a lot  Oh but guys, I have a quick question. I plan on asking my instructor this next weekend when I go flying again, but now that I've soloed, can I fly patterns alone at my home airport as long as it's nice weather and I call up my instructor to let him know? Or is it different with every instructor and do you have to wait a while until you can start doing the pattern alone?

-Jake

[Flying Trucker]

Hi Jake...

Well done on your first SOLO and hope you get as much enjoyment out of aviating as I have...

[alrot]

[smiley=beer.gif] Congratulations Jake  8-)

[Jake Bourdon]

Thanks guys, it means so much to me Keep on flying

-Jake

[SaultFresh]

Hey Jake, first off, congrats. I remember my first solo like it was yesterday, even though it's been almost 4 years now, haha. Anyhow, not sure what the rules are in the US, but I would imagine that with your student pilot permit, you should be allowed to take the plane flying solo whenever you want... Day VFR of course. You won't be able to take passengers. You might not be able to rent from a different flight school or club however, and your Instructor might not feel comfortable with the idea. I don't think I would be comfortable with my students going elsewhere to fly... although they're Chinese and in a program... I don't see this being a problem, haha. Check with your Instructor for sure next time you see him, he'll have more details. As soon as you get your PPL though, there will be less restrictions on what you can do, and where you can go, so get time building, and practice your exercises... also, work on spins (if your instructor is comfortable with them) It's not something hugely covered in the curriculum down there, but they are mighty fun, and the 152 should have no problem doing them. The more familiar and comfortable you are with them, the better in my opinion. (Note: They're not a flight test item until CPL flight test)

[Jake Bourdon]

That was the perfect explanation I was looking for! Thank you sooooo much!   8-)  I certainly understand those conditions you were talking about, and wasn't planning on going with a different flight school I'll be sure to ask him, but I'm glad that I most likely can fly the patterns and such alone. I have a feeling that soon after the solo(probably just a few lessons afterwards) as long as I know the area(which I do) that I'll be able to go into the "backyard area" and practice stuff such as spins, stalls, steep turns, etc. Thank you very, very much and have a wonderful time flyin' 

-Jake

[C]

Congratulations; the most important flight of your career is done!

As for 152s, it's just as well I've only got 20hrs on them. I doubt they'd have coped with much more!

[SaultFresh]

Just remember, Spins and Spiral Dives can be dangerous. Here in Canada, they are usually, but not always, Instructor initiated. (Although I definitely remember entering and recovering from them). They're not something that you would practice solo however.
On a side note, start studying the PPL material if you have not already started. It's one thing to read through PPL question banks and stuff, but you should actually read through the books, learn the ground school material. It will make you a better pilot. 2 keys in being a situationally aware pilot is Knowledge, and Vigilance. The Knowledge that something is normal, or abnormal, and the Vigilance to detect it. Any how, study hard, practice as frequent as possible, and I'm sure you'll be a career pilot in no time (if that's what you're after... at least, haha)

[quote]That was the perfect explanation I was looking for! Thank you sooooo much!

[Hagar]

First of all Congratulations Jake.

[quote]That was the perfect explanation I was looking for! Thank you sooooo much!

[SaultFresh]

That's true, everything has to be briefed and debriefed by an Instructor before you go and do it. Spins are no longer a requirement for PPL (which I disagree with), but instead, Spiral Dives are the test exercise. A student with a Student Pilot Permit is allowed to practice Steep Turns, Slow Flight, Stalls, and other various exercises like Precautionary Landings and Forced Approaches (not actually landing, unless at an aerodrome of course). This usually comes after some time in the circuit however, which is what he's been asking about. Spiral Dives and Spins are done dual, as well as any Instrument training, for safety reasons.
On a side note, all of these upper airwork exercises should be covered before a student's first solo, lower level stuff is covered after, maybe even before the students first solo cross-country (which is an approved route, usually)

[Jake Bourdon]

[quote]First of all Congratulations Jake.

[quote]That was the perfect explanation I was looking for! Thank you sooooo much!