Sport Pilot Talk

MikeM · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Bucyrus, Ohio

I soloed today! I did two takeoffs and landings with my instructor and then he jumped out and I did four more by myself. It sure felt different flying without someone else in the airplane. There were no problems of any kind, just getting used to how the plane handled with one person on board.

The first two solo landings were a little long as I wasn't used to how the Flight Design CT likes to glide when flown solo. I had been told it would by my instructor but it still caught me a little by surprise. The next two were much better, although none of them were greasers by any means. :D

Before this flight I had 14.1 hours of instruction since Nov. 10 of last year. I remember the first time my instructor let me help to land the plane. I thought no way in heck will I ever be able to do this! Now it's on to my cross country flights.

P.S. My instructor said no victory rolls allowed- darn it!

Hi Larry

MikeB · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject:

Congratulations! I encourages me when I hear other people's experiences about soloing.

seaplane_tux · Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Great Northwest

Congratulations!
The solo flight is a big milestone .... only gets better from here. :D

Jeff Tipton · Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 74

The first solo is one of the more memorable flights you will ever have.

Congratulations!

SP_Laser · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA

Jeff Tipton wrote: The first solo is one of the more memorable flights you will ever have.

Congratulations!

My first Solo was kinda funny, It was at an airport right next to LAX. Some guy was trying to do a picture taking flight outside of LAX airspace, but close enough to take pictures of it. I guess the office of homeland security was throwing a fit. The control tower was constantly tellin him he couldn't do it...and he was trying to negotiate with them. "What if I just use my personal camera?...etc."

I kept getting interrupted trying to ask permission to land.

MikeM · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Bucyrus, Ohio

Their wasn't anyone else flying in my general vicinity when I soloed so no worry about talking to anyone. Just the normal announcements of position in the pattern. One of the joys of flying out of an uncontrolled airport in the frozen hinterlands of north central Ohio.

SP_Laser · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA

MikeM wrote: Their wasn't anyone else flying in my general vicinity when I soloed so no worry about talking to anyone. Just the normal announcements of position in the pattern. One of the joys of flying out of an uncontrolled airport in the frozen hinterlands of north central Ohio.

I was in Class D airspace for Hawthorne with one other person in the pattern. Final leg is about 1000ft parallel to Class B airspace for LAX on the right. The airport pattern is always to the south, right or left as required because there isn't enough room for a pattern on the north side.

surface to 2500ft is class D 2500- 5000 is class E and 5000-1000 is class B LAX.

It's worth looking at on the TAC for LA. talk about insane airspace...and notice compton airport a few miles east of Hawthorne is UNCONTROLLED. Meaning you could fly your sport plane without a radio all the way in from the desert and land at compton. You're on your own once you do :) Just for fun, try to find a way through the LA airplace to Compton staying clear of all class B,C and D and following sport pilot limitations. (There is a way, where is waldo?)

SkySteve · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject:

I flew my first solo in class D also. Although I now fly out of both controlled and uncontrolled airports, there is something nice about having the tower watching out, not for you, but with you. Those extra eyes and radar screen are pretty nice to have.

SP_Laser · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA

SkySteve wrote: I flew my first solo in class D also. Although I now fly out of both controlled and uncontrolled airports, there is something nice about having the tower watching out, not for you, but with you. Those extra eyes and radar screen are pretty nice to have.

We also have to have mode C transponders...by law. How many other sport pilot students ever get a request from the tower to "Ident"?

SkySteve · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject:

Not a student anymore, but, yes, from time to time the tower will ask for an ident. And, when flying into or out of Class B you will always have a transponder code to squawk.