First Solo!!!

Posted by Helen Krasner Oct 21, 2008

You read of people 'going solo' in five hours, ten hours, that sort of thing. If it takes you longer, don't worry about it. It took me...48 flying hours! I had a real struggle with landings, an instructor I didn't get on with, and for a while I lost all confidence in my own abilities. And of course there was the notorious British weather to contend with!

But despite everything, I stuck at it and gradually things got better. And one day my instructor asked me to let him out, and told me to go and fly a circuit on my own.

Many people would have been nervous, but I wasn't at all worried, just relieved that I had finally reached that point. I made my radio calls as usual, taxied to the runway, and took off. The first thing I noticed was how well the aircraft climbed without the great lump of an instructor sat next to me. Then I was too busy to think of anything but flying, until I turned downwind, made a radio call, and did my pre-landing checks. At that point I looked across, and realised the other seat was empty. That was when it dawned on me - I had actually learned to fly!

The rest of the circuit was fairly routine. I turned base, then final, then landed...a fairly good landing, I seem to remember. Then there were congratulations from everyone, which was very nice, but to be honest, I wondered what all the fuss was about by then. Because I was already thinking ahead, wanting to do more, and to get my licence...

More next time...