Tflhndn
Pre-takeoff checklist
So, after more than two years of dreaming of learning to fly (and amassing enough AMUs to know I could finish once I started) two months of actually training, and two weeks for the weather to clear, I got the chance to solo today.
While the weather cleared enough to fly, the ground had melted too much for us to practice at the home drome (grass runway was too soft). So we flew up to KSIF for what I thought was going to me a day of landing practice in the archer II (in which to date I had 1.4 hours and only 2 landings in, having flown 140s in the rest of my training).
My first two attempts at landing ended in go arounds as I had trouble keeping the nose aligned in the flare. (Not enough rudder- the bane of both my landings and my CFIs patience and nerves)
On the third approach, I was too close in on the downwind leg. He pointed this out, saying "this would be a good place for a simulated engine out" and cut the throttle.
Adrenaline is amazing stuff - best landing I ever made...
Next two laps were solid. As we stopped at the hold short line to reconfigure was take off, he took off his headset and said try doing three of those without me, opened the door and climbed out right here on the taxiway.
Somehow I didn't feel scared or particularly nervous. Mostly excited, with a little bit of "now don't F*** this up" echoing in my head.
I could write a bunch about the flight ( airport plows working some additional runway slush removal and untimely traffic entering the pattern which I could not locate visually) but I will leave it with this - the first landing was good, the second ugly (not unsafe, just not very pretty) and the third was fine - just as my CFI said it would go.
It was as great a feeling as everyone said it would be, as as different from what I imagined as can be..
Anyway, after years of lurking and reading other write-ups, I thought I would post mine. Thanks to all whose comments have helped me as I struggle to earn the title Pilot.
And for those who care, I had 18.4 hrs at the start of the day.
And damn it feels good
While the weather cleared enough to fly, the ground had melted too much for us to practice at the home drome (grass runway was too soft). So we flew up to KSIF for what I thought was going to me a day of landing practice in the archer II (in which to date I had 1.4 hours and only 2 landings in, having flown 140s in the rest of my training).
My first two attempts at landing ended in go arounds as I had trouble keeping the nose aligned in the flare. (Not enough rudder- the bane of both my landings and my CFIs patience and nerves)
On the third approach, I was too close in on the downwind leg. He pointed this out, saying "this would be a good place for a simulated engine out" and cut the throttle.
Adrenaline is amazing stuff - best landing I ever made...
Next two laps were solid. As we stopped at the hold short line to reconfigure was take off, he took off his headset and said try doing three of those without me, opened the door and climbed out right here on the taxiway.
Somehow I didn't feel scared or particularly nervous. Mostly excited, with a little bit of "now don't F*** this up" echoing in my head.
I could write a bunch about the flight ( airport plows working some additional runway slush removal and untimely traffic entering the pattern which I could not locate visually) but I will leave it with this - the first landing was good, the second ugly (not unsafe, just not very pretty) and the third was fine - just as my CFI said it would go.
It was as great a feeling as everyone said it would be, as as different from what I imagined as can be..
Anyway, after years of lurking and reading other write-ups, I thought I would post mine. Thanks to all whose comments have helped me as I struggle to earn the title Pilot.
And for those who care, I had 18.4 hrs at the start of the day.
And damn it feels good
I know it is difficult not to. Making mistakes is how we learn.
I remember my first solo takeoff, looking to my right and seeing nobody sitting there...surreal!
