First solo, should I push myself into it?
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Here's my 2p:
If your FI says - "off you go" and you don't feel it's right, then that is your call. That was exactly my situation, before I went solo in a glider. When the instructor said OK, off you go, I just said no thanks, not today.
Next day I went solo, and felt totally on top of it.
I had no problem when I migrated to an aeroplane with an engine, as a result!
But there are 2 different cases here - one is where the FI says go, but the student - for whatever reason - isn't confident. The other (and I assume rarer, from the posts to date) is where the FI waits for the Pu/t to indicate their readiness.
WEll done DP, BTW!
SD
If your FI says - "off you go" and you don't feel it's right, then that is your call. That was exactly my situation, before I went solo in a glider. When the instructor said OK, off you go, I just said no thanks, not today.
Next day I went solo, and felt totally on top of it.
I had no problem when I migrated to an aeroplane with an engine, as a result!
But there are 2 different cases here - one is where the FI says go, but the student - for whatever reason - isn't confident. The other (and I assume rarer, from the posts to date) is where the FI waits for the Pu/t to indicate their readiness.
WEll done DP, BTW!
SD
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Digital.poet: I fully take your point and I must admit that a few minutes after making my post, I did realise that I forgot one point that I also intended to make: Throughout my instructing career, I have always looked for solutions to problems some of which were unconventional, but in the circumstances, they worked - after all what would you do when a trial lesson candidate advised you in his preflight brief that he was terrified of flying and for the first time ever he had been persuaded to go on a Spanish holiday. His trial lesson was the only thing he could think of to try and assuage his fears. He certainly didn't get a standard trial lesson, but left looking forward to his holiday. In your case, I cannot make a definite decision as to what would have been the best as I wasn't sitting in the right hand seat. I can only refer to generalities. Your instructor was there, made a decision which eventually had the desired effect which is the most important thing! Welcome to the world of aviation!
P.P.
P.P.
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Thanks again for all the replies. A quick update if anyone is interested....
Welll, I just got back from the airfield. Today I completed an hour of solo circuits with T&Gs in two sessions. I had two hours booked with my instructor. The first hour we went up and he did some circuits with me to check I was still 'in the game'. The first landing was horrible.... flared way to early and landed with a jolt and a screetching stall warner.
Next couple were better. So my instructor jumped out and told me to do 4 circuits.
First circuit, again landing was awful, I hit my head on the roof and wondered whether I should just give it up for now, but decided to have another go and judge based on that. I was a little more nervous today than on my first solo because there was 2 other aircraft in the circuit and I was hearing them call downwind around the same time as me, although always behind me. I completed the second circuit and the landing was better to opted to carry on. At this point I heard both of ther two aircraft call for a full stop landing.... was it something I said?
The fourth landing was the best of the 4 so it was nice to finish on an up. I taxied back in and parked up for a short (10 minute) break before starting again.
After the break my instructor came back out with me, he had seen the dark clouds and thought that there was some rain coming. He was right, I did one normal circuit and hit some heavy rain as I turned onto base leg. The approach wasn't much fun, would be nice to have some wipers at that point.
The next circuit my instructor demonstrated a glide approach. This kept us out of the rapidly receding rain on a short downwind leg. After making it look easy, it was my turn. I did a wonderful demonstration on how to
it right up on the first attempt, but the second one was better. The third and I managed a nice safe landing with a glide all the way (the earlier two required power at the end to make it to the threshold).
The rain had cleared from the circuit area so my instructor jumped out and said, "Ok, you are on your own, have fun.... do 6 or 7 circuits, I will see you when you get back!". So off I went.
First circuit was uneventful, but the second take off scared me a little as I shot over to the left immediately after take off. I banked slightly to get back on track but I hated it, I felt too close to the ground to be pissing around with banking. I wondered what had caused the effect.
The approach for this circuit was sloppy, I was way too high. I took full flap and I was coming down, but there was quite a bit of buffeting around and I was really uncomfortable with the high approach angle and all the yawing around. I figured I could probably land it safely (I was starting to lose the extra height) but it just didn't feel safe given some of the mistakes I had been making on regular landing during the day.... I went around.
As I set up for the approach on my third circuit, I suddenly saw the cause of that sudden shift on the first take off. The wind had shifted and there was now a reasonable crosswind from right to left. I mentally kicked myself for not realizing such and obvious thing earlier. The loss of a headwind component would have been a cause of not being able to get down so easily last time around also. I made a mental note that I am supposed to notice these things, and not miss the obvious. This time I landed.... and did something I probably shouldn't have done.... I applied full power and off I went. I think, in honesty, the right call would have been to make this one a full stop. This time though, I was prepared for the drift, and executed a reasonable crosswind takeoff correcting for drift with slight bank and rudder. As I climbed away maintaining a nice straight line down the runway, I felt a touch of pride, but decided enough was enough. I am nowhere near experienced enough to be screwing around in an increasing crosswind, this circuit was going to be a full stop landing.
I managed the landing ok, not great, but ok. I did feel one wheel touch before the other, which was something, but it wasn't so smooth.
I taxied back in, and my instructor greeted me, "Bit more 'fun' this time huh?". "Yes, I didn't notice the crosswind until the third circuit", "Well, you made the right descision to stop when you did, if you hadn't I would have been on the radio calling you in!". I was half expecting to get a ticking off for not stopping on the circuit before. My instructor said that I could have done, and that would have probably have been the right choice, but I made my descision and I handled the conditions well. I smiled.
An hour logged as P1 today! And to think, this time last week, I wondered if I would ever be soloing!
Welll, I just got back from the airfield. Today I completed an hour of solo circuits with T&Gs in two sessions. I had two hours booked with my instructor. The first hour we went up and he did some circuits with me to check I was still 'in the game'. The first landing was horrible.... flared way to early and landed with a jolt and a screetching stall warner.
Next couple were better. So my instructor jumped out and told me to do 4 circuits.
First circuit, again landing was awful, I hit my head on the roof and wondered whether I should just give it up for now, but decided to have another go and judge based on that. I was a little more nervous today than on my first solo because there was 2 other aircraft in the circuit and I was hearing them call downwind around the same time as me, although always behind me. I completed the second circuit and the landing was better to opted to carry on. At this point I heard both of ther two aircraft call for a full stop landing.... was it something I said?
The fourth landing was the best of the 4 so it was nice to finish on an up. I taxied back in and parked up for a short (10 minute) break before starting again.
After the break my instructor came back out with me, he had seen the dark clouds and thought that there was some rain coming. He was right, I did one normal circuit and hit some heavy rain as I turned onto base leg. The approach wasn't much fun, would be nice to have some wipers at that point.
The next circuit my instructor demonstrated a glide approach. This kept us out of the rapidly receding rain on a short downwind leg. After making it look easy, it was my turn. I did a wonderful demonstration on how to
it right up on the first attempt, but the second one was better. The third and I managed a nice safe landing with a glide all the way (the earlier two required power at the end to make it to the threshold). The rain had cleared from the circuit area so my instructor jumped out and said, "Ok, you are on your own, have fun.... do 6 or 7 circuits, I will see you when you get back!". So off I went.
First circuit was uneventful, but the second take off scared me a little as I shot over to the left immediately after take off. I banked slightly to get back on track but I hated it, I felt too close to the ground to be pissing around with banking. I wondered what had caused the effect.
The approach for this circuit was sloppy, I was way too high. I took full flap and I was coming down, but there was quite a bit of buffeting around and I was really uncomfortable with the high approach angle and all the yawing around. I figured I could probably land it safely (I was starting to lose the extra height) but it just didn't feel safe given some of the mistakes I had been making on regular landing during the day.... I went around.
As I set up for the approach on my third circuit, I suddenly saw the cause of that sudden shift on the first take off. The wind had shifted and there was now a reasonable crosswind from right to left. I mentally kicked myself for not realizing such and obvious thing earlier. The loss of a headwind component would have been a cause of not being able to get down so easily last time around also. I made a mental note that I am supposed to notice these things, and not miss the obvious. This time I landed.... and did something I probably shouldn't have done.... I applied full power and off I went. I think, in honesty, the right call would have been to make this one a full stop. This time though, I was prepared for the drift, and executed a reasonable crosswind takeoff correcting for drift with slight bank and rudder. As I climbed away maintaining a nice straight line down the runway, I felt a touch of pride, but decided enough was enough. I am nowhere near experienced enough to be screwing around in an increasing crosswind, this circuit was going to be a full stop landing.
I managed the landing ok, not great, but ok. I did feel one wheel touch before the other, which was something, but it wasn't so smooth.
I taxied back in, and my instructor greeted me, "Bit more 'fun' this time huh?". "Yes, I didn't notice the crosswind until the third circuit", "Well, you made the right descision to stop when you did, if you hadn't I would have been on the radio calling you in!". I was half expecting to get a ticking off for not stopping on the circuit before. My instructor said that I could have done, and that would have probably have been the right choice, but I made my descision and I handled the conditions well. I smiled.
An hour logged as P1 today! And to think, this time last week, I wondered if I would ever be soloing!
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d-p
Just picked on this thread from last week and want to add my congrats on your first solo.
Mine was 32 yrs ago at Hamble, and my lasting memory was the rate of climb sans instructor. Come on Ppruners, admit it...we all had sly chuckle to ourselves just after the downwind call.
By the way....at 6' 7" - interested in what a/c you have been flying !!??
Just picked on this thread from last week and want to add my congrats on your first solo.
Mine was 32 yrs ago at Hamble, and my lasting memory was the rate of climb sans instructor. Come on Ppruners, admit it...we all had sly chuckle to ourselves just after the downwind call.
By the way....at 6' 7" - interested in what a/c you have been flying !!??
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Fake Sealion (great handle btw!).
Thanks for the congrats.
My school has 2 172's available so I fly those. It's still not completely comfortable, but nothing is, there are not too many cars that I can sit up straight in either. You just adapt after a while. Actually there is a guy who works at the airfield on the A/G radio who is about my height and he will hop in and fly pretty much anything. It is more than a little amusing to see him emerge from a 152, it definately can't be comfortable.
Thanks for the congrats.
My school has 2 172's available so I fly those. It's still not completely comfortable, but nothing is, there are not too many cars that I can sit up straight in either. You just adapt after a while. Actually there is a guy who works at the airfield on the A/G radio who is about my height and he will hop in and fly pretty much anything. It is more than a little amusing to see him emerge from a 152, it definately can't be comfortable.
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Many congratulations on the solo, digital.poet. Your instructor's attitude to soloing was a little unusual, but you clearly sorted it out and did a great job.
After I got first solo done, I went backwards for a while, really not getting things together and having some bad luck with the weather too. Don't be disheartened if that happens - it'll all come together again in no time!
safe landings.
mtw
After I got first solo done, I went backwards for a while, really not getting things together and having some bad luck with the weather too. Don't be disheartened if that happens - it'll all come together again in no time!
safe landings.
mtw
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Let's be clear, no matter how it is phrased, it is *always* the student's choice to do their first solo flight. It doesn't matter was the FI does, they cannot force the students to take off if they are not sat next to them (nor should they, even if they are). So it makes no difference, because up until yesterday, when I did feel ready, I would have refused any attempt to send me solo by my instructor. I feel lucky that I have a very experienced instructor who would have understood, rather than one who would have refused to continue my training due to my 'non-complience'.
, lol! And I mean in years, not experience BTW) to our first solo, I think, are meaning this:IF it is left to the student to decide when he/she is ready to go solo, I would GUARANTEE that a vast majority would not. Ever.
There are the tragedies, such as the young fellow made to go-round and turn etc, but there are also probably far more involving experienced pilots.
I don't think that any good instructor would suggest a first solo before the student was ready - and I would fully agree that if any student didn't feel ready or comfortable, then by all means don't go.
But I don't think it's right for the instructor to wait for the student to indicate he's ready.
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Kiwi Chick,
Fair point. I understand.
