First Solo
Something every pilot will never forget!
Your first solo is your first milestone in flying, it's the moment your instructor jumps out of the plane and you take off and land for the first time on your own!
There are, of course, several hours of training before you get to this stage, however, when I look back, it really doesn't seem like we had that many hours of experience before we were let loose. Although the instructors will know when the time is right for you, it's also good to know that it's extremely common to not go solo first time and to need an additional flight or so, especially if you're flying schedule hasn't been consistent so please do not stress about this! Your first solo consists of one take-off into one loop around the circuit and one full stop landing. Typically, if you're starting through a commercial flying school then after lesson 12, so around 12 flight hours into your training you'll do a dual flight to then follow with your first solo. For PPL this is less structured and you'll find it varies with instructors and their preferences.
The flight before your first solo can be mentally challenging, knowing you're due to fly solo weighing on you, there is pressure to perform well these few touch and go's (take off and landings) before they can safely send you. I know for me just the thought of knowing these had to be some of my best landings and how badly I wanted to go solo added a lot of pressure, I wanted so badly to do well. At the time this did get the better of me and I'm not afraid to say that my landings were all over the place! It's a lot to mentally take, as soon as you get into your head it's hard to get out of it. Just remember that it's all a learning curve, there's no rush and mistakes have to be made in order to grow into a better pilot.
I remember clearly on the day of my first solo, I was flying on the downwind leg for another touch and go when my instructor changed the plan and said "We will make this to land". That's when you know, you're about to go solo, and so I taxied the plane off the runway and parked up. My instructor jumped out, tapped on the window to wish me good luck and ran off. Right...this is it. No time to think, here I go. Moments later I was lined up on the runway, a rush of excitement and nervousness waved over me as I looked down the centerline. "Cleared for take-off, G-YT" I replied to ATC as I advanced the power lever forward and started rolling down the runway.
Seeing the runway shrink below me as I took off, climbing further and further away from the ground it all became very real. In the moment you are so consumed with making sure you do all the checks/calls/flying correctly that if I'm honest you don't really get to take it all in, it's all over in a flash. I just remember I had a spare couple of seconds to realise I'm actually flying this on my own, there's no one here if I mess up, no one here to help me! Weirdly enough, that in itself I found was the exciting part, the realisation that I can do this. Before I knew it I had landed the plane and ATC were congratulating me on the radio...I did it! I just flew a plane all on my own! I then parked back up on the stand as my instructor ran out to shake my hand. What a day!
If you're due to go solo, my biggest advice would be to try and reduce the pressure on yourself. Think, if I don't go solo the first time that's okay, I WILL DO THIS and nail those touch and go's ;) Then if you do go solo the first time then that's a bonus! Be proud and enjoy the experience no matter what, it's one you'll always look back on.
Enjoy the skies,
Ashleigh x
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