solo

[TommyRust]

7.1.04 Soloed in fixed wing today. What a rush!!! Will solo soon in the Windryder. Is this fun or WHAT!!

[Screw]

Screw-In

Great Job Tommy :D

Screw-Out

[ToddP]

Great Job Tommy. There is nothing quite like that first solo! Way to go.

[PW_Plack]

Congrats, Tommy!

Perhaps thinking he'd get me too nervous with advance warning, my instructor soloed me just before sunset at the little rural strip where we'd been training. He said, "taxi over there and let me out." I said "...huh?"

He got out, told me he'd have the handheld radio on, gave me a quick warning about the difference in trim with his 190 pounds of ballast gone from the rear seat of our 880-pound Aeronca Champ, and sent me back out to do three takeoffs and landings. You're right...a rush!

I expect, though, it has to be even better the first time you fly an aircraft you built yourself.

[barnstorm2]

Congratulations!

Wild feeling eh?

[GyroRon]

What did you solo in?

[TommyRust]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I soloed in a Cesna 172. I too was told to fly the pattern, exit the runway, taxi to where the instructor was standing. If I did a good job he would indicate go around and do it again. You can imagine the excitment when he motioned for me to do it again. After the second time he said do one more then taxi back and park it.
I did not build my gyro but I have taken her apart and put it back together. I first saw the Windryder in popular mechanics in Nov. 87. I thought would'nt that be neat to fly? Well soon I will get to find out just How neat it is. I do not know how to post pictures yet, but if you want to see the Windryder go to www.pra007.org and look at the test flight pictures. Thanks everyone

[GyroRon]

Cool, I got a chance to fly a 172 for the first time earlier this past spring and it is a good flying bird. Congrats on the solo!

[Screw]

Screw-In

I too soloed in a 172 in 2000. I remember thinking to myself, and I may have even said it out loud, "What in the hell am I doing up here by myself?"

Screw-Out

[scottessex]

Cool Congrats! I know it is a good feeling.