with the window-winder handle next
to my left knee.
Then 60 for the gliding turn. Back to
55, and finally a short sideslip to touch
down in a reasonably dignified manner.
My idiot singing only stopped
when I taxied within earshot of the
grinning Mike.
Was I scared? Yes, as I taxied out
and did my checks I was a bit, but
once I was in the air I was far too
buoyant to be frightened.Your turn to solo
Since then I have spent most of my
life instructing – because that’s
what I love – and I must tell you
that very often I seem to get more of
a kick out of my students’ first solos
than they do.
The biggest disappointment about
a first solo is the reaction of your
non-flying friends and rellies.
“Mum, Mum, I’ve gone solo!”
“That’s nice, dear. Did you collect
your sandwiches? I left them on the
kitchen table.”
You’d like to throttle your own
dear mother.
It is absolutely pointless trying
to explain this to anyone who hasn’t
done it. Don’t waste your breath.
Simply console yourself with the
knowledge that once you have flown
solo you are entitled to be called a
pilot – even if you never fly again
(which hardly seems likely).
Okay, so what’s involved in getting
to this point in life? You might
imagine it is just having enough
money to fly around until you are
good enough – and then off you go
for a circuit on your own. Actually,
if it is done properly, there is a hell
of a lot more to it than that. There
are all sorts of subtle things going
on the background. There are egos
and expectations and financial
constraints and weather and traffic
and your instructor’s experience and
her ability to get inside your head.
So let’s see how this plays out
in real life to make your first solo
a smooth non-event or a miserably
messy occasion.
Perhaps I should start by telling
you that in about 45 years of
instructing I have only once had
a problem with a first solo pupil.
When I got out of the aeroplane Ireminded him of the importance
of initiating an early go-around if
he is not happy. The short story
is that he didn’t; he landed very
deep and went off the end of the
runway without any damage to the
aeroplane or himself.
It was my fault. After you have told
someone they are about to take to the
sky for the first time all on their little
lonesome, they stop listening. I have
found a way round this problem ... I
will tell you about it shortly.
So what I was trying to say is that,
properly done (that is by the instructor)
your first solo is probably the safest
flight of your life. She who is sending
you solo has picked perfect weather,
a quiet traffic time, no crosswind or
nasty turbulence, you won’t have the
sun in your eyes (as I did) and you
are not going to run out of daylight.
She knows that you can fly and land
safely, not necessarily smoothly every
time. And she trusts you to recognize
trouble and take a handful of throttle.
She has also made sure the aircraft is
in good nick and has plenty of fuel, and
she has briefed ATC to be especially
kind to you today.
For your part, you realize that it is
entirely up to you, so you are on your
best behavior. You are fit and fresh,
you know exactly what is expected of
you and you are giving the situation
110% of your attention.
So you have the right mix for a safe
and happy flight. Oh, that it should
always be so for all future flights. Sorry,
I was daydreaming of the ideal world.
Anyhow for this particular flight
it is the ideal world because she has
planned it that way. Let’s look at
what has to happen for this to be a
safe and joyous event.
Very early on in your training
she will let you know that many
of the top fighter pilots in WW
II took an abnormally long time
to go solo. She knows your fellow
students will soon start asking
you how many hours you have and
whether you have gone solo yet.
They make a competition out of it,
and if you listen to them you will
soon be getting anxious about your
own performance. It is far better
to put the matter to bed good and
early before you start feeling there
is any urgency about it.
When I was training in a basicYour first solo should be a joyous occasion for both you and your instructor.(^58) Master class
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