First SOLO...Finally !! --- A beautiful day in Miami, FL

[zemogman]

YES...with me it's always a story...

 

So there we were, yesterday afternoon, at the "old closed" in N.Perry Airport (HWO) after our first pattern together and my instructor says..."What's today's date?" as he pulls out my student endorsement and signs it right there. I should have known what he was up to...cause he had his camera with him. He looks at me and says "Are you ready to take her for a traffic pattern?". I said "Absolutely".

 

I imagined this moment many times...In my imagination I became much more nervous than I actually did. I felt ready!! He told me to bring it to a hover, do a 360, and give him a nod as he stood outside if I felt everything was good for a pattern. I picked it up...left skid low was weird but I had heard all about it and I compensated correctly...did the 360 clearing turn and gave him a nod.

 

"Pressures & Temps in the green, fuel sufficient, boost on, lights off" and off to the North I went...no instructor at my side and here came my first curve ball. The center seat storage compartment, that is tucked in to the center seat back, released from the velcro, and plopped down right on the colletive (the center collective to my right --- I was flying left seat). I felt the hit on my left hand on my collective. That wasn't much of a big deal...and I reacted much like if a dog ran out in front of my car on a wet road...I didn't flinch!! (Sorry Puppy...)

 

However...0n the inside of that console was a large wad of paper-towel bouncing around because of the wind. I was only 100 to 150 AGL and climbing when this occured. I kept glancing back at the paper-towel telling it not to go anywhere. I was concerned that if it flew out it might get sucked into the scroll fan, get caught in the tail rotor...I don't know...but my mind was coming up with dangerous situations that this wad of paper towels could create. I could only count on my common-sense because I lacked the experience of what would actually happen if the paper flew out the door opening (doors were off). I stayed calm...continued my climb to 300ft AGL staying in between the light poles of the baseball fields below and began my right turn crosswind when clear. The paper was now ready to fly out the window...now that the wind was from the left door opening. I thought the risk of a problem was significant so I carefully applied the collective friction (wanting to deal with it before being downwind) and reached across with my left hand...concentrating really hard on flying and the instruments and lifted the console back to the closed position. I even managed to velcro it; on my side only. It was a tense moment to say the least...

 

I then turned downwind (500ft --- 70kts) and notice a beautiful sunset to my right...and I as looked for a moment...I realized that the right seat was empty and that's when it hit me..."I'm flying this thing all be myself".

 

I did my pre-landing checks...turned for base and did a normal approach (which did become a little steep half way through) but was relatively OK. I set the A/C down and rolled to idle...(told the instructor all about the center console)...he cleared all the loose papers and paper towels from the console and secured it properly and said..."You ready for another one?"...I said "Absolutely..."

 

The next one was just as amazing...without the "inflight loose paper towel emergency" of course. Once we went back to the ramp and we got out of the A/C...I was smiling from ear to ear. It was incredible...It was mind-boggling...It was awesome...It was also very humbling to understand that when you are up there...YOU have to decide what was the most important thing to do at every and any given moment. I feel like I made a pretty decent decision...for my first time having to deal with anything in the a/c by myself. I could only imagine having to do a 180 auto on my first SOLO because of some stupid paper towel get stuck somewhere it shouldn't. Whether that danger was real or not...I believed it was, and did what I thought was best. I will forever check the center storage compartment for "debris" for this point on.

 

All in all...It was what exactly what I've wanted since I can remember and I look forward to the next one...

 

I know it's a long post...I just had to tell the story to the VR family. I am very grateful to everybody on this website for their sharing of knowledge and encouragement...

 

Hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did...

 

Here are some pics of my first hover...

 

 

 

[deanathpc]

YES...with me it's always a story...

 

So here we are at the "old closed" in N.Perry Airport (HWO) after our first pattern together and my instructor says..."What's today's date?" as he pulls out my student endorsement and signs it right there. I should have known what he was up to...cause he had his camera with him. He looks at me and says "Are you ready to take her for a traffic pattern?". I said "Absolutely".

 

I imagined this moment many times...In my imagination I became much more nervous than I actually did. I felt ready!! He told me to bring it to a hover, do a 360, and give him a nod as he stood outside if I felt everything was good for a pattern. I picked it up...left skid low was weird but I had heard all about it and I compensated correctly...did the 360 clearing turn and gave him a nod.

 

"Pressures & Temps in the green, fuel sufficient, boost on, lights off" and off to the North I went...no instructor at my side and here came my first curve ball. The center seat storage compartment, that is tucked in to the center seat back, released from the velcro, and plopped down right on the colletive (the center collective to my right --- I was flying left seat). I felt the hit on my left hand on my collective. That wasn't much of a big deal...and I reacted much like if a dog ran out in front of my car on a wet road...I didn't flinch!! (Sorry Puppy...)

