Ignacio's First Solo Flight!

[Jer]

Congratulations Matt. It brought back memories of my first solo and how excited I was to be flying the airplane all by myself. Watching the tape I was nervous for you but thought you handled yourself quite well. Your solo cross countries will be a lot of fun for you. The most exciting time will be when you pass the flying exam and get your license.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Congrats Matt!
Just be careful of those clouds that look like sheep ...

Probably more important to watch out for sheep that look like clouds.

Cuz you know. They're on the ground.

 

[PhilJet09]

Great job and congratulations! Takes me back to '92.

 

[Bellerophon]

Great video Ignacio, thank you for sharing it. On behalf of my company, I have a couple of drivers domiciled in the warehouses to the right of the runway you were landing on. I recently tried to have an electrician add some more 220 volt power to the building. They wouldn't touch it, stating that the current wiring is the original WWII stuff and that the whole place would need to be upgraded before they could add another line.

Congratulations on your solo!

 

[Cav47]

Sure looks like a great time, you have went to new heights to avoid hitting sheep!!

Party on!!

 

[SnowAviation]

I'm a Flight Instructor and a Controller, dude you sounded and flew great.

Nice work for a first solo.

 

[FJRPittsburgh]

Congrats Matt! Awesome stuff. Great job!

 

[ionbeam]

Another congratulations! Time to work on those frequent flier miles hours. Lots of blank pages in the pilot's log which need to be filled in.

 

[Richouse]

That's Awesome! Congrats! Did your instructor cut out the back of your shirt? I use it fly a Saab Fairchild 340 into KTRI several years ago. I always really liked that airport.

 

[Ignacio]

That's Awesome! Congrats! Did your instructor cut out the back of your shirt? I use it fly a Saab Fairchild 340 into KTRI several years ago. I always really liked that airport.

He didn't...he wasn't much for that tradition. But, he did illicit the Captain Morgan pose and think that's one of the better pictures I've seen.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Congrats! Now you can start planning a trip to Oshkosh for the fly-in. I flew my Cherokee there in '98 and camped by the plane. Great time with a hundred thousand or so of new friends.

 

[C&C]

Congrats, was gonna ask whether we get an 'affirmative' (on cutting the shirt tail) but see no. Oh well, still an excellent achievement.

 

[RichDoyle]

What you classify as your second "error" was one, BUT it is more than cancelled out by asking the tower for clarification. Good job. Treat ATC as a collaborator.

And that goes for non-towered airports, as well. Admittedly some of these are airports can be cells of anarchy (AWO has this reputation at times). But mostly what I encounter these days is a sort of ATC-by-committee. Letting other guys know you have them in sight, letting them know your intentions (I'll follow you, etc.), and it's downright collegial. My new home airport (Prineville, OR) works well this way.

Keep this in mind: Flight Instructors are not God. They make mistakes and you should question if something seems off. The same is true for that much more "experienced" pilot you may come to fly with. Instructors and other pilots will also bestow unsolicited wisdom about aviation that will mostly be true.

 

[wheatonFJR]

How about hotshot ex-Navy aviators? I heard they are darn near perfect...yes, I'm looking at you russperry.

Congratulations Iggy.

Now you can paint your first plane Blue and Gold!

 

[MrZappo]

I did mine about 10 years ago and loved every minute of it ... Congratulations !!! Is it quite an accomplishment ... Some of the best days of my life were learning to fly ...

Enjoy !!!

 

[Ignacio]

What you classify as your second "error" was one, BUT it is more than cancelled out by asking the tower for clarification. Good job. Treat ATC as a collaborator.

I felt pretty good about that one too. I figure as I fly more and experience things without a minder to my right I'll soak in and remember those details more consistently.

One of the coolest parts of ground school was that the ATC person, Chris, came to our class and talked for an hour including that exact point. "We're there to make sure you're up there safely. Talk with us. Don't know what to say in radio language? Talk in regular English." Incredibly empathetic person with 15 years experience at our Class D airport that's a training ground for others that typically come and go in 18 months.

That and a tour of their facility that's both the airport tower and TRACON for SE region of Washington. They literally have the dark room with those big round scopes and sweeping arcs...even if it's computer generated.

My instructor grew up in Kodiak with a family history of flying. The guy has lived much of his life under 1200' AGL an me thinks.....his experience and stories of bush stuff are eyebrow raisiing.

 

[wnyfjr]

My instructor grew up in Kodiak with a family history of flying. The guy has lived much of his life under 1200' AGL an me thinks.....his experience and stories of bush stuff are eyebrow raisiing.

From what I've seen (never been there) flying up in AK is a whole 'nuther world. The places they routinely fly into and out of and the loads (many EXTERNAL) they carry on their Cubs and such are just unreal. That being said, the ones I listened to the most were the ones with a variety of flying experience, and also those who seemed to understand that some of the experiences they had were not good and were of their own making, and probably shouldn't have happened. They learned from those and were happy to pass that on to me so that I don't have to have the 'experience' to avoid the problem.

I have unfortunately been out of the cockpit for about 10 years, but I hope to pick it up again some day. I have never ONCE regretted the money I spent on my license and I never will. You're on your way and will grin every time you go up!

 

[NightShine]

Nice job, Matt! Climbs a bit better without that pesky instructor along!

One of the therapeutic benefits I remember from flying is that the training-instilled discipline for safe aircraft operation forces you to break with the other worries and involvements of your day, at least during actual flight operations. A welcome shift in perspective and mindset.

Enjoy!