Congrats on the progress! Hey I wouldn't worry too much about the solo thing dude. In real flying you solo totally on your own, because you're the only person in the plane, can't get help except through the radio. This never really happens with R/C (unless you're alone) since you can always yell to your instructor or another pilot if you need help. Granted, there may not be time for the other pilot to come save your model, but still...........I've always thought of a solo as being able to takeoff, fly the pattern, and land, without a buddy box and without the instructor coaching you.

FWIW, I "soloed" on my first attempt at R/C, with a Cox Sundancer (unless you count a few times when I was a kid and a pilot let me control the ailerons/elevator of his Cub or let me follow along as he flew), but I was FAR from competent, and crashed many times thereafter. I flew the Sundancer, a 8' span powered glider, and a couple of 4-channel trainers (and took the sticks of my Tiger a few times, with a more experience pilot present for takeoffs/landings), but never felt really competent until after quite a bit of work with an instructor on my trainer, and later my Tiger. And, strangely enough, I didn't really get comfortable with R/C until after a 2 year hiatus to do my full-scale training...........after getting my private license and IFR rating, my confidence with R/C was hugely boosted. Go figure!

-Matt Bailey