Soloed my first primary student today!

akite

akite

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
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293
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Ogden, UT
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A. Kite
I had a great day at the airport. I did seven flights with two students. My first student is the only primary student that I have had since I got my CFI-G this January, most of my students are private pilot transitions. He was ready to solo two weeks ago but was unable to commit the time needed that particular day. Today, two weeks later, we knocked the rust off on the first two flights, then proceeded on for two more perfect flights. I was ready to get out and asked him how he felt about this, to which he replied "let's do one more to be certain". So I successfully performed my ballasting duties for one more flight. He was satisfied with his performance, as was I, and ready to go.

We completed the required endorsements and made ready for another launch. I watched as he did a perfect take-off and tow from my perspective. He came back in to land and stopped right on the money. He was very excited and noticed the reduced take-off roll required before lift off. I watched with excitement as he completed two more flights with the last one from a higher tow so he could have some time to enjoy. After the requisit pictures for Soaring Magazine he stayed to run the wing and tie-down the glider after my first training flight with a new transition pilot, that is what I love about the club atmosphere, most members are eager to help out when they can. MM put an interesting thought in my head after i had phoned him to gloat, I think I may have been more excited than when I soloed for the first time!
Also so I dont get slapped Jenny says Hi!
 
I guess I was too excited to get this posted, maybe I should have put it in the flight training thread.
 
That's great, Adam! Congrats to both of you!
 
Congrats Adam. Great Job!! by the way you are now dubbed A3. What is involved in a Glider solo? Is it like a SEL solo, meaning just fly the pattern? For that matter do gliders fly the pattern? Most I have seen do straight ins. Also if you want this moved to flight training just pm me and I'll get it done.
 
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congrats adam and matt!

adamz - first glider solo usually involves a tow to 2 or 3000 feet, glide back down, fly the pattern and land. yes gliders usually do make some sort of pattern although we have to be pretty flexible about it depending on how poorly we plan to enter the pattern so that we can still make it to the runway. Strangely I don't think I've ever seen a glider make a straight in landing.
 
tonycondon said:
congrats adam and matt!

adamz - first glider solo usually involves a tow to 2 or 3000 feet, glide back down, fly the pattern and land. yes gliders usually do make some sort of pattern although we have to be pretty flexible about it depending on how poorly we plan to enter the pattern so that we can still make it to the runway. Strangely I don't think I've ever seen a glider make a straight in landing.
Click to expand...

Tony my experience and observations are very limited. Actually limited to one spring day up at Blairstown. I guess straight in is not a good term they actually circled down into final but the few I saw didn't really fly a pattern.
 
The first few glider solos are as Tony said, usually one high tow and a few pattern tows. My student was going to take a high tow on the first flight but on the way up he decided that he didnt want anything too different than what we had already done so he took a pattern tow instead for the first two and then a high one at the end. I try to fly a pattern whenever possible just to make it easier for the rest of the traffic to understand but the patterns are always highly fluid, even when we dont mess up and enter the pattern at the right time and place we sometimes encounter pretty heavy sink that requires a pattern mod.
 
Congrats Adam! Now fill out the Silver badge paperwork...
 
I am on it Pete, I flew with my OO the other day so I got his signature.
 
Congrats Adam... the first one is always the toughest.. but working out a few CFI kinks with "add-on" students really helps.

Your student asked for one more with you.. "just to be sure".. I'm fine with that..
But when it turns into.. just one more dual.. please.. then I tell them.. I'm not flying again with you today.. I think you're ready.. it's time to go it alone.. then get out of the glider and start buckling up the seat belts. They'll either fly.. or they won't.

We normally make a show of it.. tossing the instructors seat cushions out for everyone around to see.
 
We only toss out the instructors seat cushions if the student REALLY scares the instructor. Easier to buy new then to clean them.
 
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