 

However...0n the inside of that console was a large wad of paper-towel bouncing around because of the wind. I was only 100 to 150 AGL and climbing when this occured. I kept glancing back at the paper-towel telling it not to go anywhere. I was concerned that if it flew out it might get sucked into the scroll fan, get caught in the tail rotor...I don't know...but my mind was coming up with dangerous situations that this wad of paper towels could create. I could only count on my common-sense because I lacked the experience of what would actually happen if the paper flew out the door opening (doors were off). I stayed calm...continued my climb to 300ft AGL staying in between the light poles of the baseball fields below and began my right turn crosswind when clear. The paper was now ready to fly out the window...now that the wind was from the left door opening. I thought the risk of a problem was significant so I carefully applied the collective friction (wanting to deal with it before being downwind) and reached across with my left hand...concentrating really hard on flying and the instruments and lifted the console back to the closed position. I even managed to velcro it; on my side only. It was a tense moment to say the least...

 

I then turned downwind (500ft --- 70kts) and notice a beatiful sunset to my right...and I as looked for a moment...I realized that the right seat was empty and that's when it hit me..."I'm flying this thing all be myself".

 

I did my pre-landing checks...turned for base and did a normal approach (which did become a little steep half way through) but was relatively OK. I set the A/C down and rolled to idle...(told the instructor all about the center console)...he cleared all the loose papers and paper towels from the console and secured it properly and said..."You ready for another one?"...I said "Absolutely..."

 

The next one was just as amazing...without the "inflight loose paper towel emergency" of course. Once we went back to the ramp and we got out of the A/C...I was smiling from ear to ear. It was incredible...It was mind-boggling...It was awesome...It was also very humbling to understand that when you are up there...YOU have to decide what was the most important thing to do at every and any given moment. I feel like I made a pretty decent decision...for my first time having to deal with anything in the a/c by myself. I could only imagine having to do a 180 auto on my first SOLO because of some stupid paper towel get stuck somewhere it shouldn't. Whether that danger was real or not...I believed it was, and di what I thought was best. I will forever check the center storage compartment for "debris" for this point on.

 

All in all...It was what exactly what I've wanted since I can remember and I look forward to the next one...

 

I know it's a long post...I just had to tell the story to the VR family. I am very grateful to everybody on this website for their sharing knowledge and encouragement...

 

Hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did...

 

Here are some pics of my first hover...

 

 

 

 

Let me be the first to say CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Since I haven't started training yet I'm taking all of this in so when the time comes I can hopefully remember this all in case it does happen to me!

[montu]

Sounded like you have a great time other than the paper towel wad from hell. I should be doing solo patterns real soon. I cant wait. Good Job man.

 

Jordan

[Sparks]

Congratulations!

 

I am going to pm you in a moment regarding North Perry and the training that you are doing.

[RotorRunner]

Congratulations!

 

I had a Learjet come in while I was doing my first solo and he decided to back-taxi down the ENTIRE runway just as I turned Final. He had a perfectly good parallel taxiway to use, but for some reason decided not to use it.

 

Looks like a nice 300C. What school are you attending?

 

RR

[zemogman]

Looks like a nice 300C. What school are you attending?

 

RR

 

 

Pelican Flight Training --- They have 3 Schweizer 300 C's...this particular one is their instrument ship and it's very smooth!

[Copterpilot213]

Hey congrats, it's always good to learn an important lesson without having something bad happen! I think it's crazy that the dang thing is secured by velcro in the first place!

 

Good job keeping your head in the game, what did your instructor say about the way you handled the paper towel incident?

[BOATFIXERGUY]

WELL DONE!

[Goldy]

Great job as well !

 

And yes, had that paper towel flown out and struck the tail rotor you would be landing very quickly....and most likely a run on landing at that !

 

Those skids look pretty darn level, just watch out for those towers on downwind !

 

Great job, keep learning. Goldy

[sneakin]

Congrads......You will always remember that flight.

[LB11]

Congrats! I took a demo flight with a guy from Italy at pelican, is he still there? How do you like the training so far?

[FlyNHighNFast]

Congrats Man! I can truly say. I know exactly how you feel.

 

M.

[Sparker]

Congrats-

 

 

You are an awesome story teller! I'll sit down for a story from you anytime.....

[zemogman]

Congrats! I took a demo flight with a guy from Italy at pelican, is he still there? How do you like the training so far?

 

Thanks...

 

It might be my instructor...Stefano Leonelli...he's great! Skinny guy...black short hair....maybe it was him on that demo flight.

 

With him; it's been great...especially at the beginning...because I always knew when I was flying; with my first instructor I was never really sure. My current instructor has always allowed me to make tolerable mistakes...and I've learned a lot that way. I'm enjoying my training there.