Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Muckmaw1 on September 07, 2004, 11:16:29 AM
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Well, I've got some time.
I've logged 10 hours since I started living my dream and I'm very proud of every one of them. I've made 9 landings as well, and though some have been a little harder than they should be, the airplanes gear are still intact.
So last night, I'm laying in bed, about to drift off to sleep and I realized, in the not too distant future, I'm going to have to do this solo.
My eyes snapped open and I sat there thinking about it for the next hour.
Nagging questions plagues my mind.
Would I be able to get past the fear? Would I panic, Crash into a pre-school and kill thousands of people? Did I shut off the oven?
I'm sure being alone for the first time is scary for alot of new pilots.
Was anyone else scared to solo?
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Originally posted by Muckmaw1
Was anyone else scared to solo?
Nah, but I was too young to know any better.
You'll do fine, a bit of worry is healthy. Better check the oven. ;)
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Nope, trusted in the laws of physics to much. The plane is going to fly. I figured if I was screwing up the landing I would just overshoot.
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They should not let you solo untill you have at least 15 to 20 hours. If they do they are not a good school.
Having a instructor with you for 20 hours will not make you a bad pilot. It means he has lots of time to correct your mistakes. And by 20 hours you are much less stressed to try on your own.
I found my solo a non event. It was easy. I was ready at 7 hours to go alone. But I let the school build up my hours to close to 20 before they sent me up. I did not complain and had no problem with that.
Safety should always be your number one thought as a pilot.
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Heheh, Busher soloed in three hours. :D
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I've heard that solo is not nearly as anxiety-inducing as actually having to do your first cross- country or IFR instruction.
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Originally posted by Habu
They should not let you solo untill you have at least 15 to 20 hours. If they do they are not a good school.
Originally posted by Muckmaw1
I've logged 10 hours... in the not too distant future, I'm going to have to do this solo.
Sounds about right to me.
-Sik
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Don't worry, only 40% of students crash on their first solo, and only half of those die.
Just kidding! :D
I soloed at about 8 hours, you should have no problem. Any school that makes you wait until 20 hours is either milking you for money, or they don't think you can fly safely for some reason.
It should be apparent that you can fly the pattern, takeoff to landing without instructor input, either on the controls or telling you what to do before you solo. Once you achieve that level, you are ready. After you have completed your solos, your confidence will go way up.
Relax, enjoy it and wear an old shirt.
dago
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not really quite the same but....
I took an ultralight course and put about 14 hours in it.. We were suppossed to solo at the end in a plane we had never even seen (single seat quicksilver) but.... I got told at the last week that it was like $250 for the insurance for the one flight (solo) so passed since I had bought a wrecked ultralight that was allmost complete in the repairs and mods...
big mistake... first "solo" was unintentional... had the thing taxieng at about 30MPH whene it left the ground... had the stick all the way forward but the plane was still climing.... if I let off the throttle it started to stall... I leaned forward and got it to level off at about 50 feet and 30 mph or so.... took me a looooong time to ease the throttle off slowly enough that I could lose a foot or two of alt at every eternity or so. luckily... it was a huge flat field and I was able to rudder around and lose even a little more alt without stalling.
finally got it down ... was a rush tho.
when I put the thing up on blocks at the wing... the nose went straight up. not too balanced...
lazs
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What I remember from my solo was that first I was "running on high rpms" but after successfull takeoff I just started to enjoy and whistle into my mike because of the joy I felt being up alone and being able to sideslip without my instructors remarks :D
What a wonderful feeling, like jumping from a plane first time and having sex first time.. you will always remember afterwards, even how brief the happenstance ;)
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i solo every night.
can't remember the first though hehehehe
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weird;
i soloed in 3.5. my instructor swore up and down that i must have flown somewhere else.
i credit the many hours in AH as the reason why. it made flying for real much more comfortable.. im surprised it didnt for you muck. you'll be fine though im sure!
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Being nervous is a natural part of learning to fly.
There is no set number of hours to solo. Some people do it at 5. Some people at 80. Your instructor isn't going to let you solo until they feel confident that you're ready. Anyone that puts a magic number of hours out there for you to solo is not a good instructor.
Without the instructor with you, the plane is going to act quite a bit differently. You'll rotate sooner, climb faster, and probably float your first few flares. Fly your numbers ( power settings, airspeeds, altitudes ) and you'll be fine.
If you're at a controled field and tower gives you an instruction that you feel is not safe, use the magic words "Unable, student pilot." When you're solo you are pilot in command. You have the same authority and responsibility as the captain of a commercial 747. Read FAR 91.3. Memorize it. Love it.
