Hi guys,

Was going to pat myself on the back and thought it might make for a good thread. People could tell the story of their first flight.

Here's mine:

I just solo'd (soloed?) this past weekend. It was with my Magic (the tail wheel made it very interesting). I crashed (slightly) the first attempt as my left thumb wouldn't move to the right, so the plane went off the runway to the left. The runway is on a plateau of sorts, so I glided the plane to a not so perfect landing. A little CA and I braved the takeoff again. This time it was a success. The flight was uneventful. Just a lot of round and round with a couple of loops thrown in after my legs stopped shaking.

The landing was ok. There was a slight head wind and the Magic being very light, actually stopped in mid-air about a foot off of the ground and then lightly dropped straight down on it's landing gear. Very cool, actually, but far from planned that way.

Anyone else?

In the Magic? Certainly not designed as a trainer, but you did OK.
Welcome to the world of R/C and flying whenever you want to. I still think a trainer would be a better first plane

It was the coolest landing I've ever seen.

Actually, before I get more info about my "trainer", I should tell you that I did most of my practice and initial flights with a 40 size Rite Flyer.

And let's hear it for all of the instructors out at the different fields who help guys like me out.... right Jet?

Mike

Anything you need, brother.

Do you want me to cover Michelle's Stick while you're gone? I think a Bee theme would be cool.

BOTH TIMES WHEN I 1ST SOLOED.
I FIRST SOLOED ON MAY 5,1995, I WAS ATTENDING AN RC FLIGHT SCHOOL.TOOK OFF WITH THE YELLOW 60 SIZE LOW & SLOW, DID PROCEEDURE TURNS & APPROACHES IN A 25 MPH CROSS WIND.FINALLY LANDED AND IT WAS LIKE IT TOOK FOREVER FOR THE LOW & SLOW TO STOP ROLLING AFTER TOUCH DOWN.GOT MY WINGS SOTRA SPEAK THAT DAY.
MY SECOND SOLO WAS WITH MY LOCAL CLUB ON AUGUST 10,1998. I WAS FLYING A TOWER TRAINER 60 AND DEAD STICKED BOTH MY LANDINGS, BUT LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. A FEW FLIGHTS LATER MY TOWER TRAINER WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE COURN DUE TO A FLIGHT FAILURE OF SOME SORT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. ANYWAY I DECIDED TO TAKE A CHANCE AND BUY MY 2ND PLANE, A 60 SIZE BIG STICK. I STILL REMEMBER MY KNEES SHACKING AND I FELT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WAS HOLDING THERE BREATH DURING IS 1ST FLIGHT. I HAVEN'T TRASHED THIS PLANE YET AND IM STILL FLYING IT WITHOUT A BAD INCIDENT.
NEDYOB

Jeepers nedyob, you don't have to yell. Turn off your caps lock.

Well as you can tell he is still extreamly nervous.......Calm down...take a deep breath.
5x5

Trained on an Avistar. Showed up one Saturday morning, prepared to solo. My trainer was late in showing up, and it was starting to get windy so it looked like 'now or never'. Fired the plane up, taxi'd..takeoff. Hrmm..plane seemed a bit twitchier than I was used to. Must be the wind. Finally brought it down on the cross runway and came to a stop only a couple feet off the asphalt. Not too bad, and the shaking should go away by lunchtime :P. Trainer shows up and I tell him I had solo'ed, luckily I had witnesses. Then he says, 'You did set the dual rates on that radio didn't you? They weren't set because we were using the cord'. Hrm..no wonder it was so twitchy...

I had an Aircore trainer when they first came out. Thing flew like a brick with wings (fortunately tough as one too). Had a couple of instructor-led flights with it, then decided I was ready to head out on my own. First flight was fun, and uneventful. Did several takeoffs and landings, just to get practice. The engine wasn't very reliable (more likely the operators skill with the engine was lacking), so that made for several interesting challenges for a newbie. But, what great fun.

Congratulations MHawker,

I know I had the big head for a couple of weeks after the first time I got up and back down by myself. And yes, thank you to all the instructors out there (Clois, Don, & Joe) who answer the same questions over and over, and give up their flight time to help someone else out.

Eric

My first solo,
I first soloed about 2 years ago. I had a Hobbico Superstar Select. A buddy of mine Shaun Evans was helping me learn how to make an approach, and then finally it was time and I had an ok landing. I wasn't being humble saying things like "that was so easy!" That didn't help my friendship. So I learned always to be humble.

(SDcrashmaster's son) Corey Reese

first solo was TODAY

brought my hanger 9 cub out to the field and my instructor asked if I wanted to try and takeoff myself.. said sure..

after flying it around he asked if I wanted to land myself .. i said..."well let me try a few low/slow passes"

did one pass and it felt so good that the next one by i set it down what a feeling

the next 2 landings were not as good (to fast and put the cub end over)(just like my avatar but that one my instructor did ) but no damage

I just have to get used to slowing it down more during final .... hopefully I can get my "pilot" rating in the next week or two

again... thanks to all those that take time to help out newbies and get us off the ground.... when i get good enough I will help teach the new guys.... i believe in giving back what was given to me

First flight? Boy, now I feel old... Who remembers "1 click for right and two clicks for left"?