First solo

[tyler]

First solo flight.
Friday March 3rd I got to do my first solo flight in our Taylorcraft! I'm a student pilot going for my sport pilot license. I took off Friday from work as the weather looked great all day and I was hoping to get my last two hours in my log book to atleast satisfy my insurance requirements. I lucked out and found a great instructor who is very familiar with Taylorcrafts.
We flew three times taking breaks and the weather held out all day. My last lesson of the day he surprised me with yet another engine out and said make it a full stop. Although He hinted that it would be nice to get me soloed I didn't actually think it would happen on Friday. He hopped out and said to give me three.
Id love to say they were great landings but I bounced the first alittle but held it together and the second was better with the third was a pretty good wheelie to end the day.
What fun!
Tyler

[M Towsley]

Re: First solo

Congrats, Tyler!!! Welcome to the family.

[3Dreaming]

Re: First solo

Good job!!!

[waltermrich]

Re: First solo

Great to hear about your solo , I have a 1946 BC12D near Amana at 06IA on the Chicago sectional near CID . Stop by if an when you are able Its only 1725 feet but no obstructions. There is a Taylorcraft at Green Castle one at CID one at Tipton and one near Cogon . Glad to know about you.

[astjp2]

Re: First solo

Well in a few years and a few hundred hours, you will still get a smile from remembering that special day! I still think its one of my greatest accomplishments. Tim

[tyler]

Re: First solo

Thanks guys it was a big day for me . It's great to know there's local Taylorcraft's too. I'm based at oqw

[N95334]

Re: First solo

Great Day indeed. Glad you stuck with the long tradition of cutting your shirt tail off.
Many happy hours of learning to fly in a great teaching aeroplane.
Congrats

[M Towsley]

Re: First solo

Funny you should mention the shirt-tail cutting as tradition. Back in the 40's it was getting doused with a bucket of water, as occurred to my parents back then and they to me when I soloed in the mid 70's.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: First solo

I got the bucket of water when I soloed too. As I remember it was in the winter and that water was REALLY COLD!!!!

Hank

Of course that was the FIRST time I soloed. Anyone know what is tradition when you come back to flying and solo the next time?

[TimHicks]

Re: First solo

Congratulations, Tyler!

[M Towsley]

Re: First solo

Hank,

For me it was a non-event the second time around with my first T-Craft, (tailwheel). Which was good because I had a good shirt on.

[Scott]

Re: First solo

Good on ya Tyler.

Learning to fly in a Taylorcraft (tail dragger) gives you a huge advantage over trike gear pilots in terms of "seat of the pants" coordinated flight skills, one that will last a lifetime. Several recent aircraft accidents have demonstrated these fundamentals are sadly lacking in the world of highly automated flying.

Well done.

[tyler]

Re: First solo

Thanks guys
Although I took an introductory flight in a Cessna 150 I've always loved the old tail wheel planes and that's been my dream to learn to fly. My log book is pretty slim on hours but my father has taught me most of what I know. It one of the hardest and most rewarding things I've done. I wouldn't want to learn in anything else.

[tyler]

Re: First solo

Thanks guys
Although I took an introductory flight in a Cessna 150 I've always loved the old tail wheel planes and that's been my dream to learn to fly. My log book is pretty slim on hours but my father has taught me most of what I know. It is one of the hardest and most rewarding things I've done. I wouldn't want to learn in anything else.

[hisoos]

Re: First solo

Congratulations Tyler! I learned to fly in a Champ, but never soloed it (insurance). Then I flew a 150, and never soloed it (medical issue). All the old timers that taught me and flew with me thought I was a good stick and rudder pilot, and so did I. Bought my T-craft, and had to learn how to really fly a plane! Or should I say, how to land correctly.

So many people have told me that if I can fly a T-craft, I can fly anything. I have been flying since I was 8 years old, and since then have flown my fair share of single engine general aviation planes. I echo to you what they said to me. Stick to the T-craft as much as you can. It will make you a better pilot.

My son is 9 years old and my daughter 7. I hope they too will someday solo a T-craft.