Well, this is a few days late but I finally soloed last Wednesday afternoon. I have had a bunch of lessons over the past few months, I had gotten my plane and in a week after I started flying we lost our field. Well, a couple weeks ago we finally got our new field flyable and I started my lessons back up. At the original field I had done multiple take offs and a few landings all on the buddy box and was feeling quite comfortable flying. So when I started flying at the new field it took me a few times up in the air to remember what it felt like since I hadn't flown in almost two months.
So leading up to Wednesday at the new field, I had done many take offs and been practicing my approaches the Sunday before and was feeling pretty good but was still having my trainer land the plane for me. So, I was going out of town for the weekend and I really wanted to get in the air, I called my trainer to see if he wanted to meet me at the field Wednesday afternoon but unfortunately he was busy, and I really wanted to fly, so I sad, what the hell, lets go solo. I know, I know, it probably wasn't the best idea, but I really wanted to fly and felt confidant that I could get the plane on the ground in one piece. So I head out to the field, there was just one other person out there, so I didn't have the added pressure of alot of people watching me fly, I gassed up the plane, checked and double checked everything on it to make sure I had everything correctly hooked up and taxed it out onto the runway. My hands were shaking, I was surprised I could even hold onto the transmitter, I started down the runway and lifted it off the ground, so there was no going back, every plane that goes into the air, must come back down. So I flew it around the field for about 5 minutes and started thinking about the landing I had to do. So I did a couple fly byes to get a feel of the landing process and came in for my approach, I was lined up good, started to fly the plane in and brought it in for my 1st solo landing, it wan't pretty, the plane bounced in the air, came back down, did a prop strike, and then rolled to a stop. The plane was in one piece and still flyable to it was a successful landing.

I took the plane up a 5 more times that day, all landings were !QUOT!successful!QUOT!, I even had to dead stick landings that were by far the best landings I did all day. So, the next few times out to the field are going to be nothing but touch and goes getting used to landing smoothly and working on my approaches. I had a goofy grin on my face all weekend and I'm hoping to get out to the field this afternoon with the wife for some flying.

So Ken, when you get a chance, I would love to have one of those !QUOT!Atta Boys!QUOT! so I can frame it up.

Brocja01,
You bet. It's my pleasure to present you with a solo certificate. A solo flight is a great accomplishment and that wins you one genuine RCU ATTABOY (Suitable for framing, wrapping fish, or lining trashcans).

Great job on the solo

Ken

Congratulations on the solo. Now just take it easy and don't demonstrate the figure 9 for your wife.

Personal experience bruce??????

Ken

Have not done it, but seen it. [:@] My mistakes are usually even more stupid. [sm=bananahead.gif]

Join the club. When I screw up I usually screw up in a pretty spectacular fashion!!!!!!!

Ken

Congrats on your acomplishments! I'm not there yet but I'm working on it. Mark T.

Great Job!! Nothing like that first solo! You now move into a zone where a crash can be highly likely. My instructor told me a couple of years ago when I soloed, " Just remember, altitude and air speed are your friends. " Sage advice indeed! Happy landings!

I'm happy about your good news! I soloed two weeks ago myself, but I still have problems taking off. My take off looks like a drunk preacher trying to walk. I'm all over the runway and I dont know what Im doing wrong, so I dont know how to correct it. I fly a Kadet Lt 40 with a super tigre 51 with a 11/7 prop. My instructor said once I got it rolling go full power. When I go full power, im all over the runway. I get it took off but its very dangerous. Is full power the way to go. Do you make good straight takeoffs? If so what do you do so i can do the same? I have straighten the nose wheel several times and it rolls straight untill full power. If you or some one else has the answer I would like to here.

When starting your takeoff run, don't just punch the throttle to full. Ease it up to full throttle. Don't overcontrol the rudder. That leads to overcorrections. Just like your car, the faster its moving, the smaller adjustments you need to make to keep it straight. Likewise, large adjustments have dramatic (and unwanted) effects. As you throttle up, the increased prop wash over the rudder will increase its effect as well. Don't pull up on the elevator until the plane is up to speed. Just like the rudder, the prop wash over the elevator can lift the nose before the wing is ready to fly. If you're pulling up elevator too quickly, you may be pulling the nose wheel off the ground before you have full rudder control.

Most models will need some rudder during the take off roll to compensate for the prop. Because of the direction the prop is turning, it will tend to make the model turn left. Consequently, a little right rudder is added as you add throttle. Then back off the rudder as the speed comes up.

Don't be ashamed to abort a bad takeoff roll. This is the worst (and unsafest) mistake many beginners can make. A plane headed for the pits or pilot stations should be immediately shut down before someone gets hurt.

Finally, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

Good Luck!

Brad

Well, as far as take offs, I take my time. Our club just finished our 600'x60' runway and I'm using all of it with my trainer. I tend to make sure I'm going straight and I slowly bring up the throttle until I am able to lift the plane gently into the air. One problem I had with take offs the 1st couple a tried were over correcting or moving the rudder stick slightly one way or the other while I was trying to give the plane some throttle. Just move slowly and deliberately, I use my pointer finger and my thumb on the sticks to make sure I have as much control over the sticks as I can.

But since my solo I have regressed. I took my plane out last Wednesday night and came into an issue I didn't think I would have. Due to wind, the take of and flight pattern was of a right-handed nature not the left-handed nature I was used to. And just that little change really screwed with my fingers, the plane didn't feel right at all and I ended up having my instructor who was out at the field land the plane for me. Since then I have went back on the buddy box and I'm not ashamed of it at all. I think I went to fast without getting all the instruction that I needed and thankfully it didn't cost me my plane. So, as soon as I get my engine running correctly again (having horrible time tuning it, seams to want to run really rich all the time) I'll be back up in the air on the buddy box learning everything I need to know. That way when I go up in the air, I'm the one landing it.

brocja01,
Yeah, that problem happens a lot with new pilots. When I am training a student I won't solo them until they can land from either direction. IMHO the student needs to have that knowledge under their belt before they solo because the solo flight basically means the student is ready to fly without the instructor. If they don't know how to land from the opposite direction that they learned on they could easily lose a plane trying, I know because I've seen it happen.

Glad you landing ok.

Just my 2ΒΆ worth

Ken

Good for you regarding going back to the buddy box instead of trying to force it!! I think that shows a lot of maturity and good sense. Don`t worry, take your time, and I`d bet you`ll be flying by yourself ( taking off and landing from either direction ) in no time! Good luck.

Congrads on the solo flight,
Man where you nervous, I could hear your heart beating from here in North Carolina.......thats how I feel everytime I maiden a new plane so you will feel it again. I am impressed at your time and patience with training. So many people just assume its easy and they go out and start on their own.
Keep up the great work!!!!!!!

Well, I just about went the route of doing it on my own. But then I realized, I have a baby on the way and I'm going to need to keep my trainer air worthy for some time, so better to be able to fly well instead of learning the hard way and not having any $$ to fix the repairs. It is a little frustrating going back on the buddy box, but I know it is the right thing to do. That way, when I'm ready to get my second plane, probably a tiger 2, I'll be ready!

Well ill give you a little congrulations form aggieland

WHOOOOOP!!

gl flying man, those first few after solo can be just as hairy...