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Date: Sun, 06 Dec 1998 09:07:14 -0500
From: John Quinlan <jquin@map.com>
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Subject: Whoohoo! Solo! (Long)
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    Well, I finally get my chance to become a member of the post solo
group here!  I'd been ready to go up alone for about 2 weeks, but a
combination of scheduling conflicts and weather helped to postpone
things for a little while.  In any case, the miraculous convergence of
pleasant calm weather and actually having a flight lesson scheduled that
day finally occured.

    I arrived at my FBO a bit early in anticipation of a big lecture and
review of everything from my CFII, but to my surprise, he said just go
out to do my preflight and he'd join me in a bit.  Heading out, I began
the usual walk around.  I had to catch myself once because as I was
looking forward to what (possibly) lay ahead for me that day, I felt I
might not be putting my fullest attention to the task at hand.  I
stopped what I was doing (disconecting one of the tie downs) and
remembered two pieces of advice that I have rattling around in the back
of my brain from time to time when I fly.  The first--"Always keep your
head where your feet are." and the second, "Remember, the things that
can kill you, check twice!"  I then did a quick mental review of the
preflight and satisfied that everything was in order, continued.

    I'm glad I remembered that because about that time my instructor
came out and started asking me about the weather and what I thought for
flight that day.  I had already recieved my briefing and the winds were
forcast to be about 8-10 kts at the surface and 22 kts at 3000'.  Given
the direction of the active, I could expect a 5-7 kt. crosswind
component so I was thinking that I might not be allowed up alone.  It
was actually rather calm when I arrived and I was concerened about
possible LLWS given the discrepancy between surface winds and the winds
aloft report, but I had solicited a couple of pireps from a few of the
other CFI's and was told that it actually was pretty good up there.

    When he started asking me about the weather, I don't remember
exactly what I said, but it was something to the effect that I did have
some potential concerns, but let's discuss them *after* I finished my
preflight.  He didn't say anything further, but I felt as though I had
passed one of those "realistic distraction" tests he throws at me from
time to time.  (My favorite was actually on another preflight when I was
checking the fuel, he said, "Look, there's Paul Rieser getting into that
Gulfstream over there".  Sure enough, about 50 yards away, there he was
chatting to someone before he got onto his plane.  I told him later that
I was very impressed that he had Paul Rieser come all the way to our
little airport just so he could give me a realistic distraction test...)

        Anyway, we took off and  I don't know at what level the winds
picked up at, but when we were in the pattern at 1500 MSL it was very
smooth.  No worries at all.  That assuaged my concern a bit about the
winds aloft forecast so we continued to do a few touch and goes.  I felt
pretty comfortable up there and it suddenly occured to me that my CFI
really hadn't said a single word to me outside of the usual chit chat on
our downwind.  Nothing at all about how I was doing or what he thought.
About the only thing he did do was on one approach, I turned base to
final and I thought I was set up right, but I was a bit low and began to
get a red over red VASI.  I saw this and was just about to correct when
I saw my CFI's left hand move and before he could give me the signal to
increase power a bit, I said something like "I've got it" and was
advancing the throttle.  He didn't say anything, but kind of looked out
the window like he was lost in thought.

    After we had done one more, he asked me how I felt and then said why
don't we make the next one an full stop and asked for my logbook and
Third Class Medical!  We taxied back to the parking area and shut down
and he finished signing off on everything and I was good to go.  He told
me just to do everything just as I've been doing it.  Take the plane
out, do your run up and perform 2 touch and goes and then on the third,
make it a full stop.  He got out of the plane and his parting words to
me were "Remember..." and I waited for a moment, ready to absorb
whatever sage and wise advice he was going to impart on me before my
first time aloft without him there to help and guide me.  "Remember...",
he said, "...No barrel rolls...No loops."  Then he smiled and shut the
door.

    He walked around the rear of the plane and headed back to our FBO
and he didn't look back!  I knew then that I was really going to do
it.   I was ready to reach for my checklist and get going, but I paused
and took a few moments to sort of look around and just absorb what I was
seeing, thinking and feeling right then.  I can't really explain it
other than to say I took a deep breath and just became very conscious
about what I was about to do.  Not in a bad way, but in a way that would
allow me to always remember that moment there, alone in the plane for
the first time.  (Hey, I figured if the Hobbs wasn't ticking, I was
golden here...)

    The takeoff was good and I climbed a bit faster than usual without
my CFII in the other seat.  Right around the pattern and I knocked off a
decent touch and go before I even knew it.  Bit of a bump, but not bad
at all.  As I was on my downwind for my second touch and go, the tower
called to sequence me behind an aircraft approaching from the North.  I
confirmed second for the runway and looking for traffic.  I was looking
out for where he should be coming from.  No joy.  My instinct was to
keep looking and looking until I saw him as I was now the only pair of
eyes in the plane, but I remembered my instructor telling me "Always,
Always, Always, fly the airplane".  As I scanned my altimiter and VSI, I
realized that I was off by 50 feet in a fairly short time span.  So,
scan for traffic, fly the plane...scan for traffic, fly the plane etc.
After a bit, the tower asked if I had the other aircraft in sight,
(which I did not) and reported that it was going to be passing off my
left wing.  As soon as they said that, this plane somehow magically
appeared in the sky right where it should have been!  I called the tower
and informed traffic in sight and came in for a fairly decent landing.

