Sport Pilot Talk

Finally soloed in a Tecnam Bravo at X04 (Apopka, FL) this morning. It's been a struggle because my CFIs keep going to the airlines. I'm on instructor number four now (and the third one to tell me I was ready to solo once we had good weather).

It's been frustrating. I'd get to the point of being ready, we'd get blown out for a week or two, the CFI would quit, and I'd end up going a month or so without flying. Rinse and repeat. Feels good to finally get there.

Three full stops. First was great, smooth and straight. Second was okay, but a bit off center and could have been a hair straighter. Third was perfectly straight and straddling the centerline, but just a little hard. All three were acceptable and safe, though, so I'm happy. A great day!

Pic attached. I'm the old ugly guy in blue.

Congrats!

You are not that old but you are ugly ( but keep in mind that as far as I am concerned, pretty much all guys ARE ugly )

Congratulations.

Warmi wrote:You are not that old but you are ugly ( but keep in mind that as far as I am concerned, pretty much all guys ARE ugly )

Congratulations.

Thanks!

For a little perspective, my CFI is a year younger than my youngest kid. He has remarkable patience in dealing with us old farts.

Maybe we should have an old farts fly-in.

Congrats... I so loved my solo, remember it like it was Saturday Oh it was..

rcpilot wrote:Maybe we should have an old farts fly-in.

Complete with vendor tents displaying canes, walkers, hearing aids, walk-in bathtubs,...

When I was 16 ... I remember 30 year olds seemed "old" to me ... now when I am in my mid 40s, this line has shifted considerably ... so how do we know we are old ?

Warmi wrote:When I was 16 ... ... so how do we know we are old ?

Old is when you're watching a Gilligan's Island rerun and somebody asks "Ginger or Mary Ann?" and your answer is "Mrs. Howell!"

Congrats! I would join you all for the Fly-in today - but I am getting an injection in my back today! Old farts earn the right to have 3 bad discs!

PJ

rcpilot wrote:Maybe we should have an old farts fly-in.

Is not "old farts fly-in" redundant?"

But seriously, Ed, congratulations. Getting a pilot's license is as much a test of perseverance as anything else.

Time to start planning your first cross-country to Copperhill!

FastEddieB wrote:
But seriously, Ed, congratulations. Getting a pilot's license is as much a test of perseverance as anything else.

In that case, raising two kids was probably good preparation....

Awesome! I feel your pain, I just had to switch CFI's because my first one started instructing helicopters in another city and his schedule and mine just don't mix anymore. Hoping we can work something out, but for the time being I'm flying with a different kid. He's 10 years younger than I am and I'm 36!

Half Fast, enjoy the excitement from your accomplishment of flying solo! And let that carry forward into your continued training and solo cross country! At this point, given that you've solo'd, you are now a PILOT!

Congratulations!