Sunday March 12th 2017- for the first time this year sunshine and spring temperatures hit Holland. Already at 11 o’clock our Ladies’pilot app group is busy: “Will we see each other on the club’s terrace later?” I am glad to answer with yes, because today I will join our feathered friend Mansur on one of the most important and most exciting steps in a pilot’s carrer: His first solo flight.
Grounded for quite some weeks due to the weather some exercise will be necessary before the instructor will finally say the magical words: “And now go and do this alone.” But the weather has taken its tolls not only on the practise. The trip was planned to go to Zeeland airport where I was looking forward to some apple tart and coffee in the sunshine while watching Mansur and instructor Arthur to take their rounds together. However, being a grass field Zeeland has been closed for Touch & Go’s as the grounds are simply too wet and would suffer too much for the upcoming flying season. So Breda International or simply “Seppe” as we say it is!
An exciting moment: the first solo take off
While I have my coffee in the Tower having the planned apple tart replaced with a good chat with the two controllers, Mansur and Arthur are flying their rounds. It seems that all is coming back quickly and I am not surprised when Arthur finally steps out but Mansur stays in the cabin. Here comes my moment as voluntary photographer of the day. I run outside and get the camera ready – not unnoticed by some viewers who join in the excitement of the coming 5 minutes when I do explain the situation. And there he goes….and comes back again – well done Mansur! I am sure his Mum could not be more proud than I feel at the moment – proud and relieved that the plane is still in one piece and we will not have to take a taxi back. We celebrate with a quick coke and return to Rotterdam where a group of club members already expects us to congratulate and celebrate the day’s achievement further. And it is a double celebration: Mansur was Arthur’s first student ever to go solo. Also instructors need to have a learning curve and tests before they are allowed to teach it all. So congratulations also to Arthur on reaching this next level!
But what is so special about this moment? My own first solo is not even 2 years ago and I still remember my feelings when Peter said: “Off you go.” Adrenalin is high, knees feel a bit weak. ‘Really? We just did such an intensive training and now this?’ But then also: ‘Well, he wants to get this plane back safely I guess and he wouldn’t take a risk, but believes in you. So why don’t you? Go for it – now is as good a time as ever!’ My radio call reflects the tension: “PH-SVU lining up for take off on first solo runway 09…wish me luck, please!” And funnily enough all nervosity is gone as soon as I am airborne. What feels like routine now was much to do then: 200 feet flaps up, climbing turn not more than 15 degrees, stay on circuit height of 700 feet, reduce throttle when reaching it as you will not need all the power on this short round anyway – and then it is already time for the downwind setting: 50% throttle, flaps 1. Quick call on the radio: “PH-SVU is downwind for a full stop.” End of downwind, throttle to 20%, try a nice 30 degree turn for once, radio again: “PH-SVU turning final for full stop”, flaps 2 and ‘altitude – speed – centerline’…. Peter’s approach song rings in my brain! And before I even know it, it has been done! Definitely not the best landing of my life but I am back on mother earth, safe, sound, relieved and very proud! Remember how it felt when taking Dad’s car the first time on your own after getting your driving license? Well, I was probably only half as nervous then. Being in your training, this first solo which lasts no longer than 5 minutes is just one out of many solo moments (in total a minimum of 10 hours solo flying need to be done to achieve exam level), but probably the most important one is the very first time you find yourself up in the air alone. You can do it! You know how to fly! Your instructor trusts you! And you can land – if maybe not beautifully – but at least safely! Everything that comes now is just making your flying better, but the biggest milestone of trusting yourself all alone and knowing the basics well enough has been reached!
Do you rememer how you felt? How did you overcome potential doubts or have you simply been desperate to finally go? And how did you feel afterwards?
We would love to receive your stories and hopefully help other future students with our experiences when the big day comes for them and the instructor says: “Go, do it on your own!”