Taking pictures durring first solo???

[Clear-&aMillion]

I want to do this, but I can already see people saying "That's a dangerous distraction". "Not on your first solo", etc... Any thoughts???

 

[J.C.Airborne]

I want to do this, but I can already see people saying "That's a dangerous distraction". "Not on your first solo", etc... Any thoughts???

not on your VERY first solo...try it on your second or third! There is alot of activity in the airplane your first solo.

 

[njcapt]

Let somebody else take pictures of you from the ground, you've got enough to be worrying about.

 

[MOONBEAM]

I'd hold off on that one for a while. You'll have enough other things to be thinking about. I've seen some people mounting a camera, but I still wouldn't recomend doing that for while. I'm sure your instructor would agree.

 

[Clear-&aMillion]

Okay I can live with that. Thanks.

 

[BankAccount=0$]

I took pictures on my first solo X-C. Somewhere between DED and DAB there in the picture was an airplane that I obviously did NOT see. It's kinda hard to practice see and avoid when looking through a camera viewfinder. Take the pics when you're not flying by yourself, that's my advice......or wait untill you're an airline pilot, plenty of time to snap pics on 2+ hour legs........

 

[Lead Sled]

I want to do this, but I can already see people saying "That's a dangerous distraction". "Not on your first solo", etc... Any thoughts???

You're going to be in the pattern, probably with other aircraft, you'll be up to your eyebrows in airplane and you ask that question? I wouldn't take pictures of myself flying in the pattern. I hate to say this, but if I were your CFI I'd be questioning your judgment. Personally, I don't think you're ready to solo.

'Sled

 

[Clear-&aMillion]

You're going to be in the pattern, probably with other aircraft, you'll be up to your eyebrows in airplane and you ask that question? I wouldn't take pictures of myself flying in the pattern. I hate to say this, but if I were your CFI I'd be questioning your judgment. Personally, I don't think you're ready to solo.

'Sled

Fair enough man. I honestly thought snapping a quick picture on the downwind might be okay. You could be right, I'm not ready.

 

[gkrangers]

I took pictures on my first solo X-C. Somewhere between DED and DAB there in the picture was an airplane that I obviously did NOT see. It's kinda hard to practice see and avoid when looking through a camera viewfinder. Take the pics when you're not flying by yourself, that's my advice......or wait untill you're an airline pilot, plenty of time to snap pics on 2+ hour legs........

If theres only one plane you don't see between DED and DAB, you are in great shape...

 

[gkrangers]

Won't kill ya to wait a few weeks or months. Just focus on the flying...this is a big day.

Fair enough man. I honestly thought snapping a quick picture on the downwind might be okay. You could be right, I'm not ready.

 

[futurama08]

On your very first solo, I wouldn't.
On the cross country trips? Hell yeah.

Let me clarify this by saying that I don't mean go for the million dollar shot but point the camera out the window and click, it takes a second. Do it a couple of times, and if it's a digital camera when you're on the ground you can review what to keep.

Another idea if you want some cool pictures, later on in your training, grab a CFI hand he/she the camera and ask them to take pictures as you fly the pattern or take a video. I had mine do it and he took a picture every few seconds on final, it was pretty cool to see us getting closer to the runway and landing in still frames.

Just remember to fly the plane, there won't be any pictures if you crash. Well only in the newspapers but I don't think those are the pictures you are going for.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

I took pictures on my first solo X-C. Somewhere between DED and DAB there in the picture was an airplane that I obviously did NOT see. It's kinda hard to practice see and avoid when looking through a camera viewfinder. Take the pics when you're not flying by yourself, that's my advice......or wait untill you're an airline pilot, plenty of time to snap pics on 2+ hour legs........

I'm with BankAccount....leave the photo shoots for when you can bring a co-pilot along to do it for you. It simply is not possible to scan for traffic if you're goofing around with a damm camera.

 

[HawkerF/O]

I want to do this, but I can already see people saying "That's a dangerous distraction". "Not on your first solo", etc... Any thoughts???

The thought will not even cross your mind. You'll be too excited and screaming at the top of your lungs as you realize that all of your hard work has just paid off in spades.

The only crappy part is that it gets a little harder before it gets easier, but the strut you'll have for the 1st 48 hours after you get your PPL is something you'll remember for the rest of your life.

