My First Solo!

My first solo flight - February 11, 2011 - Cessna 150 C-GSCP

Finally!

Yesterday was, as they said it would be, a day I'll never forget. I got a message from Eric, my instructor at about 6am confirming the lesson for 10am. I couldn't fall back asleep, predicting that this was probably the day I would get to fly solo.

I got to the airport, got the airplane ready, and we were off to fly some more touch-and-go circuits. After two or three circuits, Eric told me to land the airplane, and go back to the main apron (the part of the airport where airplanes are parked). I did so, and when we shut down, Eric asked me a few emergency questions.

When he felt I answered the satisfactorily, he reassured me that I've been flying the airplane all along, making most of the decisions, and to trust myself to make the right decisions, and with that, he stepped out of the airplane. He instructed me to fly one circuit and come back to park the plane.

It was a weird, but invigorating feeling to go through the start-up checklists by myself. I took my time to make sure I didn't miss anything on the checklist. As I turned the ignition on, and the propeller began to move, a smile came over my ugly face. This was it. I was going to fly an airplane on my own.

I got on the radios to ask for permission to taxi to the active runway for a circuit. Hearing my own voice in my headset actually comforted me. I think I was expecting to sound nervous, but instead my voice sounded calm and collected.

I got permission to taxi, and started taxiing down to the active runway.

When I got to the active runway, there must have been the heaviest traffic that I've encountered yet. there were two airplanes ahead of me waiting to take off, as well as about five airplanes lined up to land. This made for a lot of "holding" time, but it was good for me. It gave me a chance to double check everything and settle into the moment.

"Buttonville Tower, Sierra Charlie Papa ready for take-off Runway 33" I said.

"Sierra Charlie Papa, negative, hold for landing traffic" said ATC. Right, yet another airplane approaching to land. Some more time to think.

And then finally I heard "Sierra Charlie Papa cleared for take-off Runway 33".

I taxied onto the runway, and slowly pushed the throttle. I got to 60 Knots, pushed up, and there I was, in the air.

About 100 feet up, the reality of the situation hit me. I remember thinking to myself "Ok, I'm up in the air in an airplane. It's all up to me to get this thing down to the ground safely". And so I said to myself, out loud: "focus at the task at hand". And from there on, I was locked in and focused.

The flight itself was relatively smooth. I didn't have to follow any traffic on the approach. That would have made things a bit more nerve-wrecking, but I would have managed it as well. The approach and landing was very smooth - probably the best landing I had done that day.

I did it - and I managed to do it without injuring anyone or anything, and it felt incredible. Great success! Taxiing back to the main apron, I had a permanent smile on myself. All I could think to myself was "Wow, finally, I did it".

Eric came over to the airplane, and asked me how it was. I hugged him and said "It was a dream come true". It's not what he wanted to hear. It's not what anyone who asked me how my first solo flight was expects to hear. He wanted to hear how the flight went - technically. But the flight itself was good, smooth, uneventful - just the way I expected it to be. But what it really was, was a dream come true. It's the first thing I've said to anyone who's asked me the question since yesterday, because it's simply the truth.

This solo flight has been a long time coming. A really long time. This winter has been a write-off for flying so far. Had everything gone smoothly, I could have flown this solo flight a couple of months ago. But I'm starting to realize that things hardly ever go smoothly when you deal with airplanes, and flight. Still, being up in the air makes up for all the troubles you go through on the ground.

I have gotten lots of congratulatory messages on Facebook and what not over the past 24 hours. My parents were ecstatic to hear about my accomplishment. It's felt really good. The road is still long and difficult from hear on. I've realized a dream, but I have bigger dreams for myself regarding aviation that will be harder to realize. But the support I've gotten from my friends and family, and my girlfriend, has been amazing so far. I have a lot to be thankful for.

So thank you! See you back here soon.