Solo

[mvspring]

This may be an inappropriate question, but I am going to ask anyway. When you guys/girls were getting your PPL how many hours did you have before you soloed. Also, what kind of aircraft were you flying. I am just wandering.

mvspring

 

[JeremyAV8R]

I just flipped through the logbook. I had 19.4 hours, and it was in a Katana DV20-c1. It was an amazing flight. I remember, I was talking to myself, saying what the CFI would be saying if he were in the cockpit.

 

[RJlifer]

I was a real early starter so I had around forty hours by the time my sixteenth B-day rolled around and I could finally solo. It was a mighty long year before I could actually take my checkride.
My first solo was in a Piper Warrior. Geez, I still shudder when I think of that first solo landing. I should'a logged it as three or four.

 

[LR25]

Same thing basically,

I had a bunch before I solead becuase I was waiting to turn 16, I had well over a 100 when I did my checkride for the private.

I soloed a C-152, I will never forget that day, all the while during the long time of training there was always an instructor next to me, now I would be by myself, what a feeling. Then I went and did my driving test for my driver liscence, what a day.

On the other hand, my dad soloed in a C-150 back in 1966 in 4 hours or so. I have heard of alot of people that soloed in really short order from a long time ago.

 

[RightPedal]

I took my first lesson on my B-Day back in 1976. Soloed in 10.2 hr's in a Cherokee 140. I couldn't wait to get that right seat empty. Pumped gas and washed planes to pay for it all. Took my private pilot check ride in exactly eleven months from the Day I started. I wish I could do it all over again. It was a blast...Best time of my life!!

 

[DaveJ]

I did it after 9 hours in an AA-1B (Grumman Trainer) back in 1974. I couldn't believe how well it performed without the extra weight of my instructor.

 

[ILS JNKY]

solo

The month was april of last year or so, the date Friday the 13th weeeeeeeeeeeeeee, the aircraft an old 172n modle very loose controlls,,,,,,,,,, the time well who is a hurry any way 29 hrs.

 

[cyork25]

I soloed in 8.5 hours in a cherokee 140, i got my private in 5 weeks and 44 hours at my local FBO.

 

[Typhoon1244]

I am just wandering.

Well don't wander too far. We've been looking for you!

I had about thirty hours when I soloed...but hold on a minute! Let me explain...

All of my father's previous students had been airline pilots transitioning to the DC-9. I was his first Private Pilot student. I am also his oldest son. From my tenth hour, he was telling me I was ready...but he was just too nervous to kick me out of the nest so soon.

(At least, that's what he told me...)

By the way, it was a Cessna 150M, N714LF, at the Tennessee Sky Ranch (TN98). (Grass strips rule!)

 

[TgrPlt]

I think I had about 10 hours in a C-152. I remember it well because the Tower switched runways on after my second very firm touch and go. I don't think I've properly thanked them yet for that "helmet fire".

 

[bozz66]

I had 12.5 hours. Did it in a 152. I remember after the first takeoff thinking to myself, " OK, now you've done it! Now you gotta land this thing, you dummy!"

 

[eriknorth]

I just soloed about a month ago after 17 hours. I had 10 hours in a warrior and the other 7 in a 172. It was great- I got a tape of the radio transmissions from tower. That should be a great keepsake to let my kids hear someday.

 

[hobbsmeter]

January 1996...

...in a Cessna 152, 17 hours. Ahhh...those were the days

 

[laker inbound]

I soloed in 31.3 hours in a 1969 C-172K at Portland/Troutdale airport (TTD) in May of 2000. I made four landings, and would have gone for more, but it started to rain and I thought the better of it.

 

[mvspring]

Thanks to all of you for the responses. By the way I soloed my Phantom ultralight last weekend, but have yet to solo the Cessna. The CFI said I could do it, but the weather was sort of bad. I hope he doesn't use that excuse too much.

mvspring

 

[Aeronca]

I soloed 10/87 in a c-152 with around 10 hours. My father was my CFI. By far, it was the most meaningful moment of my flight training. Funny thing is that I now instruct in the very plane I soloed in 15 years ago.

 

[mvspring]

PS. I was just kidding when I said "I hope he doesn't use this excuse too much" I know the conditions were bad for a solo flight.


Also, on the main page, beside the thread title there is an a picture of an envelope with a hole in it. What does the little envelope mean?

 

[TXCAP4228]

I soloed in a 172 (5215K - I will never forget that airplane ) in just a little over 12 hours. The airport I soloed at closed a few years later and doesn't exist anymore - I am envious of other pilots who can go back to the same airport in the same airplane years later.