 

[J.C.Airborne]

You're going to be in the pattern, probably with other aircraft, you'll be up to your eyebrows in airplane and you ask that question? I wouldn't take pictures of myself flying in the pattern. I hate to say this, but if I were your CFI I'd be questioning your judgment. Personally, I don't think you're ready to solo.

'Sled

I think your being a little hard on the kid...i mean at least he asked the question here instead of just making his own decisions...he obviously has enough sense to ask for better judgement...that in and of itself is judgement. I think he will do just fine, and i dont think you can say he isnt ready to solo based on one post...arrogant pilots piss me off. to clear: Have fun on your solo but be safe...things will happen fast and ask if you dont understand. its that simple...just ask..be aware of traffic in the pattern as well.

 

[FN FAL]

I want to do this, but I can already see people saying "That's a dangerous distraction". "Not on your first solo", etc... Any thoughts???

Go ahead, just don't do em over my house. Besides, I hear the babes say that a man with skin grafts is a real turn on.

 

[RockbrigadePC1]

I personally think someone taking pictures on the ground would have more meaning.

First solo takeoff, first solo landing. Also, of the shirt. Those are much cooler then...first downwind.

Just thought of something that might be cool - using a camera with a burst shot, like a 9 frame, during the landing. That would be cool in a side-by-side frame.

 

[gearjockey]

Why don't you bring your video cameral and then post it on here? That seems like the "in" thing to do lately.

 

[DJS]

I would definitely wait until your solo XC (or perhaps a solo trip out to the practice area) to take pics. You'll see why once you're up there that first time.

Definitely do have someone take pictures from the ground, though. My wife made me a cool framed poster thing which contained pictures of my first solo landing, my t-shirt tail with all the relevant info, and me standing next to the plane on the ground afterwards. Very cool.

 

[Shamus]

I can already see people saying "That's a dangerous distraction". "Not on your first solo"

at least you can recognise that. Good luck and congrats!

 

[FN FAL]

Definitely do have someone take pictures from the ground, though.

Why not just have someone take a photo of when you get out after completing the first solo. I would think it would be very distracting trying to get your first solo buzz job photographed properly.

 

[Lead Sled]

I think your being a little hard on the kid...i mean at least he asked the question here instead of just making his own decisions...he obviously has enough sense to ask for better judgment...that in and of itself is judgement. I think he will do just fine, and i don't think you can say he isn't ready to solo based on one post...arrogant pilots piss me off. to clear: Have fun on your solo but be safe...things will happen fast and ask if you don't understand. its that simple...just ask..be aware of traffic in the pattern as well.

Just a question for you...

Have you ever been a CFI? My guess is probably not. My issue isn't whether he can manipulate the controls properly - I'm sure he can. The issue is one of judgment - before, not after the fact.

Would you want to be in a crowded pattern with a student on his/her first solo knowing that the student was messing around with a camera? No, I don't think that I was being to hard on the guy. Judgment is an important component of airmanship. You can argue day in and day out whether it can be taught or not. Hopefully a good "slap on the hands" will get him to start thinking and not to be so impetuous.

If he were one of my students, we'd go out to lunch and have a very long talk - then I'd probably solo him the next day.

'Sled

 

[FN FAL]

Whatever you do, don't ignite anger when you are out there flying.

http://www.auburnjournal.com/articles/2006/02/14/news/top_stories/01crash14.txt

 

[blingair]

You're going to be in the pattern, probably with other aircraft, you'll be up to your eyebrows in airplane and you ask that question? I wouldn't take pictures of myself flying in the pattern. I hate to say this, but if I were your CFI I'd be questioning your judgment. Personally, I don't think you're ready to solo.

'Sled

Give me a break. The fact that you are asking shows that you are using good judgement. You know yourself the best and if you feel thats its safe, take one quik shot and get back to business. Its a big day and you only solo for the first time once, but you will also have many opportunites to take lots of photos during your training. Good luck and have fun.

 

[J.C.Airborne]

Just a question for you...

Have you ever been a CFI? My guess is probably not. My issue isn't whether he can manipulate the controls properly - I'm sure he can. The issue is one of judgment - before, not after the fact.

