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United States24772 Posts
Last time I blogged about my flight training I explained that I was hoping to begin getting ready to solo soon. It took a while but I finally did it today!
The problem has been many of my flights get cancelled due to weather, plane problems, etc, and when you fly 1-2 times per month you get rusty and have to keep relearning things. Last week I got to do almost a dozen touch and goes, and this week I was doing well so after three touch and goes, my instructor endorsed me to do fly solo, hopped out of the plane, and told me to do three takeoffs and landings (to a full stop) by myself.
The landings were a bit shaky but no blood was spilled! I think the highlights of the three times around the airport pattern were:
- When I was waiting for permission to pull on to the runway and takeoff, a big jet pulled up right behind me.
- Before my first landing, air traffic control cleared me to do a touch and go, even though I had previously told them I was going to perform a landing to a full stop with a taxi-back to the runway. It's not that often I have to correct their mistake, but I did it while getting ready for my first solo landing.
- During my wait to take off a second time, air traffic control asked me if I was able to expedite my take off (i.e., "do not delay"). I told them "unable, student pilot" because I didn't want extra pressure to rush while soloing my first time and air traffic control did not seem concerned. I think they realized I was soloing for the first time and were trying not to overburden me.
- When I was going to start my approach for my third and final landing, it turned out there were two other planes with priority ahead of me to land. Air traffic control asked me if I would prefer to make a left 360 or just continue straight downwind and delay my turns towards final approach until the coast was clear. I was very glad they asked this because I much prefer doing the left 360 (literally you just go in a circle one time to burn some time) to extending my downwind which makes the landing less routine.
- I wish someone was videotaping my final landing because it probably looked ridiculous (twisting in all sorts of directions to get lined up in the final moments even though there was almost no wind whatsoever lol). No damage to the plane or pilot though!
Now that I'm endorsed to fly solo, I will start working with the instructor on learning to fly to/at other airports, and hopefully soon solo those situations as well. Once I'm endorsed to fly to and from all the nearby airports by myself we will start working on 'cross country' where we fly to further away airports, and that will be a whole different beast.
As always, share any thoughts or questions about flight training.
edit: here is a rough diagram of the route I took for each loop around the airport.
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/DGDGm2y.jpg)
 
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Eyy congrats. Pretty great that traffic control was accomodating when they understood the situation
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Congrats man.
I thought I wanted to do airplanes for awhile, but then I discovered powered paragliding. I'm almost done my training for that, so I will hope to join you in the air soon!
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I just have to ask.
Isn't getting a flight licence very expensive? Do you have any sponsors/job opportunities once you are fully done or is this just a hobby?
Also, cool blog btw 
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United States24772 Posts
On September 17 2017 11:50 Jan1997 wrote:I just have to ask. Isn't getting a flight licence very expensive? Do you have any sponsors/job opportunities once you are fully done or is this just a hobby? Also, cool blog btw
Yea it's fairly expensive but the price depends a lot on how and where you do it. I do not have any sponsors or job opportunities associated with getting a private pilot's license. However, I am eligible for the GI Bill which means subsequent training, e.g., commercial license or instructor license, can be paid for.
Basically, I'm doing it just as a hobby but if I were to fall in love with it I could be a part time instructor on the side or something like that. At the moment, I just love the idea of traveling places via plane instead of car. I'll trace 95 and laugh at all the people sitting in traffic below me.
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What security tests did you have to pass? Alcohol, weapons and drugs?
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United States24772 Posts
On September 17 2017 19:34 sc-darkness wrote:
What security tests did you have to pass? Alcohol, weapons and drugs?
To become a private pilot you don't really need to pass 'security' tests. You need to do a bit of online training about security, and the main written/knowledge exam may have a couple of questions about the regulations regarding drugs and alcohol.
It may be harder if you aren't already a citizen with a passport, etc.
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china is hiring pilots like crazy
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Congrats!  That's so cool. Wish I'd actually started doing this when I said I would. I'm still worried about the price and the whole industry seems a bit shady. Hopefully one day! Looking forward to your future blogs.
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That sounds like a lot of fun! I remember being in a glider plane as part of the Canadian Royal Air Cadets when I was younger. Seeing everything below you as you cruise through the air is a pretty incredible experience. Of course that wasn't even above the clouds so maybe not quite the same.
Anyway that's not new to you. But I think its really cool that you get to visit any country you wish. I think it would be fun to visit Kazakhstan or something out of the ordinary.
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United States24772 Posts
I don't know about 'visit any country I wish.' The planes I rent for the license don't go very fast or very far. Maybe I could do a trip to canada or something :p
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This is awesome, well done!
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Nice!!! What a cool accomplishment, awesome job.
So, when are you going to start taking friends for rides? 
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United States24772 Posts
On September 20 2017 10:11 LuckyFool wrote:Nice!!! What a cool accomplishment, awesome job. So, when are you going to start taking friends for rides?
The first step is to ACTUALLY GET LICENSED lol. Then, I will probably want to practice flying a bit more on my own before bringing anyone with me. I still have a ways to go with the license.
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Have you learned anything profound that you have carried into other parts of your life from doing this?
Also as an aside: My Dad used to do this when he was younger, he tells one horror story of unexpectedly encountering the big white X (airport closed, I think?) on his runway and then having to scramble to plan a new course to an alternate airport, all the while climbing into unfamiliar skies in his plane. Sounded like quite the stressful experience, would recommend always having an alternate airport in mind when you get to that part of your flying
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United States24772 Posts
On September 21 2017 01:35 Aveng3r wrote:
Have you learned anything profound that you have carried into other parts of your life from doing this?
I wouldn't go so far as to say I've learned anything profound yet but I have learned a fair bit, both of things that are only applicable to flying and things that are more generally useful.
Also as an aside: My Dad used to do this when he was younger, he tells one horror story of unexpectedly encountering the big white X (airport closed, I think?) on his runway and then having to scramble to plan a new course to an alternate airport, all the while climbing into unfamiliar skies in his plane. Sounded like quite the stressful experience, would recommend always having an alternate airport in mind when you get to that part of your flying
Yea that's a good lesson. I won't have to worry about that until I do my cross-country training, but it's good to always have a backup in case the distant airport you plan to land at is unexpectedly out of commission. Of course, always have your aeronautical chart!
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United States24772 Posts
As an update, yesterday I was endorsed and then flew solo at a different airport. The main difference was that this airport is not controlled, and thus there is no air traffic control tower. You fly by looking around for other planes and communicating with each other on the radio. It's a little scary knowing there is no eye in the sky helping to ensure you don't collide with another plane in mid air!
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