First Solo

"npg" (npg88)
06/29/2014 at 17:07 • Filed to: None

I had to take a couple of weekends off from flying due to some family stuff but I got back to it today. The flight club I take lessons though got another Cessna 172 and I hadn't had a chance to fly it yet so I figured today was as good a day as any. I just stayed in the traffic pattern because I hadn't flown in a awhile and the ceiling was only about 1400 feet.

In addition to learning a new plane I was little bit rusty and the first couple of landing were not very smooth. After about ten touch and goes everything smoothed out again and the next 6 were perfect. Then my instructor told me to park and then go do some touch and goes on my own. I knew I was close but I was not expecting that my first day back. I have 10.4 hrs in the cockpit after today.

This is the only picture I can find of the new plane

As if that was cool enough....

I had just taken off after my first touch and go when I heard the "Tower this is Fortress 3703 golf for low approach on 18". I didn't really think much of at the time but on my downwind leg I saw this flying low over the runway.

B-17 - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

How many people can say that they had to deal with B-17 wake turbulence on their second solo landing ever? Not a bad day by any stretch.

(Edit: Just did some research. N3703G is not the original Memphis Belle, but it is the B-17 used in the 1990 movie by the same name.)

DISCUSSION (8)

ttyymmnn > npg
06/29/2014 at 17:11

Congrats! Probably best that you didn't know your solo was coming. You should have gotten in on the 17's six and tried some gun runs.

npg > npg
06/29/2014 at 17:53

Awesome, thanks Paul!

f86sabre > npg
06/29/2014 at 18:05

awesome! Keep going and keep safe. Way cool to see a Fort while flying as well!

CCTalbert > npg
06/30/2014 at 23:18

HEY! I'm in the same club! Congrats! (and totally envious about you're being in the pattern with the B17! I got my certificate a few months ago... haven't been in '08a yet, mostly been flying the 175. Hoping for a good not-too-windy day soon.

CCTalbert > npg
06/30/2014 at 23:18

npg > CCTalbert
07/01/2014 at 00:22

Haha awesome. 08A flies really nice. It seems quiter than 99U for whatever reason and the dash isn't as tall so the picture is much nicer. I haven't flown the other planes. I want to get signed off to solo in the DA40 in addition to the 172s. We should get in touch though the club, it would be cool to chat with someone flying the same planes.

CCTalbert > npg
07/01/2014 at 17:11

"Small world" as they say. I did my check-ride in 99u in Feb. Haven't flown the DA40 yet, obviously a bit to learn there, it's quite different. The 175 is fun- being 220hp with an adjustable prop you need a sign-off on it, there is a bit more to manage and slightly different procedures. It flies a bit faster, but the real difference is how fast it accelerates and climbs. It's like a hot-rod compared to the 172, kinda alarming at first! I got to flying it because 99u was always booked. It flies a LOT. :)