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04/10/2009, 1:45 PM TimmyP Joined on 29/06/2009 Gloucester Posts 58 First solo!! Flew my first solo today at Gloucester. Light winds and nice weather, perfect day for it. We flew 4 practice circuits before my instructor told me he was going to hop out and let me go on my own. The runway changed just as we decided to go for it, so the solo circuit was on 27 as opposed to the practices on 22. I was very, very nervous as the instructor hopped out, then did my power checks and called ready for departure. As soon as I got my clearance and was on the runway though, it felt like I was back in the zone, going through the procedures learnt previously. Took off into a lovely empty circuit and climbed to 1000ft, much quicker than with 2 pob. My approach was actually the best I flew all day and got a 'congratulations' from ATC on landing. Backtracked to the hanger and now can't get the smile off my face! Feels like it's been so fast to this point!    Report

04/10/2009, 4:57 PM Aviator|Chris Joined on 28/01/2009 EGBW Posts 378 Re: First solo!! Congratulations, Timmy!! All the best and many more circuits like it!    Report

04/10/2009, 6:19 PM CFrost Joined on 04/01/2009 EGLK Posts 157 Re: First solo!! Congratulations timmy! its the best feeling ever. You will soon do your solo land away which put an even bigger smile on my face!. Well done again. Chris P.S will be your turn soon chris ;p    Report

04/10/2009, 11:09 PM Aviator|Chris Joined on 28/01/2009 EGBW Posts 378 Re: First solo!!  CFrost wrote: Congratulations timmy! its the best feeling ever. You will soon do your solo land away which put an even bigger smile on my face!. Well done again. Chris P.S will be your turn soon chris ;p Not for some time, Chris! I still make some errors that I need to sort out - and although my progress continues getting through each lesson, I fear it will hold me up from moving onto circuits and going solo anytime soon. Main ones are struggling to commit the Air Law and R/T text books to memory at the moment!    Report

05/10/2009, 9:01 PM boofle Joined on 23/08/2009 North Yorkshire Posts 39 Re: First solo!! Hi Timmy, congratulations on your first Solo. you are sailing through your ppl.  I have still away to go before I go for my first solo, but I can imagine, that it must be the most nerve wracking, but at the same time be one of the most exciting thing you have done. you should be proud of yourself. I had a lesson yesterday but wasn't able to fly due to a bad tummy, my instructor wouldn't let me go up. So will be going up next sunday if the weather is ok. It has been a bit grim lately. once again, well done. Steve          Report

06/10/2009, 10:44 AM Morbz Joined on 06/02/2007 UK Posts 263 Re: First solo!! TimmyP Big congratulations to you, keep it up, before you know it you'll have a license in hand! Morbz    Report

06/10/2009, 1:28 PM TimmyP Joined on 29/06/2009 Gloucester Posts 58 Re: First solo!! Thanks all. It's been going pretty well for me. I just hope that I don't run out of money before the end as there's still a long, long way to go!    Report

07/10/2009, 9:57 AM RogD Joined on 15/08/2007 Solihull Posts 69 Re: First solo!! Nice one TimmyP and congratulations. It feels good eh! Keep your focus, learning, and asorbing, and you'll suprise yourself how soon you'll be there. Very well done indeed. RogD    Report

11/10/2009, 8:43 PM TimmyP Joined on 29/06/2009 Gloucester Posts 58 Re: First solo!! Had another lesson today. I was to be solo consolidation, but when I turned up at noon the weather was bad, with quite a lot of rain and very low cloud. Luckily 'my' aeroplane and instructor were available for the remainder of the afternoon, so I went to get some lunch and was going to call back after a couple of hours to see if things had improved. After we'd found some lunch I walked outside and the rain had stopped, and the sun was even starting to poke through...what a result! So we went back to the airfield and did a short briefing and I went out to preflight the aircraft. There were still a couple of showers in the locality but the weather was improving all the time so we decided to go for a few circuits to scope it out. After 2 circuits we stopped and the instructor hopped out to give me some more solo time. The weather was now pretty good with big chunks of blue and the few remaining showers breaking up, so my instructor said to do a few circuits, but to stop if the weather got worse again. I ended up doing 5 solo circuits as well as the 2 with the instructor on board. It was by far the most enjoyable I've had so far. The first solo circuit was once again a little bit nervous and tentative, but after the first touch and go I felt like I had really settled in, and enjoyed the ride for the rest. It was great and I can't wait to go back next time. We've still got to do cross-wind landings, which we'll do when the weather fits (we haven't had the required crosswind yet), but next lesson could also be on practice forced landings and steep turns, depending on the weather. Apparently it won't be that long before I'll be doing local solo flights...I can't wait!!! Anybody else fly this weekend?     Report