If you have access to a video camera, tape it. At least be sure to get a few photos. Most important tip... wear a shirt that isn't your favorite.
Keep us posted.
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Originally posted by lazs2
not really quite the same but....
I took an ultralight course and put about 14 hours in it.. We were suppossed to solo at the end in a plane we had never even seen (single seat quicksilver) but.... I got told at the last week that it was like $250 for the insurance for the one flight (solo) so passed since I had bought a wrecked ultralight that was allmost complete in the repairs and mods...
big mistake... first "solo" was unintentional... had the thing taxieng at about 30MPH whene it left the ground... had the stick all the way forward but the plane was still climing.... if I let off the throttle it started to stall... I leaned forward and got it to level off at about 50 feet and 30 mph or so.... took me a looooong time to ease the throttle off slowly enough that I could lose a foot or two of alt at every eternity or so. luckily... it was a huge flat field and I was able to rudder around and lose even a little more alt without stalling.
finally got it down ... was a rush tho.
when I put the thing up on blocks at the wing... the nose went straight up. not too balanced...
lazs
LOL, I'd a been skeered sh***less!:eek:
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yes... it was...
anxiety inducing.
lazs
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My first solo wasn’t a surprise, knew it was coming. Flew from a small field, had to taxi back for each take-off after landing. Taxied back for what I thought was the last for the day. My instructor asked if I had my medical (no medical, no solo) I did and off I when.
As I pushed the throttle to the wall I thought, “Do I really want to do this?” Seeing he weight over 200 pounds, I was airborne before I had much time to think about it. On the downwind leg I remember thinking, “Don’t look at the empty seat”, “Don’t look at the empty seat”. All in all, it was uneventful. Although, I found I was shaking a far amount after shutting down the plane
Soloed in 13 hours, flying once a week 1988. Computer flight? What's that :)
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You won't be scared on the day. By then you'll be ready and know it. After only 9 landings you are anything but ready. As the hours drag on you might start to get scared that you'll never go solo. My first solo took more hours than expected so I was more than ready. It was at an international airport and I was no 3 to a 747 and a 737. One of the airline pilots actually made a comment about my possible nerves. Thanks a lot. ATC asked me keep the circuit tight as there was another airliner inbound. Pressure what pressure:eek: :( ??? I barely had time to notice the empty seat beside me. I really enjoyed it though as you will.
Oddly enough I had a 'second' first solo. I changed schools and aircraft type. After a few hours dual. I was sent solo by the chief instructor who didn't know it wasn't my first solo.
The first flight I found scary was the first with non pilot passengers. Suddenly the responsibility weighed heavily. That was nerve wracking.
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Originally posted by moose
weird;
i soloed in 3.5. my instructor swore up and down that i must have flown somewhere else.
i credit the many hours in AH as the reason why. it made flying for real much more comfortable.. im surprised it didnt for you muck. you'll be fine though im sure!
You credit this to flying AH? Please desktop sims are terrible and so far from the real thing it's a joke. So if you spent years playing some helicopter game you think you could solo a helicopter after 7 hours?
:lol
...-Gixer
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Originally posted by Gixer
You credit this to flying AH? Please desktop sims are terrible and so far from the real thing it's a joke. So if you spent years playing some helicopter game you think you could solo a helicopter after 7 hours?
:lol
...-Gixer
Hey it's better than playing Super Mario Brothers and expecting to master the mushroom your first time... baaad trip man ;)
Moose said the level of tension "more comfortable" was reduced... I'll buy that.
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hehe Gixer... I'm remembering my first R22 solo; You don't need quite so much collective with only 1 person onboard!
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Originally posted by Octavius
Hey it's better than playing Super Mario Brothers and expecting to master the mushroom your first time... baaad trip man ;)
Moose said the level of tension "more comfortable" was reduced... I'll buy that.
I don't, I have many hours in helicopters and though I'm familiar with the ATC and circuits of the local fields, doubt I could solo a plane in 3.5 hours.
...-Gixer
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Originally posted by Dago
clip
I soloed at about 8 hours, you should have no problem. Any school that makes you wait until 20 hours is either milking you for money, or they don't think you can fly safely for some reason.
It should be apparent that you can fly the pattern, takeoff to landing without instructor input, either on the controls or telling you what to do before you solo. Once you achieve that level, you are ready. After you have completed your solos, your confidence will go way up.
Relax, enjoy it and wear an old shirt.
dago
Not true dago. If you solo in 8 hours you are basically doing controlled crashes instead of landings. Were you not a much better and more relaxed pilot after 15 lr 20 hours?
