calcapt

Man, you had one heck of a flight school. How did you find time for that and your preflight?

Loads you say?

Roll Inverted and Pull

I was a cadet flying out of Saufley Field in Pensacola. The instructor had me doing touch and gos at a grass field west of PNS. The field was called "8 Able". Anyway he told me to make a full stop, set the brakes, and then he secured the straps in the back seat (T 34B). He said "Make two touch and gos, then a full stop and pick me up...you`d better not leave me out here". I did as ordered..that was about my 9th or 10th flight. I really didn`t expect to solo that day. That was November 1958....48 years ago. I`ve logged 22,000 hours since then, but remember that day vividly...

vagabond

Wow, Roll, you've been flying longer than I've been alive. Didn't think that was possible! I doubt I will ever achieve 22,000 hours (still languishing at 14 hours), but it's something to think about.

Bubblemonkey, congratulations on your solo. I asked my instructor a couple days ago about it and he just stared at me as if I just escaped from the insane asylum. I took that to mean I'm far from ready.

One final thing, Bubble, I know your goal is to be SO with CX. I know you are going to make it, and I look forward to seeing you on my next trip to Hong Kong. Have you been there? It's the most dynamic and cosmopolitan city I've ever visited. Anyway, keep us apprised of your progress.

LeoSV

I was way more nervous on my first solo X-C than on my first solo. I could see the airport the whole time on the solo. What if I had gotten lost on my X-C? what if there was a pop up storm? what if somebody would come through a cloud illegally and not have time to avoid me? What if i had an inflight fire, I would have to go down 7000 feet to land on whatever was below me!! Ofcouse I don't worry about these things now, but thats what was going through my head then. My radios sucked and calling to open a flight plan was almost impossible. I was TERRIFIED the whole 50 mile trip!! My X-C was at KWDR, and it was a breeze..

UNDGUY

My first solo was in Grand Forks, ND. I was so nervous I was shaking. I closed the door and sat there for a minute or so just taking in the fact that I wasn't going to have anyone there to save me if I did something stupid. I was really nervous right up until I lifted off. Then I just said to myself, well I have no choice but to do it now. After that I was pretty calm. Each landing calmed me down a little more. Only had one moment worth mentioning. On my final landing, tower told me to "keep my base in tight" for a crj on final. I really hadn't done this before or heard this before but I figured it out. Then they told me to keep the speed up and get off the runway quickly so the crj didn't have to go around. NO PRESSURE! I did it and lived and the crj didn't have to go around. ATC told me I did a great job. I will never forget that day.

C152driver

Congratulations Bubblemonkey!

I remember the day as well as the plane. I soloed C-152 N-68172 on May 11, 1999. We did some pattern work and then I was instructed to let my CFI out at the FBO. His parting words were "Dont get slow in the turn to final" and I was off. I was so nervous that I bounced the first landing. The other two were fine. I got my shirt cut, and a couple of Polaroid photos of the event, one of which hung in the hallway of the FBO for several years. When it became clear that the school was going out of business due to bankruptcy earlier this year, I got that photo off of the wall and took it home with me. My CFI later gave me a hard time for doing 4 landings when I was only instructed to do 3....

calcapt

I soloed in N66187, a nice little C-150 that the FBO talked me into buying before I started flight training. I always believed the trim wheel was the autopilot until sometime later pointed out to me that my airplane never had an autopilot. It was lime green and I was sssooooo smitten by her. Over 10 years later my two boys and I were having a little picnic on the ground within spitting distance of a small grass strip in a small Oklahoma town. We were too poor to go to Taco Bell or McDonalds in those days, but wouldn't of wanted to even if we had the money. Our Sunday picnics at the airport was akin to going to church for us. It had been 10 plus years and 2000 miles away from the last time I saw my green eyed girl. With no warning, I looked up to see N66187 in the flare to a nice touchdown right before my eyes. She was taxied over and tied down by two guys, one of which was a student on a cross country flight with his instructor. Fighting back tears from this incredible chance encounter, I introduced myself to the young pilots and explained to them my story. As I was expecting a special shared moment between the three of us, I was brought back to a harsh and cruel reality by the instructor saying "That is a nice story buddy, but well, we gotta run - we is hungry” Even my boys were unimpressed by my old trusty girlfriend as she had seen better days and was in need of a good wash and wax, and perhaps a bit of paint here and there. Seems a flight school had assumed ownership sometime after I reluctantly let her go, and never gave her the treatment she was afforded as one of my girls. She was always treated like a lady by me, as all my airplanes have been, and was always the queen of the ball with all her Arrow, Bonanza and Centurion friends on the flight line. I never saw her again after that day and I could swear that I heard her saying to me as I walked off, "Please take me back home with you" as I know she missed me too. She will always hold a very special place in my heart as my first real love. I have had others since, but in one way or another, they all have fallen short of my beloved green eyed beauty.

wild4theuniform

Awwwwww. Isn't that sweet? Lucky girl to be have been treated so well by you. I'm sure she misses you too! Question -- You were a PIMP back then as well??!!

calcapt

No, I never attended or had time for pimp school until after I got my Commercial Pilot License. By doing it in that order, I could legally conduct my business in the air as well.

Most don't know that a pimp license is not a "one size fits all" certification. I have the ATP (Advanced Transportable Pimp) rating that most others fail to qualify for. My annual certification exams to maintain my proficiency are stories in and of themselves. Perhaps another time over a glass of chardonnay?

wild4theuniform

So, you ARE a member of the MHC. Make it Merlot or champagne and we have a deal!