Big Congratulations to Frank who solo'ed this morning here in Albuquerque, New Mexico!
It's been a great journey and we have been working hard up until this point! His main feedback from the initial solo was the "insane" climb out on take off.
During training we were doing lots of simulated engine outs on take off and that helped him out because on solo he pulled the bar in to build speed in ground effect before climbing out slowly, BUT then backed off on the throttle (even though we have spoke about it and he knew this scenario for the solo flight - Keep the throttle on), He said it started to come down but as the bar was in to the belly he was ready to land it immediately but put the throttle back on and climbed out. He felt safe, and glad we did a lot of engine out simulation on take off. Last nights lesson before solo, we cut the mags on the engine and he pulled off 4 perfect glides in, which put his confidence THROUGH the roof !
I am super happy for him ! He darn well deserves it !
Thanks Dave G ! I'm really enjoying helping the future pilots! Another got halfway through his training and then went to Mexico for a vacation and is back and will start back next week so hopefully I'll have a new picture up here real soon! I'll have to order another 6 pack of solo !!
An appropriate tradition to start, Damien. I've got a little plastic white horse that came from a whisky bottle of the same name, dating back to my first soaring flight off White Horse Hill. The chap who began that tradition had some serious work to do when the numbers of soaring pilots began increasing! Keep those solos flowing...
Comments
Big Congratulations to Frank who solo'ed this morning here in Albuquerque, New Mexico!
It's been a great journey and we have been working hard up until this point! His main feedback from the initial solo was the "insane" climb out on take off.
During training we were doing lots of simulated engine outs on take off and that helped him out because on solo he pulled the bar in to build speed in ground effect before climbing out slowly,
BUT then backed off on the throttle (even though we have spoke about it and he knew this scenario for the solo flight - Keep the throttle on),
He said it started to come down but as the bar was in to the belly he was ready to land it immediately but put the throttle back on and climbed out.
He felt safe, and glad we did a lot of engine out simulation on take off. Last nights lesson before solo, we cut the mags on the engine and he pulled off 4 perfect glides in, which put his confidence THROUGH the roof !
I am super happy for him ! He darn well deserves it !
Congratulations Frank!! Welcome to the sky!
Well done both of you! I trust Frank knows about, and has or will perform, the traditional First Solo Airfield Shout? ;-)
Woohoo Frank! Well done!
Congratulations Frank, the skies welcome you.
Congrats to you also Damien, you are becoming a Pilot factory.
Thanks Ken, Tussock, Rick D and Dave G !
Tussock, I'm bringing the Australian Lemon Soda Drink "Solo" to a new tradition here in my proud new land of America!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solo_(Australian_soft_drink)
Thanks Dave G ! I'm really enjoying helping the future pilots! Another got halfway through his training and then went to Mexico for a vacation and is back and will start back next week so hopefully I'll have a new picture up here real soon! I'll have to order another 6 pack of solo !!
Congrats to both of you guys!!
Kudos frank and damien please say hi to my old watermelon mountains for me. Green chille burgers for both of you!!!!
An appropriate tradition to start, Damien. I've got a little plastic white horse that came from a whisky bottle of the same name, dating back to my first soaring flight off White Horse Hill. The chap who began that tradition had some serious work to do when the numbers of soaring pilots began increasing! Keep those solos flowing...
If the "first solo airfield shout" is a primal screem, then yes, did that.
Glad to hear it, Frank! First of many?