I've been training on RealFlight and at the field on a buddy box for about 6 weeks (that had added up to less than 2 hours total of stick time). My "solo" came in stages: first the usual trainer wasn't there so I went up with another guy who was much more "relaxed" (not necessarily a good thing) and let me land on my own. Next, no one had a buddy box (and I hadn't yet bought one) so we did the ol' "hand the radio back and forth" routine. Again the other guy took it off and I ended up landing it -- dead stick -- with him talking me in. All these take offs and landings were satisfying in an incremental sort of way but didn't feel like a true solo. And I actually felt more nervous on the box. It was like I had to perform for the trainer and had to worry about who actually had the plane -- and somehow just knowing I could "hand it over" at any time made me concentrate just a bit less.

Anyway, for a couple of weeks I had been telling myself that it was time. So last Friday I went out to the field and there was only one other guy -- another fairly new guy like myself though he had been flying solo for several weeks. This was going to be it. Me from start to finish, that is, from starting the engine to landing the plane. We took turns carrying each others' planes out to the flight line. I suppose I got in about a half dozen solo flights and then around 11:30 the other guy decided to call it a day and head home. Not me!!! For the next hour it was only me at the field without another soul in sight (or in the air). It was GREAT!!!! I wasn't nervous in the least. If I screwed the plane into the ground -- so be it.

I took off (there was even a light cross wind) flew all over the place, did all those loops, rolls, Immelmanns, etc. I had been practicing on RealFlight and a few more landings. Basically, I flew until I had no more fuel! I don't think I'll ever forget that feeling of being totally on my own for that first (and second, and third, and fourth) TRUE SOLO.