Just did my first solo! That was the most amazing feeling I’ve experienced in my life. I had to keep swiping the air next to me in order to prove to myself that my instructor wasn’t in the seat next to me. The second I rotated and was free of the earth, a sense of knowing came over me. The flight felt just like any others I’ve done. While I was doing the run-up I was nervous, but once I got into the air I knew exactly what I had to do.
The first part of today’s lesson, I went up to do three touch and goes with my instructor. This is standard protocol in order to make sure the student didn’t forget how to fly. I did one landing, had to go around on the next because the tower never gave me clearance, and finally landed on the third attempt. Since I did everything correct during the go around, my instructor counted that attempt as a landing. After the third landing, I taxied to the school’s ramp. My instructor and I went back into the briefing room in order to fill out a solo worksheet. This basically just said that I was going for my first solo, ever.
After we got the paperwork figured out and Chris gave me some last second advice, I went back out to the plane. It was go time. I didn’t have to, but I gave the plane a walk around, just in case something serious happened to the plane during my previous three touch and goes. It was fine so I climbed inside, closed and latched the door behind me and there I was; all alone in an airplane ready for a flight for the first time in my life. I did everything as I would if I was with my instructor, after completing the pre start, and start checklist I began my taxi. When I called up ground control and awaited confirmation to taxi to the active runway, I caught myself grinning from ear to ear. Anyway, I received clearance, taxied to the run-up area to do my last minute checks, and taxied to the runway threshold.
“Republic Tower, Farmingdale State 11 is at the active on Brave, ready for takeoff”
“State 11, clear to takeoff, make left traffic”
“clear for takeoff, wilco on left traffic, State 11”
Here I go. I taxied onto the runway lined up with the centerline and advanced the throttle to full open. 15 knots, “flaps set zero.” 25 knots, “airspeed alive”. 40 knots, “instruments green”. 50 knots, “we’re a go.” 55 knots, “rotate.” As I increased back pressure to lift the plane off the ground, the airplane responded to my control inputs with precision. I’ve finally accomplished my goal of flying an airplane. Ever since I was 6, and went on my first plane ride ever, I’ve literally dreamt and thought about this moment, a moment that won’t ever be forgotten. It gave me chills as I climbed out at Vy.
The rest of the flight was as if my instructor was next to me. I did three full stop, taxi back landings (I would land, taxi off the runway, and taxi immediately back to the active runway’s threshold and wait for clearance to takeoff again). No wind, no confusion, no problems.
After I got back to Farmingdale’s ramp, and tied the plane down, I headed in to talk about the flight with my instructor. Once I got into the briefing room, everyone congratulated me, then cut up my shirt. Apparently, once a student solos, the instructors all gather around and cut out a piece of the student’s shirt and write the date, “first solo” and which runway they used. I was no exception. As I’m writing this right now, I’m still wearing the shirt I solo-ed in, with a large piece of the back missing.
I cannot describe exactly how I was feeling as I was solo-ing for the first time. It’s one of those experiences where unless you do it for yourself, you’re not going to know what it means to you.
The first part of today’s lesson, I went up to do three touch and goes with my instructor. This is standard protocol in order to make sure the student didn’t forget how to fly. I did one landing, had to go around on the next because the tower never gave me clearance, and finally landed on the third attempt. Since I did everything correct during the go around, my instructor counted that attempt as a landing. After the third landing, I taxied to the school’s ramp. My instructor and I went back into the briefing room in order to fill out a solo worksheet. This basically just said that I was going for my first solo, ever.
After we got the paperwork figured out and Chris gave me some last second advice, I went back out to the plane. It was go time. I didn’t have to, but I gave the plane a walk around, just in case something serious happened to the plane during my previous three touch and goes. It was fine so I climbed inside, closed and latched the door behind me and there I was; all alone in an airplane ready for a flight for the first time in my life. I did everything as I would if I was with my instructor, after completing the pre start, and start checklist I began my taxi. When I called up ground control and awaited confirmation to taxi to the active runway, I caught myself grinning from ear to ear. Anyway, I received clearance, taxied to the run-up area to do my last minute checks, and taxied to the runway threshold.
“Republic Tower, Farmingdale State 11 is at the active on Brave, ready for takeoff”
“State 11, clear to takeoff, make left traffic”
“clear for takeoff, wilco on left traffic, State 11”
Here I go. I taxied onto the runway lined up with the centerline and advanced the throttle to full open. 15 knots, “flaps set zero.” 25 knots, “airspeed alive”. 40 knots, “instruments green”. 50 knots, “we’re a go.” 55 knots, “rotate.” As I increased back pressure to lift the plane off the ground, the airplane responded to my control inputs with precision. I’ve finally accomplished my goal of flying an airplane. Ever since I was 6, and went on my first plane ride ever, I’ve literally dreamt and thought about this moment, a moment that won’t ever be forgotten. It gave me chills as I climbed out at Vy.
The rest of the flight was as if my instructor was next to me. I did three full stop, taxi back landings (I would land, taxi off the runway, and taxi immediately back to the active runway’s threshold and wait for clearance to takeoff again). No wind, no confusion, no problems.
After I got back to Farmingdale’s ramp, and tied the plane down, I headed in to talk about the flight with my instructor. Once I got into the briefing room, everyone congratulated me, then cut up my shirt. Apparently, once a student solos, the instructors all gather around and cut out a piece of the student’s shirt and write the date, “first solo” and which runway they used. I was no exception. As I’m writing this right now, I’m still wearing the shirt I solo-ed in, with a large piece of the back missing.
I cannot describe exactly how I was feeling as I was solo-ing for the first time. It’s one of those experiences where unless you do it for yourself, you’re not going to know what it means to you.
