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First actual solo...haha

goosegagnon2 said:
So today, I had my first actual solo for my ppl. I solo'd before but ....
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Not to be the party pooper, but how can one have their "first actual solo" when they've solo'ed "before" ... :confused: .... personally, I only had one "first" solo. :) Congrats, anyway ....
 
Steve Wilkins said:
One thing you should consider for any controlled field you fly out of regularly (or into, if you really do fly to the same airport all the time) is to take some time and go meet the folks up in the tower. Ask them to show you around and tell you what they do. Also, ask em how you can make their lives easier.

For your first visit, find out who was working the tower that day you solo'd and caused a bit of a mess for them. Buy whoever was working the tower that day a soda and take it to them. This does two things. One, it shows them that you really do care about doing things correctly, but you happened to screw up that day. Second, they get to see your face and maybe even attach a name to it. The next time you're out flying, they'll remember you and probably be more inclined to help you out. Anyway, something to consider.
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Words of wisdom. Ill remember that when I get to my solo which will be in a few months. Im going to get my FAA written out of the way before I start flying.

Congrats dude! It must feel great to be awarded responsibility for an aircraft and the safety of others (other traffic)- and that your good enough to carry out those airman duties.
 
A4sForever said:
Not to be the party pooper, but how can one have their "first actual solo" when they've solo'ed "before" ... :confused: .... personally, I only had one "first" solo. :) Congrats, anyway ....
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Its kinda the whole what do you consider really solo. I mean yeah it was a big deal the first time the instructor stepped out of the plane and said "Go up, do 3, and taxi on back here. Ill keep and eye on you from down here," vs. the first time I went into the flight building by myself, got the aircraft I was assigned, checked weather, walked out, preflighted, started up, taxi'd out, talked to control, got my clearance, took off, encountered heavy turbulance, went to the pattern....... *short hand* and brought it back the whole time having only myself and that "Help me God" button on the radio to rely on.
 
Right ... I "get it" ... but a solo is a solo is a solo ... you can only do it "once" ... "first time" ... "alone". Mine was as you described: the instructor got out and said "Don't die --- see you back here after three touch & go's" ....

Dictionary.com:

Solo: To fly an airplane without a companion or an instructor, especially for the first time. :)
 
A4sForever said:
Right ... I "get it" ... but a solo is a solo is a solo ... you can only do it "once" ... "first time" ... "alone". Mine was as you described: the instructor got out and said "Don't die --- see you back here after three touch & go's" ....

Dictionary.com:

Solo: To fly an airplane without a companion or an instructor, especially for the first time. :)
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True, but isnt there a lot more to "Flying the Plane" then just start, taxi, takeoff, pattern, and land.
 
Lawman said:
True, but isnt there a lot more to "Flying the Plane" then just start, taxi, takeoff, pattern, and land.
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Not if you do it right ... i.e., sleep your way across the Pacific ... :sleep_125
 
haha yeah I understand the "first" solo, I did the same as Lawman did, 3 and out, then I was done. This time I took my fiberglass friend across the mississippi and did stalls, steep turns, slow flight stuff to that nature. Yeah I guess I already did my solo, awhile back but it didn't feel the same. Kinda like the difference between the imitation cereal at the bottom of the shopping asile and real Lucky Charms. In the pattern your just calling one or two things out to the tower and repeating what they say back...not much to it...going out on your own in a practice area..leaving the pattern and understanding what ATC says to you...then come back and making the right cues, feels like alot more has been accomplished...well thats just how I felt :)
 
goosegagnon2 said:
haha yeah I understand the "first" solo.....
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Do you guys still cut out the back of your shirt --- literally --- your "first solo" shirt --- and keep it??? We used to do that (civvie street first solo's) and I still have mine --- framed in my "I love me" room.... :) .... Mine was Madras print w/ button down collar. That's what we wore back then .... :eek:
 
A4sForever said:
Do you guys still cut out the back of your shirt --- literally --- your "first solo" shirt --- and keep it??? We used to do that (civvie street first solo's) and I still have mine --- framed in my "I love me" room.... :) .... Mine was Madras print w/ button down collar. That's what we wore back then .... :eek:
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I dont know anybody I was at Riddle with when I did my solo that did that. Goes to show you that "The best Aviation school in the World" knows how to suck all the fun and comraderie out of flying.
 
skidkid said:
ATC really only provides harrassment when deserved...
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Things must be vastly different out west. They provide harrassment, over-control, SA degredation, and superfluous comm constantly over here... and that's just while VFR.
 
Lawman said:
I dont know anybody I was at Riddle with when I did my solo that did that. Goes to show you that "The best Aviation school in the World" knows how to suck all the fun and comraderie out of flying.
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Yeah, I dont see it too much either. Its more of spur the moment deal. When you solo at a different field and have to fly back to DAB afterwards, it generally doesnt get done.

I still have my solo shirt cutout when i soloed in gliders at age 14. I always think it was funny how I could fly a glider solo before I could drive a car with my parents.....
 
Do you guys still cut out the back of your shirt --- literally --- your "first solo" shirt --- and keep it??? We used to do that (civvie street first solo's) and I still have mine --- framed in my "I love me" room.... .... Mine was Madras print w/ button down collar. That's what we wore back then ....
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nope not out west...I don't think that would fare well with some of the students here...their grown pretty fat out here..when did you first solo A4s?

Things must be vastly different out west. They provide harrassment, over-control, SA degredation, and superfluous comm constantly over here... even VFR.
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that sucks...I think the only reason they do it to us, is cause they get bored in the tower since there is not alot of activity...and most of the traffic is from the flight school located there oh..and 80% of the tower staff is former Air Force...but I will admit I did deserve it that day :P
 
goosegagnon2 said:
..when did you first solo...
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1966 .... Madras print was very big back then. :)

Hell, I even sold a Madras sport coat to a bar owner in Izmir, Turkey on 1/C cruise ... right off my back ..... he couldn't live without it .... ;)
 
10 April 2002

Thats when I tamed this unforgiving beast :D
 

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A4s did your civy flying help you much when you went to primary? or did you find it helpful? I'm doing the civy flying because if for some reason the miltary thing does not work out for me, I still would want to fly in the civilian world as a professional pilot when I get out. I would hope that once I make into the Marines that I might have a leg-up on a thing or two, I certainly hope things won't go all fubar and I'll start mixing things up with bad habits from the civy flying.
 
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