My First Solo X-Country

My first solo xc flight plan was from 3A1 VUZ TCL and back to 3A1. It
was a little windy, about 5-6 knots at times. The flight went as planned.
I departed 3A1 about 11:00am. After passing the VUZ VOR, I headed to
Tuscaloosa. It was a pleasant trip. When I arrived at TCL I had to circle
the airport a few times. Being excited about my first solo xc, I did not
think about the football game between Alabama and Mississippi. Needless to
say, the TCL tower was not exactly happy to see me (the controller actually
sounded like he was pretty upset). There seemed to be Lear Jets everywhere
with a few Bonanzas mixed in for good measure!! Some had landed and others
were coming in to land. I finally landed. I was parked between two Lear
Jets. I went into the FBO to get my logbook signed which took about five
minutes. Boy, did I get some strange looks.

As I headed back to my airplane, I looked around at all the jets (money)
that were parked and thought, "Life must be good for some people". The
C-152 I flew looked like an ant among giants. I finally got clearance to
takeoff and was I glad. The jets were still arriving! The flight from
Tuscaloosa back to 3A1 was uneventful.

I will admit that I was a little nervous but I maintained my cool
--
CareBear

"CareBear" wrote in
:

I will admit that I was a little nervous but I maintained my cool

Good job CareBear,

I always overfly TCL on my way from KMBO to KEKY.

Allen

"CareBear" wrote in message
...
I was parked between two Lear
Jets. I went into the FBO to get my logbook signed which took about five
minutes.

That (getting your logbook signed at destinations) hasn't been a
requirement for decades. All you need is a full-stop landing at each point.
When I made my solo cross country, I never got out of the airplane.

Anyhow, congratulations on your cross country and welcome to the group.
Keep up the good work.

Vaughn

On 2006-10-22, Vaughn Simon wrote:
When I made my solo cross country, I never got out of the airplane.

Same here. For any students reading, I highly recommend actually having
something to do, even if it's a $100 hamburger, on your solo XC.

--
Ben Jackson AD7GD

http://www.ben.com/

Vaughn Simon wrote:
When I made my solo cross country, I never got out of the airplane.

Ben Jackson wrote:
Same here. For any students reading, I highly recommend actually having
something to do, even if it's a $100 hamburger, on your solo XC.

I stopped and had breakfast on my first solo X-C. Everyone thought I was
nuts and couldn't imagine why I wouldn't want to just turn right around
and come back! Ha, I thought the meal was the whole point!
;-)

Is full stop even required? I don't remember, but my dual XC's were mostly
TnG, which I think is a huge mistake and at the least a contributing factor
to runway incursions.

I think all dual and solo XC's should involve landing, taxiing to a ramp and
getting back to the runway.

mike

"Vaughn Simon" wrote in message
news:zRy_g.97226$QZ1.6639@bgtnsc04-
All you need is a full-stop landing at each point. When I made my solo
cross country, I never got out of the airplane.

Anyhow, congratulations on your cross country and welcome to the
group. Keep up the good work.

Vaughn

mike regish wrote:
Is full stop even required? I don't remember, but my dual XC's were mostly
TnG, which I think is a huge mistake and at the least a contributing factor
to runway incursions.

I think all dual and solo XC's should involve landing, taxiing to a ramp and
getting back to the runway.

mike

I was required to stop on my dual XC, just to get fuel, as my Ercoupe
with myself and my instructor only had enough for one way : )

Linda

"mike regish" wrote in message
...
Is full stop even required?

For the required x-country solo, yes.

61.109 (a) (5) (ii) "...with full-stop landings at a minimum of three
points,..."

Vaughn

CareBear wrote:

My first solo xc flight plan was from 3A1 VUZ TCL and back to 3A1. It
was a little windy, about 5-6 knots at times. The flight went as planned.
I departed 3A1 about 11:00am. After passing the VUZ VOR, I headed to
Tuscaloosa. It was a pleasant trip. When I arrived at TCL I had to circle
the airport a few times. Being excited about my first solo xc, I did not
think about the football game between Alabama and Mississippi. Needless to
say, the TCL tower was not exactly happy to see me (the controller actually
sounded like he was pretty upset). There seemed to be Lear Jets everywhere
with a few Bonanzas mixed in for good measure!! Some had landed and others
were coming in to land. I finally landed. I was parked between two Lear
Jets. I went into the FBO to get my logbook signed which took about five
minutes. Boy, did I get some strange looks.

I bet if the QB's and coaching staff for Alabama and, Mississippi knew
that a devout college football fan, was out flying, instead of watching
the game, they would be angry.

As I headed back to my airplane, I looked around at all the jets (money)
that were parked and thought, "Life must be good for some people". The
C-152 I flew looked like an ant among giants. I finally got clearance to
takeoff and was I glad. The jets were still arriving! The flight from
Tuscaloosa back to 3A1 was uneventful.

I will admit that I was a little nervous but I maintained my cool

Just because it may have looked like 'an ant among giants', I bet you
stil felt good about your accomplishment.

To say 'Congratulations' is not enough. I think it
is......SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!!!!!!(M ary Poppins)

That is a terrific accomplishment.

Christopher

That's an important aviation milestone - hopefully the first of many.
Conbgratulations! Onward and upward

Tony

--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE