Tom M Posted July 7, 2006 Posted July 7, 2006 I am just passing my 20 hour mark in the R22 and wondering at what point others have made their first solo flight. I am targeting to do so before 30 hours... is that realistic from what others have done? Tom Quote
rotor91 Posted July 7, 2006 Posted July 7, 2006 Tom, I solo'd around 23 hours, BUT everyone's learning curve is different. Also, it depends how frequently you fly too. Then there's my buddy, who has 65 hours, but hasn't solo'd! BUT, he's switched instructors 3 times, ran out of money, got it back, but he wasn't in a hurry...obviously! Now that he passed his written, he's starting back again, so maybe he'll solo pretty soon! I hope.....or take up sailing instead! You'll get frusturated, but just hang in there.....that 6th Pilots Sensory....will just come to you one day! R91 Quote
Gunner Posted July 7, 2006 Posted July 7, 2006 I am just passing my 20 hour mark in the R22 and wondering at what point others have made their first solo flight. I am targeting to do so before 30 hours... is that realistic from what others have done? Tom flew solo in the R22 @ 28.7 hours...(just looked in my logbook) It is certainly doable... Good luck and let us know how it goes! Quote
Goldy Posted July 8, 2006 Posted July 8, 2006 Tom- A year from now, you wont care if you solo'ed at 30 hours or 40 or whatever....do it when you know youre ready, and your CFI knows youre ready. But, for the record, I was at 28 I think. Lucky to fly 2 times in the same month, it takes a bit longer to remember what the long skinny thing does !! Rotor- Rob, glad to hear your buddy is flying again....I was up tonight, great weather, maybe I'll run into him in the valley ( well..not literally...bumping helicopters can have adverse effects !) c ya. Goldy Quote
Grant B Posted July 9, 2006 Posted July 9, 2006 Ditto what Goldy said. I did my first solo at 40 hours, but I was going for the Commercial and we were too busy doing cross country and having lot's of fun, so the first solo wasn't a hurry for any reason. Best to keep things smooth, safe, communicate how you feel to your instructor and follow his or her advice. It isn't a competition how you get there - just do get there - and get there safely. Quote
West Coaster Posted July 9, 2006 Posted July 9, 2006 First solo in the R22 at 13 hours. It's still my favorite flight of all time. Quote
justfly Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 Tom- A year from now, you wont care if you solo'ed at 30 hours or 40 or whatever....do it when you know youre ready, and your CFI knows youre ready.AMEN! You won't care or probably even remember the hours. You'd sure remember if you push to do it in a certain number of hours and try before you're ready! ...it takes a bit longer to remember what the long skinny thing does !!What the heck does the "long skinny thing" do?? ...bumping helicopters can have adverse effects !An astonishing tale of "trading paint" and surviving!! N206AC & N5735A Quote
Goldy Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 AMEN! You won't care or probably even remember the hours. You'd sure remember if you push to do it in a certain number of hours and try before you're ready! What the heck does the "long skinny thing" do?? An astonishing tale of "trading paint" and surviving!! N206AC & N5735A The long skinny thing I was speaking of makes you go up and down....I guess that statement could be interpreted a few different ways. NTSB report is unbelieveable ! First, I cannot see two birds both with main rotor strikes and both land safely..almost unheard of ! But wasnt one at fault? Why were they on two different freq's and yet the NTSB mentions no problem with this?? They are either in one airspace or the other, right? Isnt that what those funny blue and magenta circles are around airports? Am I missing something here ? This is the exact scenario I run into in several areas of L.A....aircraft converging in the same area, talking on 3 different freqs...very scary sometimes. For those in L.A. does Newhall Pass ring any bells ? Quote
justfly Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 ...NTSB report is unbelieveable ! First, I cannot see two birds both with main rotor strikes and both land safely..almost unheard of ! But wasnt one at fault? Why were they on two different freq's and yet the NTSB mentions no problem with this?? They are either in one airspace or the other, right? Isnt that what those funny blue and magenta circles are around airports? Am I missing something here ? This is the exact scenario I run into in several areas of L.A....aircraft converging in the same area, talking on 3 different freqs...very scary sometimes...Yeah, nearly inconceivable isn't it? It can't come ANY closer than that! The ENG aircraft was on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) for Lake Union (122.90), an area of a high concentration of float-plane activity he was passing through just north of (and outside) Boeing Field's class Delta airspace. The other helicopter had just departed Boeing, cleared their airspace, and switched to Seattle Radio (122.50), presumably to open his flight plan? I think the NTSB's report emphasizes the fact that they were on different frequencies to point out that contributing factor, but doesn't assign fault based on that because both pilots were on appropriate frequencies. Quote
HowlingSeagull Posted July 12, 2006 Posted July 12, 2006 Hi,My first solo was at 23 hrs, but honestly if I had to have performed an auto I don't think the 22 would have fared too well.I just got my PPH at 53hrs, so there was no reason why I couldn't have waited longer.It was a feeling I'll never forget!,buzzing the instructer was fun too!.Good luck,Sam Quote
Tiger Mike Posted July 12, 2006 Posted July 12, 2006 I was suppoesed to solo today. But the wind was gusting to 23 knots. I have a little over 16 hours right now. In the S-300CBi that is. Quote
67november Posted July 12, 2006 Posted July 12, 2006 I still haven't soloed. well tell your student to get out Quote
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