Would you want to be in a crowded pattern with a student on his/her first solo knowing that the student was messing around with a camera? No, I don't think that I was being to hard on the guy. Judgment is an important component of airmanship. You can argue day in and day out whether it can be taught or not. Hopefully a good "slap on the hands" will get him to start thinking and not to be so impetuous.

If he were one of my students, we'd go out to lunch and have a very long talk - then I'd probably solo him the next day.

'Sled

As i mentioned before..the kid asked the question first...much the same way he would ask a CFI if it was a good idea...since we all said it wasnt a good he got his answer...he didnt go out and do it. Your telling me that if a student of yours asks a question that appears to be a no-brainer you have serious doubts about their judgement...i would hate to be your student. Judgement comes from asking the right questions NOT, not asking any at all.

 

[bluefishbeagle]

I want to do this, but I can already see people saying "That's a dangerous distraction". "Not on your first solo", etc... Any thoughts???

Funny you should ask. Twenty eight years ago I had a student do exactly that during his first solo, his intentions unknown to me of course. Here's how it happened.

Al was a very strange student. First day we flew together he showed up in an insulated Air Force jumpsuit complete with military flip down visor helmet. Maybe not to strange for Bangor Maine in the winter but this was July in Alabama.

During his pre-solo training Al actually showed very good stick and rudder skills. I could have soloed him in five or six hours but............ Al was immature, always fishing for compliments, showed signs of gross lack of judgment, impulsive and had an ego that was six feet taller than his 5'4" frame.

Normally I'm very easy going on students but I rode Al like a two dollar ...... well you know........... One the day of his solo my instructions to Al was to make three (I actually held up three fingers when saying this) full stop landings and to taxi back to the departure end of the 3500 foot runway each time so as to have full length available for each takeoff. I had no concerns about Al's flying; my concern was making sure he didn't get out of my sight with my airplane.

Well Al lined up and took off; my C150 accelerating down the runway like it was dragging five cement blocks in the 97 degree Alabama afternoon heat. The take off was perfect but as soon as the aircraft broke ground he was all over the sky, I could not imagine what was happening. This was a small country airport and the FBO's radio hadn't worked for months and handhelds were still several year in the future. No other aircraft around to transmit from so all I could do was watch.

On the downwind Al was wandering around a bit and I was hopeful that whatever had caused his problem had been resolved. However as he turned final the aircraft again began wobbling left and right pitching up and down madly, I just knew that the landing was not going to be pretty. Just ten feet off the ground the aircraft suddenly went wings level and the touch down was perfect. With a sigh of relief I started out toward the taxi way to flag Al back in as he taxied back to the end of the runway. No luck, Al fire walled the little C150 mid field and was off again. Same thing, ten feet in the air he was all over the sky. The next two take offs and approaches were mirror images of the first. Finally as the Al touched down the third time I felt a flood of relief, that is until Al (you guessed it) fire walled the 150 again for his fourth touch and go.

Al taxied in after the fourth landing and got out of the plane with a huge grin saying "how'd I do? I did good didn't I, it was great....." at which point I stopped him and said "well the take offs and landing were OK, however you didn't follow my instructions, and by the way what the hell was happening the rest of the time when the aircraft was all but out of control?" Without a bit of remorse he said, " oh I was taking pictures" as he whipped his Pentax from behind his back with a grin".

Al later went on to become a Private pilot and shortly there after rented an aircraft from an FBO twenty miles away ( I wouldn't rent him mine ) and decided to impress his working buddies who were leveling a spot of ground with bull dozers (this was a work site on Federal property) with a touch an go in the rented C150. Well things didn't work out the way Al intended and he and the aircraft ended up upside down on a rock pile, him dangling from his seat belt with gas running all over the place.

He made the front page of the local news paper and was quoted " you know how most people close their eyes just before they hit something?, well I kept mine open the whole time!"

Al no longer has a private pilot license, lost his job and his wife left him shortly after the accident.

 

[navigator72]

I'll give my $.02 worth. Don't take a camera along... bring someone along and have them take pictures. My father and a buddy came with me the day I soloed and I have a video of my first solo. I have watched it forward and backwards and frame by frame and it's great!
Goodluck and have fun!!

 

[Clear-&aMillion]

Wow. What a story!!!