Delta777-XXX From United States, joined Jun 2000, 1017 posts, RR: 6 Posted (6 years 7 months 5 hours ago) and read 685 times:
I started taking lessons when I was 13 years old. Today, 3 years later, on my 16th birthday, I flew solo for the first time!
I went up about 17:00 local time. It was an amazing feeling that I cannot even begin to tell you about. The second my wheels left the runway I realized that this is what I want to do... who I want to be.
As I departed, Mom was on the ramp crying and waving me off. I flew around my town and watched the sunset over the mountains. Then I came in right behind a King Air and gracefully touched town on runway 6. After I parked the plane I was congratulated by several people around the airport and then my CFI cut my shirt-tail.
AAgent From United States, joined Mar 2001, 557 posts, RR: 11 Reply 2, posted (6 years 7 months 5 hours ago) and read 580 times:
Congratulations! If you don't already have a diary or personal journal today is a good day to start one. It may be hard to understand now, but if you'll take a few moments to write down your thoughts and feelings about this spectacular day you'll be able to experience the feeling time and again for the rest of your life. Again, congratulations on your achievement!
Skyhawk From United States, joined May 2001, 1054 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (6 years 7 months 5 hours ago) and read 556 times:
Hank let me be the first here at A.net to congratulate you! Quite an accomplishment. I've got to say I know exactly how your mother felt. I felt much the same when my son soloed the first time. Actually I still feel that way, it is rather amazing to me now that he is the instructor and not the student. Once again congratulations and best of luck in your aviation future!!!
Cx flyboy From Hong Kong SAR, PRC, joined Dec 1999, 5366 posts, RR: 54 Reply 6, posted (6 years 7 months 5 hours ago) and read 558 times:
Congratulations!!
I remember my first solo fondly. Lining up and thinking "Oh sh*t, here we go." Once airborne I was so happy I started singing and continued all the way to touchdown. It was fantastic!!
Radarbeam From Canada, joined Mar 2002, 1223 posts, RR: 4 Reply 8, posted (6 years 7 months 5 hours ago) and read 555 times:
Hey man, congratulations! Amazing feeling isn't it? I can remember every second of mine, it was truly beautiful! This will be the best flight in your life, follow AAgent advice!
Radarbeam From Canada, joined Mar 2002, 1223 posts, RR: 4 Reply 9, posted (6 years 7 months 5 hours ago) and read 545 times:
By the way, like CX flyboy, I started singing when I pulled on the taxiway after landing. I was like "Oh shit i did, oh man I want to do it again!!!" Another great moment was when upon touchdown the controller said "Nice landing sir, exit on Kilo and contact ground 124.9". Oh man here I go, I'm closing my eyes and I see me flying that day again!
FlightSimFreak From United States, joined Oct 2000, 720 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (6 years 7 months 4 hours ago) and read 517 times:
Ah... I still fondly remember my first solo... (october 20th, 2001) I also had that butterfly feeling in my stomach untill the wheels left the ground then I started saying "Oh yes" and humming 'ride of the valkries'... Tower congradulated me on touch and goes also... I do not believe I actually posted here after my first solo. I did post after the first lesson, and again about 3 weeks in. How many hours do you have logged? I had about 13 when I soloed. You'll never forget that feeling. Everybody congradulating you... you feel like king for a day. I think that the feeling is one best summed up by the Wilbur Wright quote about flight below...
"More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination"
Flyf15 From United States, joined May 1999, 6008 posts, RR: 15 Reply 17, posted (6 years 7 months 3 hours ago) and read 475 times:
I got so excited on my first solo that I had to cut it short...can you believe that? My instructor told me to do 3 touch and goes, after the 2nd I did a full stop, I was too excited to fly the plane. Oh well, came back the next day and did it some more.
Delta777-XXX, you're now in an elite group! Only about 1 in every 500 people in the US can lay claim to have soloed an airplane! Congrats man
FLYING RULES: 1) KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL, 2) DON'T HIT ANYTHING
TNboy From Australia, joined Mar 2002, 1131 posts, RR: 17 Reply 18, posted (6 years 7 months 3 hours ago) and read 467 times:
That's the best thing I have read in days! Congratulations, and isn't it great that you can share your joy and pride with so many people who understand how you feel. I hope life has many more great moments for you.
Bill
IMissPiedmont From United States, joined May 2001, 5483 posts, RR: 44 Reply 19, posted (6 years 7 months 3 hours ago) and read 465 times:
Congratulations. You are now thoroughly addicted. Might I suggest you buy the tent now? If you are like me, lo those many years ago, you will spend every dime you have on renting an aircraft.
Have fun.
Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man, though my mind could think I still was a madman
UBBA Pilot From United States, joined Nov 2000, 48 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (6 years 7 months 2 hours ago) and read 448 times:
Congrats, man. Like my instructor told me almost 3 years ago when I had my first solo, "Today you are a pilot." Like Flyf15 said, you are a member of an elite group now. Welcome to the club. Keep it up.
TWAMD-80 From United States, joined Oct 2001, 987 posts, RR: 3 Reply 22, posted (6 years 7 months 2 hours ago) and read 432 times:
Congrats Man! I remember my first solo. It was a great day. I just got my private a few weeks ago, and let me tell you, you have plenty of more big days ahead. Again, Congrats!
TWAMD-80
Three useless things in Aviation: 1-Runway behind you 2-Altitude above you 3-Air in the fuel tanks
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