Gulfstream IV
New Member
I solo'd at 32hrs, and completed my check ride at 41hrs...
When did you solo??
- Thread starter youngflyer
- Start date
Polar742
All the responsibility none of the authority
:yeahthat:.....plus you're paying half. It'll take twice as long if you make 'em mad.
I soloed about 4 months after I turned 16, I've been behind ever since.
Best of luck.
We want pics of the ride, you in the patch and the shirt tail.
JulietBravo
On Call, On Demand
I had 12ish hours. And like someone said before, my mom didn't find out until AFTERWARDS. Just don't tell her till then 
Like you said, she has no experience and you do. If your CFI says your ready, then your ready. And if it would make her feel better, take her on a flight sometime just to show her how much fun your having!
Like you said, she has no experience and you do. If your CFI says your ready, then your ready. And if it would make her feel better, take her on a flight sometime just to show her how much fun your having!
pilotty
Well-Known Member
Well...good luck to you! I soloed on my 16th birthday and my parents showed up with a brigade of my friends and other family to surprise me and video tape it ( I didn't realize this until after I got out of the plane and was glad I didn't see them until then! )
I really didn't have the attitude that I was going to solo on my 16th birthday or else...it was more like I really hoped I could but being I live in Ohio...heck who knows with the weather, and whether my instructor would feel I am ready. It just worked out, and was one of the best days of my life up to this point...I am really glad I have the video to look back on it every now and then. I also had about 30 hours when I soloed but that was because I had been taking lessons since age 12. My parents were I'd say a little nervous but had total trust in my instructor...maybe your instructor can explain what training is required and what training you have had up to this point...let us know how it works out!
Ty
I really didn't have the attitude that I was going to solo on my 16th birthday or else...it was more like I really hoped I could but being I live in Ohio...heck who knows with the weather, and whether my instructor would feel I am ready. It just worked out, and was one of the best days of my life up to this point...I am really glad I have the video to look back on it every now and then. I also had about 30 hours when I soloed but that was because I had been taking lessons since age 12. My parents were I'd say a little nervous but had total trust in my instructor...maybe your instructor can explain what training is required and what training you have had up to this point...let us know how it works out!
Ty
CoffeeIcePapers
Well-Hung Member
I sucked. I had about 25 hours.
meritflyer
Well-Known Member
Chuck Norris soloed his CFI.
EineBeBoP
Well-Known Member
~14 hours. I had 2 hours logged that wasn't really teaching towards my Solo.
Show mom my logbook so she can see whats normal.
http://www.logshare.com/log.jsp?vpi...ear=2007&end_month=6&end_day=19&end_year=2007
Show mom my logbook so she can see whats normal.
http://www.logshare.com/log.jsp?vpi...ear=2007&end_month=6&end_day=19&end_year=2007
Copperhed51
Well-Known Member
I think my first solo was right around 7 hours. Funny, my flight instructor is now about 15 spots senior to me at my current company. I thought I moved up pretty slowly but he had some legal issues so he had to instruct for a while. If you're instructor thinks you're ready, you're ready. He's got too much riding on you not screwing up.
mhcasey
Well-Known Member
When did they change Part 61 to require 10hrs of solo time?
I think people get too tied up with this one. Most of my students solo around 20 hours. I wait until I see maneuvers performed well, and overall PIC character before spending too much time in the pattern. I guess we all do it the same.
I soloed at 10ish, then took a few extra flights to get the 25nm endorsement out of KAUS.
Cool2Fly
New Member
6.5 out of TLH. My instructor told me I was ready but I said no and we shut the plane down. I sat in the parking lot for 5 mins and then said "let's do it".
I beat my old man's time of 7 hours, but that was grass strip in England with a Tiger Moth, and no Radios..He finished his career on a 400 for Singapore Airlines, I should be so lucky.
I beat my old man's time of 7 hours, but that was grass strip in England with a Tiger Moth, and no Radios..He finished his career on a 400 for Singapore Airlines, I should be so lucky.
