Solo, baby!

Finally – the day every student thinks may NEVER come! I was pretty sure today would be it – weather was perfect – but you never know until your CFI gives you the go ahead.

Pre-flighting the plane I realized that it hadn’t been fueled since the last flight. Luckily a truck came by, I flagged him down and had him top it off. Everything else was fine, and off we went. Richard wanted to do 4 touch and goes and a full stop, then we’d see about me going solo. The first three ended up being go-arounds – just nerves I guess. I pulled it together after that, and made some nice landings. We taxied over to the “CFI bench” (a luxurious yellow bus bench for CFI’s to watch their students solo) and Richard signed all my paperwork and hopped out. He asked for 2 touch and goes and then a full stop – and don’t forget to pick him up. He shut the door and I was ALONE. Egads.

Taxied to the hold line, keyed up the mike and said “Van Nuys tower, Cessna 2257 Echo holding short of 16 L, ready to go, stay in the pattern for my first solo flight”. They cleared me immediately. I pulled into position, took a deep breath, and pushed the throttle in. Before I even hit the numbers the plane was airborne! Everything was routine – just the way I wanted it. Reported downwind, before landing checklist, start descending. On final everything looked great, and made a nice touchdown. Back up and around, then a full stop for my third. Taxied back to the bench, Richard hopped in, shook my hand and congratulated me.

So much work to get to this point, and so worth it. Now if I can just get this stupid smile off my face….

1.5 hours/34.2 total/.4 solo! Yee haw!