    On my way down, I saw a squadron (?) of four A-10 Thunderbolts
taxiing to the hold short line of the active.  (I fly out of Westfield,
MA which hosts the 104th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard).  On my
climb out, the tower called again and asked me to begin my crosswind
turn immediately to expidite their departure.  I began a nice climbing
turn and hit TPA just as I called the tower right at midfield downwind.
Right by the numbers!  I was cleared for the active and hit carb heat
and reduced power as I came abeam the numbers and again the tower called
and asked that due to incoming traffic could I do a short approach and
expidite the landing.  I had done a few of these so this was nothing
really new.  I managed to perform a relatively decent "navy approach" as
my CFII calls it, and had my best landing of the day!   I had to hold on
the taxiway due to a departing helecopter, (man everyone was up in the
air that day!) and then headed back in.  22.8 Dual .6 PIC!!!

    As I'm sitting here typing this, I can recall walking into my FBO
for the first time, and the CFI showing me around asked what I was
looking for, and I remember my response to him was "I want to learn how
to fly."  I occasionally see posts about folks feeling inadequate about
not soloing in under 10 hours or the frustration we all feel when we hit
one of those plateaus in our training, but I always remember that my
reason for heading up there is the feeling of freedom and adventure that
aviation offers and I really got my first taste of that today.

    Well, I've rambled on for way too long, so I'll shut up at this
point.  I hope this helps a few prospective pilots out there as I know
I've been helped by lurking and reading many of your posts.  (And
occasionally popping my head up to ask a dumb question or two).  Happy
Skies!

                                                --John A. Quinlan

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<HTML>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well, I finally get my chance to become a member of
the post solo group here!&nbsp; I'd been ready to go up alone for about
2 weeks, but a combination of scheduling conflicts and weather helped to
postpone things for a little while.&nbsp; In any case, the miraculous convergence
of pleasant calm weather and actually having a flight lesson scheduled
that day finally occured.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I arrived at my FBO a bit early in anticipation of
a big lecture and review of everything from my CFII, but to my surprise,
he said just go out to do my preflight and he'd join me in a bit.&nbsp;
Heading out, I began the usual walk around.&nbsp; I had to catch myself
once because as I was looking forward to what (possibly) lay ahead for
me that day, I felt I might not be putting my fullest attention to the
task at hand.&nbsp; I stopped what I was doing (disconecting one of the
tie downs) and remembered two pieces of advice that I have rattling around
in the back of my brain from time to time when I fly.&nbsp; The first--"Always
keep your head where your feet are." and the second, "Remember, the things
that can kill you, check twice!"&nbsp; I then did a quick mental review
of the preflight and satisfied that everything was in order, continued.
<BR>&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I'm glad I remembered that because about that time
my instructor came out and started asking me about the weather and what
I thought for flight that day.&nbsp; I had already recieved my briefing
and the winds were forcast to be about 8-10 kts at the surface and 22 kts
at 3000'.&nbsp; Given the direction of the active, I could expect a 5-7
kt. crosswind component so I was thinking that I might not be allowed up
alone.&nbsp; It was actually rather calm when I arrived and I was concerened
about possible LLWS given the discrepancy between surface winds and the
winds aloft report, but I had solicited a couple of pireps from a few of
the other CFI's and was told that it actually was pretty good up there.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When he started asking me about the weather, I don't
remember exactly what I said, but it was something to the effect that I
did have some potential concerns, but let's discuss them *after* I finished
my preflight.&nbsp; He didn't say anything further, but I felt as though
I had passed one of those "realistic distraction" tests he throws at me
from time to time.&nbsp; (My favorite was actually on another preflight
when I was checking the fuel, he said, "Look, there's Paul Rieser getting
into that Gulfstream over there".&nbsp; Sure enough, about 50 yards away,
there he was chatting to someone before he got onto his plane.&nbsp; I
told him later that I was very impressed that he had Paul Rieser come all
the way to our little airport just so he could give me a realistic distraction
test...)

