I flew my first Solo today!

[MasterBates]

Coming back right seat from moving a helo back from a field where they were working.

The pilot (who was a Helo CFI, that I had been chipping away on my rating with) says land here, at a helipad. Asks if I have my logbook/medical with me. Yep, in the bag behind the seat. Signs my endorsement, tells me to take the helo, do 3 normal landings, then park it in front of it's hangar. Call on company freq if I need help.

I got my private an hour here, and hour there. No formal syllabus. Just Bob's saying "you're ready" when he was satisfied I could do it without killing myself or breaking his helicopter.

Not the actual bird I solo'd in, but it was one of these:

 

[MIDNJAC]

holy crap. did you remember the light signals?? or did you have them written down? i just took the FR&R test and thought, thank god nothing happened to my 152 in IFS!

Yeah, I did remember them that day....probably the only time in my life haha

 

[Single Seat]

Oct 10, 1996. C-152 N94801.

 

[Python]

July 3rd 2005...N13101

Wish it were on the 4th...

Oh crap thats 3 years ago today...just realized it!

 

[Mumbles]

My first solo was in the T-34C, I had no prior flight time and this was before the days of IFS. I really didn't realize I was soloing until I started my clearing turns after take off and glanced the empty cockpit behind me in the rear view mirror. "Holy Crap, I'm SOLOING!"

Same deal Phrog...

I went out to Area 1, (Barin and Saufley). I felt that I could handle anything that came at me. Pretty amazing after only 13 flights in that airplane. I guess that's testament to the program.

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

My IFS solo: flight violation. Hoorah.

 

[BACONATOR]

My IFS solo: flight violation. Hoorah.

DO tell.

 

[Bolter]

I oversped the gear on my first flight in the T-45. One year later, on my first solo in the Harrier, the gear would not come up, forcing me to do two PARs and the remainder of my flight with the gear down. What does that mean?
1. I suck?
2. Karma?
3. The Harrier is aging faster than Jack Douglas?

 

[Harrier Dude]

I oversped the gear on my first flight in the T-45. One year later, on my first solo in the Harrier, the gear would not come up, forcing me to do two PARs and the remainder of my flight with the gear down. What does that mean?
1. I suck?
2. Karma?
3. The Harrier is aging faster than Jack Douglas?

It means that you forgot to check your T-handle.

 

[Bolter]

Whoohhh no!! I made sure to do that. It was that damned WOW switch. The same thing happened to me in Yuma one month ago. That was just after #12 decided it wanted to eat its own engine for lunch.

It means that you forgot to check your T-handle.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Whoohhh no!! I made sure to do that. It was that damned WOW switch.

Riiiiiiiiiiight. It was the WOW switch that did it. The hatch just blew! I swear to God!! Why the hell won't anybody believe me?!?!

At least you didn't blow your tires...........or did you?

It was the antiskid system!! I checked the switch! I didn't have my feet on the brakes! Really! I swear!

There are those that have, and those that will........


And then there's me.

 

[armada1651]

Riiiiiiiiiiight. It was the WOW switch that did it. The hatch just blew! I swear to God!! Why the hell won't anybody believe me?!?!

Leave Gus alone already! Poor guy...

 

[phrogdriver]

Vne dive in the T-34.

 

[Bolter]

A Vne dive in the Turbo Mentor!?!?! Dude you are fucking nuts!! Kids, don't try this at home...

Vne dive in the T-34.

 

[Reb]

Vne dive in the T-34.

How close before you pulled off?

270 before the incredible noise and buffeting scared me off... plus Ft. Morgan was getting mighty big in the windscreen.