Please appreciate though, my instructor didn't just wait for me to tell him I was ready, infact, he told me I was ready and then I told him I wasn't. I think that there are two little gauges, marked 'skill' and 'confidence' and both have to reach a certain point before soloing. My instructor indicated that he believe both were at the required level, but skill is a far easier thing for an instructor to judge than confidence (yes, it really is! I know we can get into, "A good instructor can tell you are confident enough yada yada", but some people, myself included, do a reasonable job of projecting confidence, so that what we are feeling inside, isn't always the same as what we are projecting outside.... for some people, this is their *job*), I wasn't confident enough, I told him this and he told me to tell him when I felt that I was. I actually don't think he would have waited forever.... and if I had gotten to the point I am now and still hadn't soloed, I would be expecting to receive some more nudging in that direction. It was 'grace period' for me to make my mind up, before he did it for me, nothing more.
I am still very nervous about my solo time. It's fun, but in an hour of solo time today I made quite a few mistakes, things I forget, things that even seemed quite dangerous (like suddenly realizing that during turn onto final that speed was getting far too low). There were times when I was definately thinking, "Should I be doing this?".
Fair point. I understand.
Please appreciate though, my instructor didn't just wait for me to tell him I was ready, infact, he told me I was ready and then I told him I wasn't. I think that there are two little gauges, marked 'skill' and 'confidence' and both have to reach a certain point before soloing. My instructor indicated that he believe both were at the required level, but skill is a far easier thing for an instructor to judge than confidence (yes, it really is! I know we can get into, "A good instructor can tell you are confident enough yada yada", but some people, myself included, do a reasonable job of projecting confidence, so that what we are feeling inside, isn't always the same as what we are projecting outside.... for some people, this is their *job*), I wasn't confident enough, I told him this and he told me to tell him when I felt that I was. I actually don't think he would have waited forever.... and if I had gotten to the point I am now and still hadn't soloed, I would be expecting to receive some more nudging in that direction. It was 'grace period' for me to make my mind up, before he did it for me, nothing more.
I am still very nervous about my solo time. It's fun, but in an hour of solo time today I made quite a few mistakes, things I forget, things that even seemed quite dangerous (like suddenly realizing that during turn onto final that speed was getting far too low). There were times when I was definately thinking, "Should I be doing this?".
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I feel I should step in with DP to the defence of his instructor here. I have uniquely had very many instructors, both civilian and RAF CFS (through the Air Cadets). Some have been good and some bad, but two of these stand head and shoulders over the rest: one was Leigh Hood, of the Air Cadets Central Gliding School and the other was DP's instructor.
He sent me for my 2nd 'first' solo (which was over 10 years after my proper 1st) and there was no question in that he called the shots. Similarly a couple of weeks ago (and with a bit more solo time by now) south of Headcorn practising steep turns and PFLs in the Cub he was telling me how to get back to the airfield using external visual cues and the chart. I thought, "Bejays, he's going to send me out here on my own!" A moment later, he confirmed that and said, "Do you feel ok to come out on your own to do some more of this?" Does a wild man cr@p in the bush?! And then the butterflies started. We went back and had a quick lunch. I didn't have time to get too nervous but boy, I was definitely apprehensive. But the overriding thing was that I thought, "If he's got the confidence in me to do it, then I can do it" And that governed events.
Still full of butterflies I went out, did the checks, started up and went off. The nerves didn't really go until I was taxying out - by then I felt more in charge of myself.
He's a great instructor, for lots of different reasons; and I think he was sensitive to DP's own particular persona and how it may either help or hinder the process.
Kev.
He sent me for my 2nd 'first' solo (which was over 10 years after my proper 1st) and there was no question in that he called the shots. Similarly a couple of weeks ago (and with a bit more solo time by now) south of Headcorn practising steep turns and PFLs in the Cub he was telling me how to get back to the airfield using external visual cues and the chart. I thought, "Bejays, he's going to send me out here on my own!" A moment later, he confirmed that and said, "Do you feel ok to come out on your own to do some more of this?" Does a wild man cr@p in the bush?! And then the butterflies started. We went back and had a quick lunch. I didn't have time to get too nervous but boy, I was definitely apprehensive. But the overriding thing was that I thought, "If he's got the confidence in me to do it, then I can do it" And that governed events.
Still full of butterflies I went out, did the checks, started up and went off. The nerves didn't really go until I was taxying out - by then I felt more in charge of myself.
He's a great instructor, for lots of different reasons; and I think he was sensitive to DP's own particular persona and how it may either help or hinder the process.
Kev.
