I have not done my solo yet...still training. My instructor has been having me do dead stick landings every flight the past few weeks. I have about twelve of them under my belt and am very comfortable with them now. I just run the plane out of gas each flight then land it. I can do all kinds of maneuvers and I can dead stick land, but he has saved the powered landings for last. I think his plan is this way I have to learn dead stick landings first, and there is no chance on me missing that important part of the training. The funny thing is that I have done one powered landing and did fine, but I have done so many dead sticks, I would rather do them.....lol