First Solo

wrote:
On May 2, 12:55 pm, Erik wrote:
Larry Dighera wrote:
Just remember your CFI consider's you ready to solo. Doubtless, his
job (if not more) is riding on that decision if you should become an
incident or accident statistic.

Famous last words: "If anything happens, just make sure your
logbook gets burned up!"

Will I be in radio contact with him? Does it matter?

Mine went up in the tower to keep tabs on me - even had the controler remind
me to watch my pattern altitude

On May 2, 1:15 pm, "ManhattanMan" wrote:
wrote:
On May 2, 12:55 pm, Erik wrote:
Larry Dighera wrote:
Just remember your CFI consider's you ready to solo. Doubtless, his
job (if not more) is riding on that decision if you should become an
incident or accident statistic.

Famous last words: "If anything happens, just make sure your
logbook gets burned up!"

Will I be in radio contact with him? Does it matter?

Mine went up in the tower to keep tabs on me - even had the controler remind
me to watch my pattern altitude

I'll be flying out KLBX (untowered airport). He does have a hand held
radio. Can he just give me a frequency. Somehow I feel a lot more
comfortable not talking to him...lol

"Erik" wrote

Yep, wear a cheap shirt. One with a little sentimental
value, though.

Don't be shocked when the plane turns into a rocket. You're going
to shoot up like never before. My CFI was a pretty big guy so the
difference in weight was astounding.

Watch the ground go away beneath you. It's great stuff.

From there, it's all routine. Fly your pattern. Relax. It's
really nothing you haven't done before.

On final, don't let your CFI's absence keep you from hearing the
stuff they normally say. WATCH YOUR AIRSPEED and whatever else
they generally bring up. I planned to take a tape recorder and just
have it repeat that crap to me while I came in but I never got around
to it.

And finally, once back on the ground be sure to congratulate yourself for
being able to take off, fly the pattern, and land all by yourself!

BDS

Larry, what you said reminds me of an article in "Flying" back in the 70's
called "Good-Bye Dobbs". It described a new CFI's first solo student. The
CFI was thinking about a contingency plan in case the student had an
accident. I think he was going to claim that the student took the plane w/o
permission...
"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
On 2 May 2007 09:53:01 -0700, wrote in
.com:

I hope there will be little to no cross wind that day. :-) I still
need practice in that area + remember to turn the yoke into the
wind... I also need to feel comfortable doing a slip which kind of
freaks me out at this point.


Most flight instructors don't announce the first solo in advance, just
so you won't psych yourself into a state of over apprehension. It's
probably a lot easier on the student if the CFI just gets out of the
aircraft after you've been practicing that day, and says, "Give me
three good landings without me onboard."

Just remember your CFI consider's you ready to solo. Doubtless, his
job (if not more) is riding on that decision if you should become an
incident or accident statistic. He trusts you to do what he has
taught you; you should trust his judgment, try to overcome your
apprehension through preparation, and relax and savor the joy of this
milestone on your journey to becoming an airman.

Just review all the things you have learned, and you'll do fine.
Preparation is very important in aviation.

After you make your third (or whatever) landing, don't forget to pick up
your CFI.!!! I was so thrilled when I finished, that I taxied right up to
the ramp (alone) and left the instructor stranded at the approach end of the
runway (some 4000' away) Oh we'll, he was kind of fat anyway, so he needed
the exercise
wrote in message
ups.com...
I am gonna go on my first solo at the end of May. I am a little bit
nervous... Any advice?

wrote:
On May 2, 1:15 pm, "ManhattanMan" wrote:
wrote:
On May 2, 12:55 pm, Erik wrote:
Larry Dighera wrote:
Just remember your CFI consider's you ready to solo. Doubtless,
his job (if not more) is riding on that decision if you should
become an incident or accident statistic.

Famous last words: "If anything happens, just make sure your
logbook gets burned up!"

Will I be in radio contact with him? Does it matter?

Mine went up in the tower to keep tabs on me - even had the
controler remind me to watch my pattern altitude

I'll be flying out KLBX (untowered airport). He does have a hand held
radio. Can he just give me a frequency. Somehow I feel a lot more
comfortable not talking to him...lol

Then don't. You will be PIC.

wrote:

I'll be flying out KLBX (untowered airport). He does have a hand held
radio. Can he just give me a frequency. Somehow I feel a lot more
comfortable not talking to him...lol


Nah. By the time I solo'd, I practically kicked him out
of the airplane. He was lucky I slowed down first.

On May 2, 1:44 pm, Erik wrote:
wrote:
I'll be flying out KLBX (untowered airport). He does have a hand held
radio. Can he just give me a frequency. Somehow I feel a lot more
comfortable not talking to him...lol

Nah. By the time I solo'd, I practically kicked him out
of the airplane. He was lucky I slowed down first.

LOL! My instructor is an ex French Lt. He is a great instructor but
can at time be abrupt (must be the French thing), is a total
perfectionist (good thing). He almost always wears a flight suit
while flying... Why? KLBX is a civilian airport and last time I
checked, I have never served in the military.

On 2 May 2007 12:25:38 -0700, wrote in
.com:

He almost always wears a flight suit while flying... Why?

Because it's made of fire resistant Nomex®?


http://www.aerobaticproshop.com/aure...-coveralls.htm

Larry Dighera wrote:

On 2 May 2007 12:25:38 -0700, wrote in
.com:


He almost always wears a flight suit while flying... Why?


Because it's made of fire resistant Nomex®?


http://www.aerobaticproshop.com/aure...-coveralls.htm


hahaha. That would be great to do as a CFI. Sign up a new
student and at the intro flight, show up in the kevlar helmet,
fire suit, life vest, protective goggles and carry a fire
extinguisher.

Instills confidence in students.