Lawdawg131

Did my first official solo!!!!!!!!!!I have been taking off the trainer for a while but lack the courage to land it...first flight attempted a low pass for an simulated approach but wind was swirling and I aborted and let a buddy land...few later wind died down and tried again...have to admit it was a rough landing but the plane is not damaged anymore than a scuff. Was still totally cool!!

firestone1121

nice dude! before you know it youll be doing stall turns and inverted manuevering! keep it up and congratulations! its best to land against the wind. use more rudder than aileron on landings. what trainer do you have? i suggest if you cant afford realflight download the free demo. you can only use your directional keypad but you get a feeling (not quite the exact thing) of how to make your approach and make a graceful and safe landing. happy flying http://www.realflight.com/free-g3-demo.html

Lawdawg131

I have the tower trainer and I alo have that demo. My biggest problem was cutting too much power too soon.

firestone1121

oh ok. im not sure how much runway you have but on your approaches take a deep breath and just be patient(remember this is supposed to be fun) cut throttle to 1/4 to 1/2 and make a low pass. youll get a feel of how the plane slows. you dont have to necessarily borderline stall it, landing under some power is ok. or if ya want, gain some altitude and do some high approaches(pretend its closer to ground, if you screw it up you have time to recover) any trainer will have features that give it great glide characeristics so youll have time to think and react and gives you room. hope this helps! good luck

CGRetired

My Feedback: (1)

Congratulations! Now you've gone and done it. You have now started on an addiction that will last a lifetime. Good for you.

Next step? Well, after I solo'ed, I did many many touch-and-go flights. And I mean many. Often, I expended a tank of fuel doing nothing but landing, and going around, and landing, and going around... Sounds boring, but you don't have to go to that extreme, but I felt I needed the landing practice. And it paid off. Just like algebra.. you get it if you do it over and over again.

One more bit of advice. If you have been working with an instructor, then don't forget he is around. If you have a question, or a problem with something, go to him/her and ask for help. Even if that means back to the buddy box for a flight or two. I did that with my second plane, the Tiger 60. I asked him to put me on the box for the first two or three flights which really helped build my confidence with this very different plane design (a low wing aerobatic capable plane versus the high wing less capable trainer).

Keep up the good work. I'm sure SOMEONE on here will get you a solo cert some time in the very near future (Right RCKen?)

Insanemoondoggie

This is very good advise , you`ll know when your good at it, when your flying buddies don`t run for cover when you take off and land.
Congrats and happy landings

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

LawDawg,
Congrats on the solo. It's gotta be on of the best feelings out there, so enjoy!!!!

A solo flight is a great accomplishment and that wins you one genuine RCU ATTABOY (Suitable for framing, wrapping fish, or lining trashcans).

Ke

bruce88123

Congrats. Keep on practicing and have LOTS of fun. Remember that altitude is your friend, up to a point.

acarter

CONGRADS!!!!!!!, Now you can fly whenever you want, Enjoy the freedom

gboulton

My Feedback: (15)

CONGA-RATS!!

CGRetired

My Feedback: (1)

That's a good one, gb

armody

My Feedback: (10)

Lawndawg131,

Congrats, and keep rising " ISN'T IT A GREAT FEELING FOR A FIRST SOLO?[8D]

Best of Luck

Mody

gboulton

My Feedback: (15)

Stole it from a fellow over on the AOPA forums...he posts it whenever anyone solos.

OzMo

My Feedback: (3)

COOL

touch and goes become a sedative for many of us ...just a great way to relax.

however flying the pattern is the way you check your plane( trim etc) and get used to every new plane when they come along.[8D]
its also how you fly around to get positioned for stunts..alway do those bssically in front of yourself (not out where you can't see) and 3 boo boos high have fun.

so now PRACtICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!! its a rough job but someone has to do it!

Charlie P.

Good job!

A good landing is any landing which you only have to bend over once to pick your plane up.

A great landing is one that you can fly again without the need of epoxy or additional covering material.

NCIS

Heck Ken,

I'd Like to get one of them for soloing last spring. I would frame that baby. That was nice of you to do that for LawGawg.

Gibbs

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Here ya go!!!!!

Ken

firestone1121

lol so true. foam's the worst tho

Lawdawg131

Thanks for all the words of encouragement as well as advice...it was great even though it was ugly LOL But I learned from it so I guess it was a bigger sucess than just not tearing up the plane!

rcluver

Ah another one HOOKED, congrats on the solo.

MBUTLER1967

I have the REAL FLIGHT RC SIMULATOR and its thee best thing its taught me so much to the point that I feel im ready to solo. If your really wanting to get into the hobby this is a must buy . . . take it from a beginner !!