Sport Pilot Talk

SSDriver · Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 31 Location: NJ

My CFI and I decided it was time to go solo so we made the plan to meet on 24 August. Was nervous leading up to it. Got the the field and we did 3 landings together. We hadn’t talked about the solo that morning and I was okay with that. I’ve not really been concerned with the solo because while they are acceptable I’m not where I want to be with my landing quality but I guess that’s part of the chase? 3rd landing and he asked me to go back to the ramp. He took my logbook and signed everything and with a last minute pep talk he climbed out. I sat there, read my checklist at least 5 times, set my radios up, checked the fuel selectors for the 15th time and turned the ignition key.. the 912 ROARED <-- humor.. to life. The right seat looked like was about 6 feet wide and very empty. Run my after start checks, set the radios and called the tower. I taxi over to 24, cleared for takeoff.. the whole time talking to myself.. ‘wow cant believe I’m here’, ‘they trust me with this plane’?, ‘don’t screw up dummy’, ‘did I leave the coffee maker on?’

Lap 1
Pushed the throttle up, as soon as I Rotate the left wing dips a little, I catch it but that was a first! A little bit unnerved by it actually. Shake that off, pitch for climb and she takes off like a rocket… pretty sure its EXACTLY how John Glenn felt 8) I expected a fast climb but a little out of sorts because my airspeed is coming up higher than with my CFI. I get my brain back and it automatically switched over to machine-mode. Get to the pattern, settle the plane up making left traffic. Report at midfield like usual, get cleared for 24, instruments look good, turn for final and I’m high… no big deal plenty of runway (6001’) over the numbers, coming down… throttles off holding it off…holding it off… screech! Hmm.. little flat, rate myself a 6 out of 10. Damn.

Lap 2
Cleared for takeoff.. this time I’m ready.. still nervous though. Quick scan of the panel, fuel selectors right where I left them, take-off.. climb out. So far so good. Report on the downwind. Tower advises I’m #2 behind a biz jet coming on a straight in approach (crap), Cautions me for Wake Turbulance (no kidding pal!) I pull back on the throttle to allow for more time to set up and hopefully be able to watch for his touchdown spot so I stay away from it. Not sure what he was doing, I had no visual on him but just before I reach my normal spot for my base turn I still don’t see him, Tower tells me “Make a right 360”… Make a right 36..wha?..?? Never had that before, never read it anywhere before. Is the tower screwing with me? Did my CFI call and advise I am a student pilot like he told me he would?? Now what??

Confusion starts rushing in. The big guy in the RIGHT seat who’ve I’ve come to admire and respect isn’t there to bail me out. Nobody is there to bail me out. Can I get a refund?... Stamp Collecting.. that sounds like a nice hobby… I finally pull it together and dig up some confidence again. Flaps back in, Increase the power and I start a shallow Right turn to allow myself more time to figure this out. Wondering if I am doing exactly what the tower instructed me to do. Nobody is yelling at me yet, there is nobody else in the pattern, I complete the turn and I end up just before midfield, level off back on the down-wind, just then I see the big white expensive biz jet crossing the numbers for his landing. Tower calls me again, clears me to land again advising on watching for his wake. I extend just a little longer than normal to improve the odds of not getting near any wake.. read about it.. don’t like it. Don’t want any of that. Turn for Base, Turn for final… approach looks great, config is good.. airspeed is good… what the hell is that?? The biz jet that landed is now taxiing back on my runway! Apparently unfamiliar with the taxiways.. he’s coming up to one.. I see him start to turn off and I see his nose dip as he stops!.. Tower breaks in “Go Around…” (Yeah? Ya Think!!) then tower invites the biz jet to switch over to ground and I assume they had a chat. Meanwhile.. now.. again my landing is hosed. Flaps up.. Pitch for 60 and climb back to the pattern.

I’m now really confused and I’m pissed frankly… because I’m wondering.. did I miss an instruction? My CFI is out of his mind for signing me off for this!, “Hey maverick, do you still have the number for that truck driving school….?”

Once again.. report on downwind.. cleared for landing. Again.. quick scan, okay. Pitch/power.. flaps coming in.. good. Turn my base, turn for final.. Yeah! On the glideslope like a pro.. cross the numbers… ‘ert…ert’ nice.. I’m screaming 8.5 outta 10.. I’m thrilled & shook up. Turn off onto the taxi way. Seriously considering parking the plane at this point because my head is going 80mph wondering what, if anything I did to contribute to that fiasco that just occurred. I tell myself to buck it up and I take my instruction back to Rwy 24.