My instructor spent the time between 10 and 20 hours to teach me slips and cross wind technique, precision landing and landing in a variaty of conditions such as no flaps and full flaps, short field and soft field. He had to correct my techinque all the way along, nothing major just small things I could have done better.
Sure I could have flown a circuit at 8 hours. So what? I learned a ton of things before he finally cut me loose.
It is macho to solo in 10 hours. And a bit risky. Always minimize risk when you fly. You will likely live longer.
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Muckmaw: Forget about how many hours, being macho, what anyone else tells you how they solo'd. If you are having high aniexty about your solo, you probably are not ready yet. Tell your instructor you want him to observe your flying as a pre-solo lesson, taking off from your home airport, flying to another airport you have never been to, but you know which airport, so you can do the research on your own to fly into and make three landings to a full stop, and it should be a controlled airport, while your instructor just plays manny the mope and observes, writing down what he sees you have done incorrectly pertaining to procedure and safety, stepping in only if you're about to step in chit. Fly the machine by the numbers, just like you have been taught, thinking about what you want to do next, before action, but always fly the airplane until the prop stops. You will see if you are ready to solo. Why are you taking lessons? Certainly not to say I screwed up. You will have plenty of time to swagger, but not now. Now fly grasshopper, good luck.
Thorns
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Thanks for all the tips.
But whats with the shirt comments?
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Originally posted by Muckmaw1
Thanks for all the tips.
But whats with the shirt comments?
Just trust us on it :D
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Originally posted by Muckmaw1
Thanks for all the tips.
But whats with the shirt comments?
Muhahaha
if you think it's a shirt buster for fixed wing watch what they do for your first hot Air solo
Much mor the party animal types
Gunns
<"Allways crew for Germans, They have the best Bier">
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I started my flight training at age 14...first lesson. Caught the bug and my parents could swing a lesson or two a month. As I became more and more into it, I was able to get more frequent lessons thanks to a working a few hours a week at a local restaurant bussing tables. Since my lessons werent very consecutive for quite some time, I had close to 40 hours before I took my solo flight. And while that may read as "high", if you consider the first 40 hours spanned a good 18 months, Im glad I heeded my instructors advice to give it a bit more time.
My solo flight was on a warm spring evening (early May). Light wind straight down the runway. Wally (instructor) did a few touch n goes with me, told me we'd do a full stop this time around, taxi off the runway, let him out and go solo for 3 touch n goes. Man...that first time alone is nerveracking. Once I had called the tower and was cleared for take off, I vividly recall seeing Wally cheer me on with a thumbs up. Once in the air, it was "WOOHOOOO!" galore.
I made the old man proud, 3 perfect "squeaker" landings then back to pick him up. After that, he signed me off to do my solo time. Great memories.
So dont get apprehesive about your upcoming solo. Be confident.
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I never soloed a real plane
I soloed in an ultralight and it was something I will remember forever.
Not the same as you real pilots, but probably just as fun :)
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If you solo in 8 hours you are basically doing controlled crashes instead of landings.
Maybe you were doing controlled crashes at 8 hrs, but my landings were pretty decent if I say so myself. Of course, my Instructor wouldn't have soloed me in crosswinds, and I learned how to slip early. Then I learned how to fly patterns and not need a slip.
dago
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Originally posted by Dago
Maybe you were doing controlled crashes at 8 hrs, but my landings were pretty decent if I say so myself. Of course, my Instructor wouldn't have soloed me in crosswinds, and I learned how to slip early. Then I learned how to fly patterns and not need a slip.
dago
Uhhhmmm...patterns are one thing, slips another. Ive had several instances where tower asked me to make my approach immediately and have needed to drop alt fast and used a slip to pull it off.
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Originally posted by Dux
hehe Gixer... I'm remembering my first R22 solo; You don't need quite so much collective with only 1 person onboard!
LOL yeah the extra inch of power is a joy eh.
...-Gixer
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Uhhhmmm...patterns are one thing, slips another. Ive had several instances where tower asked me to make my approach immediately and have needed to drop alt fast and used a slip to pull it off.
Funny, my experience is a slip is normally only needed to drop altitude fast, and that shouldn't be necesary if you have set yourself up on the proper glidepath. Slips help you correct from making an approach too high, and not used when your aircraft is at the proper height at its point in your pattern or approach.
I have had tower requests to maintain airspeed on approach or final, but this hasn't been related to my altitude, only speed.
I do hope those relying on slips recongnize the risks that come with a slip down low. A slip, expecially with flaps down can interfere with airflow over the empannage flight controls and effect handling.
