Solo!

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Solo!

Postby Rocket_Bird » Wed May 18, 2005 4:11 pm

Just had quite the day today, been planning for it for this moment for a long time now, my first solo.  Was sitting over at Calgary International airport, looking up in the sky, it looked like a fine day to go flying, expecting some thundershowers in the afternoon but if i went quick i would get back before it came.  

Taxied onto runway 34 after doing our runups.  Did a simulated soft field takeoff, and after that, was on our way to our practice field 25 miles out.  While flying to our practice field, my instructor gave me a pair of fog goggles, and we were going to do some instrument flying until we reached our field.  Was no biggie, after flying flight simulator 2k4 so many times  ;D.  Did a couple landings over at CFV2 airfield, where my instructor asked me if I was ready.  "Ready!"  Taxied off runway 16, he got out, and I backtracked to 16 to do my first take-off on my own.  Took off, was amazed on how light this little ole C-172 felt, she was performing!  Went crosswind, downwind, and final, was going to do the first couple without flaps, and without my instructor, this thing really floats on the runway.  Touched down with the first two circuits perfect, but floated a bit down the runway.

Took off again and for my next two landings, 20 degrees of flaps this time.  Things started to get really bumpy.  While on final for my second one, a sudden draft dropped my wing hard to one side, recovered and landed.  Whew, was getting it!  

I asked my instructor before, if i started to panic, if I should just pick him up.  But it went very well, and I didnt feel nervous at all.  So I took off, and was going to finish my last 2 circuits with full flaps.  Started to get bumpier, but I know I could do it.  Was bouncing a bit during downwind, but with full flaps, these 172s are smooth on landings.  The clouds were really building up north so I picked up my instructor, and went back to CYYC.  

Ok, back to the foggles, and instrument flying etc.  By the time I took off the foggles, I was already 5 miles from runway 25 for landing.  "Golf Victor Foxtrot Delta, make straight in runway 25, hold short runway 34, you are number one!"  Ok here we go, been a perfect day of landings, and my instructor wasnt going to touch on this one either.  Got a little high on the papi lights, so I chopped the power and floated my way down.  Over the threshold, and flare!  Wohoo!  Taxiing back to our south east parking spot, I saw the reality, I was flying it at last!   ;D
Cheers,
RB

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Re: Solo!

Postby Felix/FFDS » Wed May 18, 2005 4:22 pm

Congratulations!!!!!!
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Re: Solo!

Postby C » Wed May 18, 2005 4:23 pm

Congratulations. Well Done RB! ;D ;D ;D
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Re: Solo!

Postby beefhole » Wed May 18, 2005 5:38 pm

Congrats dude ;)

My solos coming up within the next couple of weeks.
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Re: Solo!

Postby chomp_rock » Wed May 18, 2005 6:09 pm

Congrats, that is a big event in any pilot's life!
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Re: Solo!

Postby FLYING_TRUCKER » Wed May 18, 2005 9:24 pm

Well done RB...did they dunk you in a 45 gallon drum upside down full of water and then cut off your shirt tail and nail it to the wall with the date, time and your name on it? ;DLOL

Your starting on a new journey so enjoy it...learn something new every day and don't be afraid to ask questions. ;)

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Re: Solo!

Postby TacitBlue » Wed May 18, 2005 10:40 pm

Awsome! Congrats! Cant wait untill I can do that. Ive got a lot of work to do untill then, but yeah. Congrats again  8)
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Re: Solo!

Postby Mobius » Wed May 18, 2005 11:27 pm

Nice. :D :D ;)
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Re: Solo!

Postby VOHY_VO0I » Thu May 19, 2005 9:39 am

That was fun reading  :D

All the while i was thinking "when will that day come in my life".  ::)

Well, there's a long way for me to go. Just enrolling my name into a flying club.

So Rocket_Bird, some day i'll be posting my first solo experience here. Be on a look out (may be after 6 months), LOL.

Anyway, lots of congratulations to you and all the best for your coming flights.
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Re: Solo!

Postby C » Thu May 19, 2005 12:14 pm

Very strange experience today...

Walked into work, and one of the charter shuttle pilots was in the ops room. He looked familiar, but it was one of those times where I couldn't quite place the guys face...

After he'd left I checked his name up against his call sign, and amazingly it all came back - he was the chap who sent me on my first solo in a C152 nearly 6 years ago. Small world isn't it... :)
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Re: Solo!

Postby ozzy72 » Thu May 19, 2005 12:48 pm

Great stuff Rocket ;)
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Re: Solo!

Postby beaky » Thu May 19, 2005 5:30 pm

Kudos, Rocket!! Well done!! ;D ;D ;D

And isn't it wonderful to pull off the foggles and see that runway? ;D
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Re: Solo!

Postby Rocket_Bird » Fri May 20, 2005 11:25 am

Yup! Sure been the best experience ever!  ;D
Cheers,
RB

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Re: Solo!

Postby beaky » Fri May 20, 2005 7:01 pm

Even more fun than simulated approaches is unusual attitude recovery with the foggles on.  I was always pretty good at that (enjoyed it, too!), but then again, a human instructor is not as devilish as real turbulence in real IMC... ;D
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