12/10/2009, 9:44 AM Jude Joined on 09/07/2009 Cheltenham Posts 15 Re: First solo!! Timmy well done, fantastic.Hope you opened the champagne. Just getting into the touch and go's but not yet solo as putting off the air law exam until I feel really comfortable in the T&G's. Not so much the take-off and landings but the visual headings as well as the DI ones for all the r/ways.  ie turn over midway GCHQ/treatment works/ May Hill, field with 3 trees (they had better not cut one down, lol). Going up twice this week, tomorrow and Thursday. Brilliant sunshine today so it had better stay good. My boyfriend flew Friday and the weather was dire................ended up having to ask for radar assistance from both Bristol and Glos. Couldn't even see the r/way at Glos never mid the airfield! Glos very kindly told him to watch out for very heavy squalls in the area..his reply "thanks I'm in one". Said the waterfall off the ailerons was incredible. Must meet up at the Aviator someday Jude        Report

12/10/2009, 11:58 AM TimmyP Joined on 29/06/2009 Gloucester Posts 58 Re: First solo!! Yes I struggled with where to turn etc. but my instructor has given me some very useful tips. Rather than thinking about things on the ground to turn over/around/between, I do it based on cue's from within the aircraft. For example turning base when the runway is 30deg behind the wingtip on downwind (4o'clock in RH circuits, 8 o'clock in LH circuits). For the heading I either use the DI, if it's easy like on 09/27, or pick a point on the wingtip before turning, and track towards that so I know it's 90deg from my previous leg. I found that much easier than following markers on the ground because the procedure is always the same regardless of runway (except for noise abatement) but I guess it will also help later on at unfamiliar fields where you don't know the surrounding area as well. Won't be long til you're solo now too though! We'll have to talk it over in the Aviator, let me know if you're around on a Sunday, that's the day I'm normally there.    Report

12/10/2009, 7:07 PM Nicky Joined on 01/02/2006 Nottingham Posts 265 Re: First solo!! Congrats on all the soloing Timmy! you'll soon be there i'm sure. How are you getting on with the ground school? I've been here there and everywhere this weekend. I took my girlfriend flying on Saturday seen as it was such a nice morning,  I took her over her house and around the local area. Then went flying with a friend Sunday morning, nav ex cut short by deteriorating weather but still got a decent flight in. Then was heading to Skeg today with another friend in their 172, got as far as Waddington but again weather was pants so turned back. Then headed up to Sturgate and Sherburn this afternoon in an Arrow and didn't land back at Gamston until about 17:30! So i've had a busy weekend :D Back to the day job tomorrow unfortunately...      Report

14/10/2009, 4:09 PM Mel 3000 Joined on 14/10/2009 South Africa Posts 5 Re: First solo!! Congratulations TimmyP! You deserve it.I remember your first post in June 2009 ''Another PPL Starter'' it was just like yesterday,funny maybe its because i read all your posts today and ended up seeing this one''My 1st Solo'' .Im motivated. Did you do any ground school by the way? I have read material from aopa and i just dont know what study books i could get for PPL. I have some knowledge on the 8 subjects for PPL from aopa but i need more books.Can anyone recommend just a few specific books and study material i could use. At times i feel like im just a girl in the men's world but i will defy all odds when it comes to flying because its my passion.i have set my mind on it ,i have always loved flying since i was a child.I even kept my 1st air ticket when i was 5 for years! I still wonder why i did so??!? Here in South Africa i struggle to find aviation books.Im going to book for my 'discovery' flight next week.Then choose a school .I enjoy reading anything about aviation but i panic at times im thinking what if i fail yet i have put in so much money? I dont se myself doing anything else career wise than flying commercially.Im 31,a woman,broke,very technical though(I like repairing ,athletic,good at maths i think,geography and never did physics or sciences.One more thing,im a smoker but could stop if its an obstacle to becoming a pilot.What are my chances of making it to atleast a commercial pilot? You have heard my story.From what i wrote please help me see if im on the right path,if its possible ..just a little possibility that i can make it through. Thanks :) Melanie    Report

15/10/2009, 2:53 PM Mel 3000 Joined on 14/10/2009 South Africa Posts 5 Re: First solo!! Hi all Please help on the above questions .. Tanks, Mel    Report

15/10/2009, 2:53 PM Mel 3000 Joined on 14/10/2009 South Africa Posts 5 Re: First solo!! Hi all Please help on the above questions .. Thanks, Mel    Report

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