First Solo Flight

I wish I could say this was from me but it came from a friend.

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Yesterday, I made my first Solo Flight as Pilot in Command, and thought I would share the Experience.

It started out as a normal day, unaware that I was going to solo. Though I knew it was going to be soon. The weather was good and well above VFR minimums. I met with my Flight Instructor and was briefed. ‘We’ll just do a few Touch and Go’s Today, he said. At that point I became a little suspicious because Gene always gives a detailed preflight. Anyway, I began the preflight of the airplane and then called Karen to let her know I might solo today. But she was in a meeting, so I left a message.

We taxied off and did a few touch and go’s and then headed back to the west ramp. My instructor then told me to stop the plane. He asked for my log book and student pilot cert. I curiously handed them to him. As he endorsed them, he said ‘it’s your airplane’. I thought to myself, ok now what? He said nothing more, so I asked him. What am I supposed to do?
His reply was, exactly as we just did. I have a hand held if you need to contact me’. He then shook my hand and walked away. Reality had just set in!

I jumped back into the airplane, fastened my seat belt, cleared the area and started the engine. I turned on the nav/comm and got a quick terminal information briefing on ATIS and then contacted ground that I was ready to taxi for closed traffic with the option. They quickly cleared me to taxi to 20R. The nerves were building... As I was taxing, ground asked me if I wanted a Run-up. Although not necessary since we just flew the plane, I replied yes and headed to the run-up area for 20R. The run-up checked out. I contacted ground with run-up complete and they cleared me to hold short 20R and contact Tower. I tuned to tower and headed to 20R.

As I was holding short on 20R, I noticed there was a lot of traffic with a jet on final, one taking off and several in the pattern. So I just sat there and waited for the traffic to clear and for tower to clear me. The anticipation and anxiety was building. I started to sweat a little. But then over the radio I heard ‘N109PH cleared for right traffic 20R’. The moment has come! I taxied onto the runway and lined myself up with the centerline. My heart was beating fast, almost a distraction. I did a quick pre-takeoff check and then applied full power. All the training over the last several months had come to this. The plane accelerated down the runway quickly, more than I was used too, and I then realized it was because I was minus my 235 pound instructor. Just as quickly as that, I rotated the controls and was airborne. At that point as I was climbing, I looked over to my right – no Instructor. But all my nervousness and anxiety went away as I started to climb out. I quickly reached 500’ and began my crosswind turn. My airspeed was good and all seemed ok. I then made my downwind turn and reached pattern altitude shortly thereafter. I reduced the power and held pattern altitude to about midfield when tower came over the radio and cleared me to land 20R with the option.

As I was abeam the runway, I reduced power and added flaps. Opps, I forgot to do the pre-landing checklist! I thought of my instructor always nagging me like a nagging wife (no offense Karen) and it paid off. PRE-LANDING CHECKLIST!, I heard. I then turned base, reduced power and applied more flaps. Tower informed me a jet was on 5 mile final, so I rounded my turn to avoid encroaching on the parallel runway - don’t want to collide with a jet on final, would make for a bad scene... Here we go! I executed a perfect turn and began setting up for landing (an area I struggled with). But I felt I had worked hard to get it down and was confident I could execute a good landing. On final, I applied the remaining flaps and reduced power. I was drifting off course but quickly corrected. As I was about 100’ feet off the runway I reduced power to idle. My approach airspeed was good, (60-65 knots) and I was coordinated.

I made the go-no go-decision to land. The plane started to descend quickly and I started to level off just past the runway threshold. The runway came up fast. I was now in the flare and could feel the plane sinking. I started pulling back on the yoke. I heard the stall horn. And then just like that, she touched down as smoothly as can be. I had landed, and it was a good one! As I taxied back to the runway, I could see the flight school guys and gals waving their hands. It put a big grin on my face. I did it, my first solo!

The next two takeoffs and landings were good. The second landing had a little bounce but I recovered quickly. As I taxied back to parking, the flight school guys and gals were all there to greet me. It was a great moment! A sense of accomplishment at one point I wasn’t sure I would achieve. I then called Karen but again... she was in a meeting. So I left her another message and said “I just Soloed and I love you”.


Thanks for sharing my experience.