Lap 3
One more to go. I go over to the run up area to give myself an extra minute to gather myself back up and go over my checks for some needed peace of mind. Everything is good. Those fuel selectors are just where they should be (I bet I looked at those that day at LEAST 20-30 times?) Check the controls… okay.. lets do it. I taxi up to the line, call for takeoff clearance. Gives me position and hold (another first in the real world… practiced, yes so not a big deal). King Air turns off the runway. Tower clears me to go.. King air pilot comes up and advises of birds at his end of the runway.. Powers coming up… Airspeed.. wheels up, little gust.. got it.. back up to the pattern we go. Tower throws me a “Make right traffic” Okay cool.. maybe have better luck on that side. I report on downwind.. Tower, requests I extend #2 behind the CAP plane a mile out. Cool.. I’ll take the extra time, no problem. I report the traffic in sight, he concurs… he goes by uneventfully, make my turn for base.. set myself up.. everything is awesome, nice slow approach.. little bumpy this time, flaps in.. little high.. adjust accordingly.. on the lights.. cross the numbers, hold it off…… ‘dut..dut……..dut’ “oh yeah :-) might have been a 9 outta 10 but always room for improvement.. don’t be cocky..

Turn off onto the taxiway.. tower calls me.. ut oh.. I think.. is this where he gives me a phone number to call? A black suburban with 2 guys in suits is waiting for me at the tie down? I DID do something stupid up there didn’t I?? Oh crap, CFI is gonna love this :(

I switch to ground freq….
Me: Responds to his call
Controller: “was that your first solo?”
Me: “yes sir…” :oops:
Controller: “Handled that great, good job and congratulations on your Solo”
Me: “thank you sir, appreciate your help have a good day”

From there I continue my long taxi to parking… feeling high as a kite after just earning an “Atta boy” from the Tower who has had to deal with my new student radio learning goofiness for the last 3 months. Shutdown the plane, climb out, sweating like mad. CFI gives me the token hand shake and a smile.

We walk back into the FBO and I see who I assume was the Biz Jet driver on the phone... none of my business so I keep going but I am secretly hoping he is told to report to the maintenance hanger where the two big line guys are there waiting with chains and a whip.

I'm not ashamed to admit I was a bundle of nerves and I've mentally reviewed that day in my head several times and I learned some valuable things. The compliment from the controllers really gave me the boost I needed after the eventful morning.

So my solo is now done and I learned the importance of keeping your nerves cool and collected and how critical situational awareness is, especially when your alone.

nbjeeptj · Joined: 23 Jun 2011 Posts: 46 Location: Gilbert SC

this was a great read as just a few weeks ago when I did mine at a non towered airport (but one with a lot of business / doctors with fast airplanes in close to the city) the first flight around the pattern I was scared to death of how the plane was going to handle on landing without the extra 200lbs but after a little to much pull back on the stick and having to stay in the ground affect way longer than normal, I was off to the second round. I took off a little more confident and turned crosswind, and then downwind and then just as I was thinking I got this I was asked by a SR22 pilot where in the down wind I was. I had never been asked a question before so I was stumped, after a short delay I was able to muster up the the info of about mid field. He then asked since he was flying a real fast airplane if I could tighten up my base and final and he would go long ( of course I am thinking if this guy new he was talking to such a low time student pilot on his first solo he would probably fly to China to stay away from me) I just replied I will do what I can. I landed with no problem but still yet rattled from the unexpected communication. Then the third time around was nothing but making sure I got around safe as I could because My brain was fried and I wanted a beer. as I think back (and It was just a few weeks ago) I do think I may have learned more in that 10 min than any other 10 min time period in my life. It is for sure something I will never forget.

N918KT · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:50 pm Post subject:

Congratulations SSDriver!!! I had a good time reading your first solo! It almost makes me want to continue flying lessons again. Was Robert Cherry your CFI that soloed you?

I might want to learn to fly at Royal Karina again maybe but I don't know yet. Long drive from North NJ and with college starting again, I don't think I would have the time to spend half a day at Trenton driving down an hour and a half each way. But yes, I do miss Robert. Are you from North Jersey too? If so, how long does it take you to drive down the the airport?

One question though. Why did you not do a touch and go at Trenton? The first time I went up with Mr. Cherry, we did 2 or 3 touch and goes in the 172 around Trenton.

zaitcev · Joined: 05 Jan 2010 Posts: 258 Location: Albuquerque, NM

You did the right thing with the 360 on downwind. Here are my GPS tracks with a 360 from back when I was a student:
http://zaitcev.mee.nu/flying_pattern_work

Congratulations on handling the go-around, way to go.

-- Pete

CBKERR · Joined: 20 Jul 2011 Posts: 36 Location: Bel Air, MD

Ssdriver. CONGRATULATIONS on your first solo. Sounds like you handled all the distractions great. I hope if I am faced with that I will do as well. I should be soloing soon

Again congratulations

Brian

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1390 Location: Lock Haven PA

Here's a tip for students soloing at a towered field. To reduce the level of excitement, on your first radio call to the tower, be sure to announce "student pilot, first solo." That way, the controller will be less likely to give you that 360 on downwind.

Driver, you did good! :)

High Altitude · Joined: 20 Jun 2009 Posts: 22

My instructor also suggested this. The pattern was really busy and I believe the controllers took some pity :)