Solo!
Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 4:11 pmJust 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!
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!
