Solo land away.

[weirdfish]

Well after nearly 6 weeks away from flying due to a 3 week holiday and the weather I completed my first solo land away from Southend yesterday.

I had a shortish lesson on Saturday to get rid of a few cobwebs and reassure myself that i hadn't forgotten everything as i was pretty nervous. I'd been progressing nicely before the hols and even got the Nav exam out the way but the weather saw to it that i wouldn't be able to do the land away.

Once the initial nerves faded it felt so good to be back in the air and to be able to follow up 4 days later by flying down to Lydd on my own was certainly cause for me to feel very pleased with myself.

Followed up today with a nav to Shoreham with the FI back in the plane, depriving me of the very convenient shelf I had yesterday, rounding off a very productive and enjoyable, not to mention expensive, week.

[DarrenL]

Excellent, congrats! Toddling off on your own and landing at a different airfield for the first time was the highlight of my training. I still remember the "wow, I got here all on my own!" feeling fondly.

Won't be long until QXC for you now, hope you get some more of this lovely weather for that

[Paul_Sengupta]

Excellent! I keep saying that the first solo land away is the best bit, better than first solo in my opinion!

[weirdfish]

In hindsight it was certainly more enjoyable. I remember my first solo as a mixture of surprise (really? you want me to do what???) immense concentration, mixed with nerves and excitement, followed finally by relief and elation. It was enjoyable but in a weird fairground ride kind of way.

First solo 'land away' had all of the above but in far less quantities, leaving plenty of opportunity to enjoy the actual act of flying and being a pilot, which is after all why I'm paying a lot of money for the privilege.

I also remember after my first solo thinking forward to my cross country flight and being terrified by the thought of it, now I can't wait

[WingedSupra]

That sounds awesome really looking forward to this myself now. First solo was 6 hours or so of flying time for me but I'm still pretty much stuck in the circuit practising different approaches. Have done the nav exam but want to put some of it into practise now

[Paul_Sengupta]

First solo was 6 hours or so of flying time for me

Did you get lost or something?!

[weirdfish]

[ZG 862]

Well done Weirdfish - congratulations!
Solo off circuit seems somehow so much more grown up that the great-grin-day of 1st solo.

So, how long until QXC?

Z

[weirdfish]

So, how long until QXC?

Z

Not long hopefully I think I'll be doing another single leg solo first tho.

[Iolanthe]

Hi Wierdfish.....

CONGRATs!!!!!!

Wow, I'm jealous now... I still haven't done a solo landaway.....solo Sector Recce for half an hour to Newark and Belvoir Castle is the furthest away i've been solo! Ahh well, everything comes to she who waits!

Iolanthe

[WingedSupra]

First solo was 6 hours or so of flying time for me

Did you get lost or something?!

Lol! I guess I missed the key word "ago" in there somewhere...

[tomshep]

Did mine a fortnight ago. It is the biggest buzz I've had in all my training. Arriving at a new place on your own in an aeroplane is a thrill like no other. Looking forward to the next one!

[weirdfish]

I also thoroughly enjoyed my QXC. The worst part is the next lesson when the instructor is back next to you and you remember you're still training

[ZG 862]

Woooo! Well done Fish! The skills test beckons....

[weirdfish]

Woooo! Well done Fish! The skills test beckons....

Yeh, looming scarily close

I didn't appreciate how close, if I'm honest, until the FI gave me the hurry up on the the written exams. I took Flight Planning, Aircraft General and the RT theory on Saturday so that's the written stuff done

I need another 40mins of instrument stuff and I definately need to revisit PFL's.