Got My Wings!
 

Well I finally did it!

After a disappointing start to our flying season with a totaled airplane on the second outing (the first of our two Black Baron Specials), we got ourselves a SIG LT-40 Kadet and put it together in two days. Had it out to the field for flights that weekend, and after a few sessions with another instructor I felt I was ready to leap out of the nest.

Tuesday nights are points nights at the club, so there were plenty of onlookers as I got all my ducks in a row for the big event. The wind was almost 90 degrees to the runway and out of the West. No one was flying 'cause it was a little bit strong and we get some roll in the air currents as they come over the tops of the trees on the West side of the field. It felt a little breezy to me too, but I wanted to get this over with.

Got two of the club officers to observe my set up, servicing, aircraft/radio preflight and range check. Looked around and still saw no one interested in flying. Everyone was just sitting around like a bunch of hangar queens! So....

I decided if it wasn't good enough for them, then it wasn't good enough for me either. I waited it out.

Sure enough, the wind started dropping off a bit. Still there at times, but relatively calm at others. It was time to fire the Kadet up.

Got the Kadet started. I LOVE this Irvine .53! Warmed it up, did another flight control check, and headed out for the runway. Still no one else was flying, so I had it all to myself (with much too much attention, I might add[sm=wink.gif]). I found I was a little nervous, too. Everything felt differently. I had to remind myself that everything was exactly the same. Same radio. Same airplane. I just had to fly just like I always did. But, this time with an audience! I got my mind settled, did a taxi demo and then took off. A climb up to altitude and leveled off in the traffic pattern.

The wind was REALLY strong up there! Pretty good crab angle to hold the downwind leg. Had to do a couple of right and left turns, a stall and recovery, and then it was time for my first approach. The wind was a little squirrelly! Plans were to do two touch and go's and then a simulated engine out to a full stop landing.

I really wasn't aware of my spectators now. I had plenty to keep me occupied. The first approach went very well. I noticed that the cross wind dropped off as the plane descended through about 20 to 30 feet AGL. I came in, touched down quite smoothly and applied power for the go. Back up and into the downwind. Time for number two.

I was at about 10 to 20 feet AGL on approach and about 50 feet short of the runway when the airplane rolled hard and lost altitude quick![X(] I corrected, and added quite a bit of power to keep it flying. I told my judges that I was going around on this one.[8D]

My next try was MUCH better, and then it was back around for the finale. The officers told me it would be acceptable to skip the simulated engine out approach since the wind was demanding throttle management, so it was a normal approach to a full stop for me, and I managed to pull it off without a hitch. I had my wings!

It feels really good to be able to go out, fuel up and takeoff on my own now. As one guy put it....Congratulations! You're now allowed to go out and crash unassisted!:D

I might add that as soon as I was finished, the rest of the crowd started up their engines. I guess they must have figured if the new kid could do it, maybe they had been too conservative. Then again, maybe they had just been waiting to see if I was going to be headed out across the field with my second trash bag!;)

RE: Got My Wings!
 

Thejetgod,
Great job on the solo flight. Heck, I bet you still have that silly little smile on your face don't you? :D Don't worry about it, I had the same smile for a month!!

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

Ken

RE: Got My Wings!
 

excellent solo report and boy you can tell you fly the real thing, no problem though, I did the same thing for a while, still do on occasion

Guess you showed all the other hangar queens :D that wind is nothing to fear as long as you know what to do.

Isn't your wife flying with you? If so how is she doing

Oh BTW congrats, I see Ken got your certificate already done. Nice job, very nice job [sm=thumbup.gif][sm=biggrin.gif]

RE: Got My Wings!
 

congrats, i have the LT-40 too, nice plane to fly any day

RE: Got My Wings!
 

Well done, log a bunch of good flights and next year you can try Black Baron #2 with some confidence. How is Eva doing with her flying?

RE: Got My Wings!
 

Guys,

Thanks for the congrats and MANY thank you's for the ATTABOY certificate! Yeah, I'm still grinnin'!

Eva's been going to the field with me most of the time, however, the kids have been pretty demanding, so she really hasn't been getting on the sticks as much as I have and as much as I would like. I guess it's pretty difficult for mom to concentrate when she knows that her kid-challenged hubby is trying to keep her little ones pacified and is not being very successful at it;).

Eva's been on the buddy box flying the Kadet a few times, and seems to be getting the hang of it somewhat. Her skills on the sim seem improved also. She has always complained that the screen for the sim is too small, though. That was excuse enough for me!

Just got a new computer here at home. Dell had a smokin' deal. Ended up with 36% off plus another $25.00 off, free shipping, AND we get to use their money free until January 2007! Got us a big screen with a great graphics engine to feed it, so now we can run Reflex XTR in style! :D NO excuses now! In fact, I have to get off of here so I can go work on that 1/2 Cuban Eight that I'm not very good at executing.;)

Thank you all for following our progress. Thanks for the advice and the encouragement. You guys truly are great!

We'll keep you posted on our further endeavors. I hope that eventually you all will be reading about Eva's solo event.

RE: Got My Wings!
 

congrats i also soloed on the LT 40..

RE: Got My Wings!
 

Congrats again and of course Eva will eventually get her solo. Have you considered leaving Eva at the field and taking the kids to a movie or the zoo where they wouldn't be on her mind? Got any in-laws near-by? Give her a day of just R/C. It would probably work wonders for her in more ways than one.

Ya also blew it on the computer. This was your chance to tie it in to a new Plasma or LCD screen. :D Now you are gonna have to stomp the new computer to justify the purchase.

RE: Got My Wings!
 

Bruce,

I figured I'd better take it a little slower than that!:) Bigger definitely IS better though. Maybe in a couple of years. Good idea on the day of RC. I think we'll have to check that out. Thanks for the suggestion.

BTW, where do you fly in MEM. I work down there and have been over to the Prop Busters' field a few times. Not to fly. Just to kill time and watch some pretty accomplished pilots airing them out. Do you fly over there?

RE: Got My Wings!
 

Only issue i have with dell....i hate pentium. To much pipeline, and to much heat(im a computer nerd please forgive me).

congrats on the solo, just did it myself. GREAT feeling aint it

RE: Got My Wings!
 

jetgod - our field is actually @ 1/2 mile into Mississippi but we consider ourselves a Memphis club as that is the MAJOR city nearby. You'll notice we aren't too far from the Olive Branch,Ms airport.

Here is a map:
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ad...w=1&name=&qty=
Who do you work for? PM the info if you don't want it on the forum. I'm avionics at fedex.

Been a long time since I've been to Prop Busters, kinda busy at my field.

RE: Got My Wings!
 

Bruce,

Maybe I've seen you out on the line. I fly the MD-11 for FedEx. Right now I'm in Germany and won't be back until Tuesday pretty late in the evening MEM time. Then I'm off back home for a few days. I'll pull up that map and find out where your club is.

I'll be down there this month for a while. Maybe I can get a chance to break free for a bit and check out your flying field.