WildcatPilot
Well-Known Member
26.6 hours at age 17 on July 21, 2001. I agree with the poster who suggested getting your mom to go up with you and your instructor. That should ease a lot of her fears. Good luck!
flyguy
Well-Known Member
17 hours on November 1st 2003 at KOAK on Rw 27L in N8274E.
Your instuctor has almost as much reason to worry about you as your mom. If something happens to you, his career could be in shambles. If he thinks you are ready, you are. Has your mom spoken to your instructor?
Good luck and fly safe!!
Your instuctor has almost as much reason to worry about you as your mom. If something happens to you, his career could be in shambles. If he thinks you are ready, you are. Has your mom spoken to your instructor?
Good luck and fly safe!!
Flyin_bryan
New Member
:rotfl:
jml2992
Pigeon Mutilator
About 28 or so...I was also, teh suck. KBIL always has horrible winds and I ended up having all afternoon flights. Most of my students solo around 15-22 hours but I just feel better knowing that I have covered every possible maneuver with them before sending them out to fend for themselves. For most of the low time solos out there...did you instructors cover just the basics of attitude, slow flight, stall recovery, and landing or did you just learn a lot faster than me.
jrh
Well-Known Member
For what it's worth, most of my students solo at 15-20 hours, but I've signed them off as early as 10 and as much as 32. Personally, I soloed at 17 hours.
A lot depends on the standards the CFI holds the student to. I could probably teach someone to takeoff and land safely in good weather in less than 10 hours. I don't consider that the ultimate mark of being ready to solo though.
I want to see the "PIC attitude" in my students before they go on their own. I also want them to be able to handle at least 10 knot crosswinds...here in Nebraska winds can pick up quickly and unexpectedly. I don't want them to ball up a plane because they got caught in bad weather. I also make sure they can glide in and successfully put the plane in to a relatively small field well enough to walk away from in case of an engine failure. For a lot of students, that task alone might take 2-3 hours of training over nothing but emergencies. I don't ever want to get a call that one of my solo students got killed because he couldn't handle an engine failure on takeoff.
Turns around a point, steep turns, slow flight, etc., those things will all be perfected with time. It's pretty hard to wreck a plane doing slow flight. I'm more relaxed about those maneuvers. But directional control on the runway and being able to handle engine failures at any point in the flight, those items are absolutely critical in my book. I just don't see how anyone can become proficient to those standards in less than 10 hours.
A lot depends on the standards the CFI holds the student to. I could probably teach someone to takeoff and land safely in good weather in less than 10 hours. I don't consider that the ultimate mark of being ready to solo though.
I want to see the "PIC attitude" in my students before they go on their own. I also want them to be able to handle at least 10 knot crosswinds...here in Nebraska winds can pick up quickly and unexpectedly. I don't want them to ball up a plane because they got caught in bad weather. I also make sure they can glide in and successfully put the plane in to a relatively small field well enough to walk away from in case of an engine failure. For a lot of students, that task alone might take 2-3 hours of training over nothing but emergencies. I don't ever want to get a call that one of my solo students got killed because he couldn't handle an engine failure on takeoff.
Turns around a point, steep turns, slow flight, etc., those things will all be perfected with time. It's pretty hard to wreck a plane doing slow flight. I'm more relaxed about those maneuvers. But directional control on the runway and being able to handle engine failures at any point in the flight, those items are absolutely critical in my book. I just don't see how anyone can become proficient to those standards in less than 10 hours.
Boris Badenov
Fortis Leader
Cool. Thanks for making me go back and look.
March 17th, 1997, a date which shall live in INFAMY. 10.3 hours, Cessna 152 5105B. KLOU.
Oh, and to your question. I was 20. If I'd been able to do it at 16, I for damn sure would have. Tell your mom you'll be fine and not to worry. She'll worry anyway. That's the way that particular relationship works.
March 17th, 1997, a date which shall live in INFAMY. 10.3 hours, Cessna 152 5105B. KLOU.
Oh, and to your question. I was 20. If I'd been able to do it at 16, I for damn sure would have. Tell your mom you'll be fine and not to worry. She'll worry anyway. That's the way that particular relationship works.