Today was a big day! I went to the field expecting more of the same from yesterday, and wasn't disappointed. I had some trouble lining up. Worked with the same guy, and one other today. Then, I just started getting it right so we started the landings again.
One very minor crash and two good landings later they said, "you're ready." I didn't think so..

Crash shook me, I came in, made my final turn short and as I figured out I was off the runway in the tall grass, (something Greg was already telling me anyhow LOL) I was already too low. Greg had gotten so used to me pulling out of these he didn't react in time, and my wheels hit the grass flipping her over and busting the prop. Some minor dings to the fuse, but nothing that made the airplane unflyable. A little CA, a new propeller, and off we went.

So I'm sitting there after they tell me I'm ready, stewing. Burt, the other guy helping packs up to go. I ask him if he's sure I'm ready he says yes. So I ask Greg after he finishes his final flight of the day if he really thinks so, he says yes. So i ask him to stand by me in case I get in trouble, and up she goes NO CORD.
Strangely, I was no more nervous than I had been while on the cord. Flew her around a couple circles, made two or three high passes over the runway to be sure I could still line up, and committed to the landing. We came in short, and in the grass strip runway which means I was left of mark, hit hard enough to prop strike but no harm other than killing the motor.. A landing without the cord!!

I AM A SOLOED PILOT !!![8D][8D]

Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Told you that you would get there!!!!

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

Ken

See It just takes time ,getting frazzled is part of the game and can be a rust sometimes. But the real rust is when you earn your Solo Staus. Then your one above the rest. So walk with your head high and be proud. Theres a holw nother world out there now.
NEDYOB

Grats!

thanks,
that takes me back more than a few years, nice to be remined of days gone by. remember the day. its the only one you will have. I don't mean that in a bad way. there are many good things to come your way and this is one of the days to remember.

Ive been soloed for 5 years now and still get those sheky knees and faster heartbeat every time I put a plane in the air.. wheather its a butterfly or an extra.. I still get a rush that makes my legs burn. Congrats! and welcome to the addiction we call a hobby!!

Great feeling isn't it. I can see the smile all the way from the west coast.

As the guys told me, now you can learn to fly. My suggestions are to make sure you have your second plane well on the way to completion. The first couple months after solo are going to be rough on your airframe. I was told this and it is so. You are going to strart doing more than the basics and on your own. This is what it is all about. You will test your limits and sometimes the test will have some bad results. We have all been there and from my point, I'm still a long way from the point that when one of my planes goes down, that I know it was equipment failure not my dumb thumbs. We only have one guy at the field that we have never seen crash, in fact we have never seen him fly.

At the point you are at now, I was buying props by the dozen. A good day was one that I only used two props, three was normal. It starts to really come together after a bit. Like I said before, it took be over six months of three to four days a week training before I soloed. It took close to two months more before the swelling in my head went down and I could hit the runway every now and then.

I hope that someone got your big grin on film. It's a great day and one to remember. Congrats again.

Don

Congratulations!! Great work!! Now you can join the rest of us by loading up your 'hanger' with more and more airplanes.

But, the training does not end here. Now is the time when what you do becomes really critical. Practice everything. Do a lot of landings, touch-and-go's, emergency procedures (go high, pick a spot, and cut the throttle, announce PRACTICE DEAD STICK and go all the way in. Land if you wish, but as soon as you are on final, add throttle and go around).

Do all this stuff a lot. You will learn more and more with each flight. In the process, get in a few loops, rolls, Split S's, and so on, just to prevent from getting things a tad bit dull. But practice practice practice!!! As my instructor always used to say, burn fuel.

CGr.

CONGA RATS!

Congratulations, Adui. Like everybody here kept saying, just take your time and it’ll come. After you get some time flying solo the jitters will go away and you’ll find your self more comfortable.

I totally agree with CGR – at this point the more you fly the better you’ll get. So fly as much as you can.

Don’t be afraid to make a flight – it’ll build your confidence level. But use commonsense – like don’t fly in 20 mph winds when you’re not used to it (build up the experience in the wind) or if the plane is not airworthy, the batteries are getting low, etc. Fly within your limits, but don’t be afraid to push those limits after you some more experience – that’s how you’ll grow as a pilot.

Practice working on making approaches and landings. I was taught long ago by an old timer that mark of a good pilot it one who can fly the pattern consistently, and make their landings in the same spot regardless of what plane they fly or the weather conditions. You’ve got your start – now the rest is up to you.

Hogflyer

Amen to that, brother. I destroyed my "third" plane, a Skylark 56 by thinking that I could fly it in some severe winds. I would have been fine if I treated the plane for what it was, or wasn't... it wasn't a trainer!!! It needed some throttle on landing. Foolishly, I idled the throttle in a strong nosewind, and that was pretty much that. While trying to recover, I completely forgot that I had idled the throttle. All this comes with experience, though. Often, though, we gain experience the hard way.

CGr.

Right on.

I was practicing taxing oneday. Gave her too much gas an off she went
I flew her around as long as i could. Doing what my instructor had told me.
I wasn't too nervouse..at first as long she's had altitude.lol
plus I insentrigate my Eagle II and it's baby brother already.
Luckiy there was an older timer hunting within a mile and saw my model in the air.
I had the shakes after a while becuase the fuel was getting low. So I gave him the TX.
He said he hasn't flown in a couple of years
He flaired it in pefectly.

Went home and got out the duck tape and finally put the duraplane togehter.
I knew i needed to do a lot of touch and go and getting my landing proceedure more consistant.

The old timer re join the club thou.

Give that man a cigar!

Good for you, GONGRATUALTIONS

WHOO HOO, Way to go ...