I soloed an airplane today

[Guest]

I know I haven't been around, but it is for a good reason.

After 27 hours of flight training, my instructor finally let me have a go at it alone.

It was completely terrifying.

I am doing it again next week

Maharat

 

[voluptuary_manque]

You go girl! That is one of the life-goals I want to accomplish.

 

[shereads]

Congratulations.

I remember the terror. And the glee!

 

[Belegon]

Yay! Congrats on your first solo, gorgeous!

hmmm... this being the kind of site it is, we don't usually get to say that...

 

[Guest]

Yay! Congrats on your first solo, gorgeous!

hmmm... this being the kind of site it is, we don't usually get to say that...

What pervs don't fly ?

Maharat

 

[Belegon]

What pervs don't fly ?

Maharat

Well, you're way ahead of me in the game, dear... never even come close to soloing. I got about as far as "take the controls and follow just north of the highway for awhile."

 

[Guest]

Well, you're way ahead of me in the game, dear... never even come close to soloing. I got about as far as "take the controls and follow just north of the highway for awhile."

Could always start again...

Maharat

 

[Guest]

Congratulations.

I remember the terror. And the glee!

Well around here we get a kick on the butt and a bucketful of water.

The instructor forgoed neither

Maharat

 

[baddog434]

I know I haven't been around, but it is for a good reason.

After 27 hours of flight training, my instructor finally let me have a go at it alone.

It was completely terrifying.

I am doing it again next week

Maharat

Congrats!! Keep it up and keep the wheels on the bottom side (at least till you start aerobatics).

 

[shereads]

Well around here we get a kick on the butt and a bucketful of water.

The instructor forgoed neither

Maharat

When I soloed, the tradition was to rip off the pilot's shirt and add it to a collection of 'solo shirts' inside the hangar.

We compromised and cut a square of fabric off of the back of mine.



They wouldn't have dared throw cold water on me. I was already shaking so hard, I'd have gone into shock.

Flying is easy. Landing is terrifying.

 

[Belegon]

Congrats!! Keep it up and keep the wheels on the bottom side (at least till you start aerobatics).

Bottom side? D'oh! Maybe that's why Marty always took it back before we landed!

Flying is easy. Landing is terrifying.

*nods* exactly how I always felt... except when flying with my crazy Frat brother. He insisted on doing things I don't think 152's and 172's were ever intended for...

 

[Guest]

When I soloed, the tradition was to rip off the pilot's shirt and add it to a collection of 'solo shirts' inside the hangar.

We compromised and cut a square of fabric off of the back of mine.



They wouldn't have dared throw cold water on me. I was already shaking so hard, I'd have gone into shock.

Flying is easy. Landing is terrifying.

My butt hurts now.


Maharat

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

You rock! Yay you!

 

[shereads]

Congrats!! Keep it up and keep the wheels on the bottom side

My instructor used to give this advice: "Always know where your airplane is." I was watching the instruments during take-off one day, and had us aimed directly for a stand of tall pines, when I finally understood what that meant.



"Power," he squeaked, his voice suddenly high-pitched and wavering like a cartoon mouse, "Power!" After we cleared the treetops (barely) we had to land so he could take a smoking break.

It's not funny, I know. But if I didn't laugh about it, even after all these years, I'd hide my face under a blanket and never come out.

For the remainder of my lesson that day, he kept the flight instruments covered with his feet. "The best way to know where your airplane is, is to feel it," he said. His voice had returned to normal by then. Unlike my pulse rate.

No one who hasn't flown, and mastered it well enough to be allowed to go up there all alone, can fully appreciate the power of the accomplishment.

The power, and the humility.



Good for you, Maharat. Stay safe, have fun - and always know where your airplane is.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

That is sooooooo cool!!!

Good for you Flygirl!!

 

[Stella_Omega]

I am amazed and impressed and envious and impressed and...

 

[glynndah]

A "way to go" for Maharat from the good little witch.

 

[jomar]

Awesome!


I got as far as Bel did.

 

[rachlou]

That's amazing! I'm envious!!

 

[impressive]

I know I haven't been around, but it is for a good reason.

After 27 hours of flight training, my instructor finally let me have a go at it alone.

It was completely terrifying.

I am doing it again next week

Maharat

Congratulations!

 

[Frank Noir]

I know I haven't been around, but it is for a good reason.

After 27 hours of flight training, my instructor finally let me have a go at it alone.

It was completely terrifying.

I am doing it again next week

Maharat

Cool.

Never flew an airplane myself (even driving a car scares the crap out of me), but an acquaintance of mine is seriously into this sort of thing:

http://www.skysisters.com/

 

[slyc_willie]

I know I haven't been around, but it is for a good reason.

After 27 hours of flight training, my instructor finally let me have a go at it alone.

It was completely terrifying.

I am doing it again next week

Maharat

I've never flown anything, but I have jumped out of perfectly good airplanes The exhilaration of being in the air is incredible. I can only imagine what it's like to control a plane, and know that you have your own fate in your hands.

Good for you, beautiful!

 

[Katyusha]

I know I haven't been around, but it is for a good reason.

After 27 hours of flight training, my instructor finally let me have a go at it alone.

It was completely terrifying.

I am doing it again next week

Maharat

Kat <------ green with envy

I've flown with an instructor and subsequently discovered that I can make myself airsick, but I want my pilot's license at some point. Congrats on soloing!

 

[NoJo]

Amazing -- I'd love to do that

 

[damppanties]

Congratulations.