I haven't had to slip a plane in years, either in a single, or God forbid a twin. I find full flaps does just fine if I need to accelerate my rate of descent. Adds plenty of drag, allowing a steeper descent without an notable increase in airspeed.
dago
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Habu,
Perhaps you were not as inclined towards pilotage as others. As such it is rather silly of you, not to mention rather pretentious, to put down a flight school that allows solo's before 20 hours.
I soloed at 7 hours and my instructor was hands off the controls from 4 hours on. My first landing was my first flight and I certainly didn't have "controlled crashes". BTW do you denegrate naval aviators for thier controlled crashes??
FWIW there were other students at the school I used that didn't solo for 20 or more hours. One didn't solo until he had 40 hours and didn't do a cross country alone until almost 60. Instruction is supposed to be an individual thing and has been rather successful given the small number of incidents duing instruction.
Don't get your shorts in a wedgie just because someone soloed before you did. It isn't a reflection of poor instruction on the part of the school nor is your 20 hours a poor reflection on you as a pilot. It is just individual talent at work and some need more or less time to reach the same goals in ANY endeavor.
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I was probably a quicker learner than you were. But the flight school had standards and I followed them. Even if I could have flown circuits at 7 hours I did not care. My goal was to get my PPL. Not fly circuits by myself learning nothing.
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But the flight school had standards and I followed them.
Flight schools exist to make money, and yours certainly did. Aviation unfortunatley is full of greedy people. Maybe your flight school was just a very careful one. At 20 hours, I was flying solo away from the airport but restricted to within 25 miles.
Not fly circuits by myself learning nothing.
I feel I learn a little with every circut I fly, and at minimum sharpen my skills and keep in practice. That is why I will still just do them occasionally(after having my license 23 years ) instead of flying off somewhere for a $50 burger. I notice a lot of others do the same, could there be something to be said for practice?
dago
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I thought it was an FAA reg that you could not solo with less than 20 hours.
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Originally posted by Muckmaw1
I thought it was an FAA reg that you could not solo with less than 20 hours.
There's no hour requirement for soloing. Only that you have to have documented flight, ground training, and be safe for tasks listed in FAR 61.87a, b (1-15), proper endoresments, medical from an AME, and meet the age limit.
The specific hour requirements come in for flight experience required for your PPL. FAR 61.109a (1-5).
40 total
20 w/instructor
10 solo
10 however needed
National average is 60 total.
Something that'll help you out a lot; Open your FAR/AIM (if you don't have one get one)... on the first few pages you'll find a list of sections applicable to pilot ratings. Read all the ones listed for student, private pilot and medicals.
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Originally posted by Dago
Funny, my experience is a slip is normally only needed to drop altitude fast, and that shouldn't be necesary if you have set yourself up on the proper glidepath. Slips help you correct from making an approach too high, and not used when your aircraft is at the proper height at its point in your pattern or approach.
I have had tower requests to maintain airspeed on approach or final, but this hasn't been related to my altitude, only speed.
I do hope those relying on slips recongnize the risks that come with a slip down low. A slip, expecially with flaps down can interfere with airflow over the empannage flight controls and effect handling.
I haven't had to slip a plane in years, either in a single, or God forbid a twin. I find full flaps does just fine if I need to accelerate my rate of descent. Adds plenty of drag, allowing a steeper descent without an notable increase in airspeed.
dago
You are almost dangerous in the advice you give.
A slip is a tool that can save your life. You should learn them before your first trip away from the circuit.
I am sure every licensed pilot here knows how to fly a proper approach. You are correct you don't need to know how to slip to do so.
Imagine though your engine quits and you only have one safe field to land in. I think a slip would be a useful thing to know how to do when flying that approach. Especially if the field was 500 long and surronded by forests.
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Originally posted by Dago
Flight schools exist to make money, and yours certainly did. Aviation unfortunatley is full of greedy people. Maybe your flight school was just a very careful one. At 20 hours, I was flying solo away from the airport but restricted to within 25 miles.
I feel I learn a little with every circut I fly, and at minimum sharpen my skills and keep in practice. That is why I will still just do them occasionally(after having my license 23 years ) instead of flying off somewhere for a $50 burger. I notice a lot of others do the same, could there be something to be said for practice?
dago
I leaned more flying with the instructor. There is not benifit to flying solo with low hours. None.
You still need 20 with the instructor and 40 overall to get your license. It is stupid to go solo low time.
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Habu, now you are amazing me with your arrogance.
Example: I was probably a quicker learner than you were.
Do you realize that every flight school, and every Instructor tells each student "you learn quicker", or "you're one of the most natural pilots I have trained"? Its an almost required thing to keep the students confidence up, and keep him coming back for more. They need to do this since most people who start flying lessons don't finish. Maybe you actually believed that line?