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Anyway, we took off and&nbsp;
I don't know at what level the winds picked up at, but when we were in
the pattern at 1500 MSL it was very smooth.&nbsp; No worries at all.&nbsp;
That assuaged my concern a bit about the winds aloft forecast so we continued
to do a few touch and goes.&nbsp; I felt pretty comfortable up there and
it suddenly occured to me that my CFI really hadn't said a single word
to me outside of the usual chit chat on our downwind.&nbsp; Nothing at
all about how I was doing or what he thought.&nbsp; About the only thing
he did do was on one approach, I turned base to final and I thought I was
set up right, but I was a bit low and began to get a red over red VASI.&nbsp;
I saw this and was just about to correct when I saw my CFI's left hand
move and before he could give me the signal to increase power a bit, I
said something like "I've got it" and was advancing the throttle.&nbsp;
He didn't say anything, but kind of looked out the window like he was lost
in thought.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After we had done one more, he asked me how I felt
and then said why don't we make the next one an full stop and asked for
my logbook and Third Class Medical!&nbsp; We taxied back to the parking
area and shut down and he finished signing off on everything and I was
good to go.&nbsp; He told me just to do everything just as I've been doing
it.&nbsp; Take the plane out, do your run up and perform 2 touch and goes
and then on the third, make it a full stop.&nbsp; He got out of the plane
and his parting words to me were "Remember..." and I waited for a moment,
ready to absorb whatever sage and wise advice he was going to impart on
me before my first time aloft without him there to help and guide me.&nbsp;
"Remember...", he said, "...No barrel rolls...No loops."&nbsp; Then he
smiled and shut the door.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He walked around the rear of the plane and headed
back to our FBO and <U>he didn't look back</U>!&nbsp; I knew then that
I was really going to do it.&nbsp;&nbsp; I was ready to reach for my checklist
and get going, but I paused and took a few moments to sort of look around
and just absorb what I was seeing, thinking and feeling right then.&nbsp;
I can't really explain it other than to say I took a deep breath and just
became very conscious about what I was about to do.&nbsp; Not in a bad
way, but in a way that would allow me to always remember that moment there,
alone in the plane for the first time.&nbsp; (Hey, I figured if the Hobbs
wasn't ticking, I was golden here...)

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The takeoff was good and I climbed a bit faster than
usual without my CFII in the other seat.&nbsp; Right around the pattern
and I knocked off a decent touch and go before I even knew it.&nbsp; Bit
of a bump, but not bad at all.&nbsp; As I was on my downwind for my second
touch and go, the tower called to sequence me behind an aircraft approaching
from the North.&nbsp; I confirmed second for the runway and looking for
traffic.&nbsp; I was looking out for where he should be coming from.&nbsp;
No joy.&nbsp; My instinct was to keep looking and looking until I saw him
as I was now the only pair of eyes in the plane, but I remembered my instructor
telling me "Always, Always, Always, fly the airplane".&nbsp; As I scanned
my altimiter and VSI, I realized that I was off by 50 feet in a fairly
short time span.&nbsp; So, scan for traffic, fly the plane...scan for traffic,
fly the plane etc.&nbsp; After a bit, the tower asked if I had the other
aircraft in sight, (which I did not) and reported that it was going to
be passing off my left wing.&nbsp; As soon as they said that, this plane
somehow magically appeared in the sky right where it should have been!&nbsp;
I called the tower and informed traffic in sight and came in for a fairly
decent landing.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On my way down, I saw a squadron (?) of four A-10
Thunderbolts taxiing to the hold short line of the active.&nbsp; (I fly
out of Westfield, MA which hosts the 104th Fighter Wing of the Air National
Guard).&nbsp; On my climb out, the tower called again and asked me to begin
my crosswind turn immediately to expidite their departure.&nbsp; I began
a nice climbing turn and hit TPA just as I called the tower right at midfield
downwind.&nbsp; Right by the numbers!&nbsp; I was cleared for the active
and hit carb heat and reduced power as I came abeam the numbers and again
the tower called and asked that due to incoming traffic could I do a short
approach and expidite the landing.&nbsp; I had done a few of these so this
was nothing really new.&nbsp; I managed to perform a relatively decent
"navy approach" as my CFII calls it, and had my best landing of the day!&nbsp;&nbsp;
I had to hold on the taxiway due to a departing helecopter, (man everyone
was up in the air that day!) and then headed back in.&nbsp; 22.8 Dual .6
PIC!!!

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As I'm sitting here typing this, I can recall walking
into my FBO for the first time, and the CFI showing me around asked what
I was looking for, and I remember my response to him was "I want to learn
how to fly."&nbsp; I occasionally see posts about folks feeling inadequate
about not soloing in under 10 hours or the frustration we all feel when
we hit one of those plateaus in our training, but I always remember that
my reason for heading up there is the feeling of freedom and adventure
that aviation offers and I really got my first taste of that today.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well, I've rambled on for way too long, so I'll shut
up at this point.&nbsp; I hope this helps a few prospective pilots out
there as I know I've been helped by lurking and reading many of your posts.&nbsp;
(And occasionally popping my head up to ask a dumb question or two).&nbsp;
Happy Skies!

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
--John A. Quinlan</HTML>

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