A slip is of course a maneuver one should learn, but it shouldn't need to be part of your everyday manuevers.
I am sorry you cannot learn alone. If you really needed 20 hours before you could solo, that would confirm your inability to learn. I can learn with every flight, regardless of an instructor sitting with me or not, and I think most pilots would agree. I can and work at learning my climbing ability at differant speeds, the power settings need for required climb and descent rates, I can learn to make better landings with each settings of flaps, or no flaps at all. I can practice flying a pattern without touching the throttle.
I can practice intercepts, holding patterns, single engine work, I can learn to naviagate or just fly with a selected instrument blocked.
Flying for 23 years now, and I am still learning, with or without an Instructor. Too bad you feel you are incapable of learning without being spoon fed.
Dago
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You are almost dangerous in the advice you give.
BTW Habu, please point out my dangerous advice.
I believe I just talked about my experience, and didn't tell anyone what they should do.
dago
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Dago I learned to fly an ultralight in less than 15 hours, totally licensed before I started to take my PPL license. Of course I was a great student. I could already fly. I already owned my own aircraft. I had already passed a ground school for my ultralight and had already solo'd.
So what? Was I a slow learner when I went for my PPL? No. Was I angry that I kept getting more time with the instructor each lesson? No. I wanted to pick his brains. I wanted to get what I was paying for. His experience.
You attitude amazes me.
[ B] I am sorry you cannot learn alone. If you really needed 20 hours before you could solo, that would confirm your inability to learn. I can learn with every flight, regardless of an instructor sitting with me or not, and I think most pilots would agree. I can and work at learning my climbing ability at differant speeds, the power settings need for required climb and descent rates, I can learn to make better landings with each settings of flaps, or no flaps at all. I can practice flying a pattern without touching the throttle. [/B]
You can also kill yourself alone making a turn to final by snap rolling because you don't know the effect of an uncoordinated turn with too much left rudder and some back pressure on the yoke.
The fact you have flown for 23 years and not killed yourself is good. How many hours do you have? Don't tell kids to solo low time. It is a stupid thing to do.
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Ummm wait, no one told me I'm a natural....
The best thing I've gotten so far is I make excellent approaches, but I think he meant with the female instructor...
BTW, Female Flight Instructor at my school: Face of Britney Spears, Dumper of Rosie O'Donnell...so close...and yet...
I learn Foward Slip next week.
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Originally posted by Muckmaw1
Was anyone else scared to solo?
I think I can speak for the rest of the FDB's on this - not scared at all.
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Habu,
Before I answer your questions, how about answering mine?
BTW Habu, please point out my dangerous advice.
Please answer this previously asked question, or reply that you made up an untrue accusation.
regards,
dago
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muck the only thing i will say is you will more than likely only be nervious when you land and take off.
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Originally posted by Thorns
Muckmaw: Forget about how many hours, being macho, what anyone else tells you how they solo'd. If you are having high aniexty about your solo, you probably are not ready yet. Tell your instructor you want him to observe your flying as a pre-solo lesson, taking off from your home airport, flying to another airport you have never been to, but you know which airport, so you can do the research on your own to fly into and make three landings to a full stop, and it should be a controlled airport, while your instructor just plays manny the mope and observes, writing down what he sees you have done incorrectly pertaining to procedure and safety, stepping in only if you're about to step in chit. Fly the machine by the numbers, just like you have been taught, thinking about what you want to do next, before action, but always fly the airplane until the prop stops. You will see if you are ready to solo. Why are you taking lessons? Certainly not to say I screwed up. You will have plenty of time to swagger, but not now. Now fly grasshopper, good luck.
Thorns
I agree. This helped me alot. BTW I solo'd at 15 hours, and 46 previous landings with an instructor. I had some interruption in my PPL training and had couple of years before my solo.
My first instructor was a female and a new instructor, cute as heck but would rip your head off in a heartbeat for a mistake. The second was a guy with a lot of experience and a great instructor. Talk to your instructor about your fears. If they are any good they'll understand, and not push you to early.
I also tended to land better by my self anyway. Performance anxiety when the instructor was in the a/c with me.
Good luck.
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"Fear...?, that's the other guys problem......."
Get out there and do it....!!!
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Originally posted by Muckmaw1
BTW, Female Flight Instructor at my school: Face of Britney Spears, Dumper of Rosie O'Donnell...so close...and yet...
Whoa...well without that "thing" weighing down the right side of the plane, be prepared to feel that airplane LEAP off the ground!
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Is that the one some AHer had a crush on?
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I doubt it. I remember that saga too, but I think he lived out west somewhere.
Wonder what happened with that.