Cool, good luck!  I don't have any first solo stories, but here is an "after" first solo story:

One of my first solos I was doing rounds in the pattern and there was a woman flying in the pattern also who would not acknowledge anyone on the radio what-so-ever.  So, I was trying to enter the downwind leg and I made my radio call but she wouldn't tell me where she was so I circled back away from the airport and called UNICOM for a radio check and everything was working fine.  She finally said only who she was and that she was on "base for landing" and nothing else so I headed back to try to enter the downwind leg and she mucked up her landing and had to go-around so I called her asking where she was so we wouldn't have an "incident".  She wouldn't respond and I couldn't see here so I circled again.  We did the same thing one more time before I dropped to 200 feet below pattern altitude, pushed the throttle forward and flew around the pattern fast and turned to a really short final and once I landed I got off the runway as fast as I could.  Everyone at the FBO told me that the woman flying the airplane never talks to anyone while she is flying.

So, let this be a lesson, listen to your radio and watch where your going, it makes it alot easier for everyone.

The best part of the story though is as we were both leaving the airport, the woman who would not talk to me on the radio waved at me as she drove by.
???

Do try to avoid this



P.S.  Wear an old shirt.

I think I posted this story earlier in another thread, but my 1st solo went great except for one thing: the wind was light and variable, so my CFI warned me that the runway in use might change (this was at an uncontrolled field). I nodded, but did not inquire further. Takeoff from Rwy 01 was fine, made my xwind leg in textbook style, turned to downwind right on target, then somebody announced that we were now using 19. Now, at this field, you can't fly on the west side of the runway, so I couldn't just continue on, turning my base leg into an xwind leg... "I've gotta turn around", I thought, "but where? How?" To complicate matters, there was now a plane in front of me, and one behind. I decided to try to follow the guy in front of me, but he left the pattern altogether. Hmmm... for some reason I didn't think to ask for advice on the radio (dumb!). Finally, as the turn-to-base point approached, I decided to extend my downwind and get the hell out of the way before making a 180. and hauling it in on a looonnng final. Made three decent landings that day, but it was interesting  trying to figure out what to do. I'd never read about the standard procedure anywhere, nor heard of it from any CFI. Afterwards, I asked my CFI, and he seemed surprised I didn;t know: "Oh- when that happens, just make a teardrop turn at the midway point on downwind, towards the outside.... you mean you didn't know? I was wondering what you were doing!"
   Anyway, don't psych yourself out, you've done a pattern before most likely without any input from your CFI, so it's no big deal. Just remember my story- think about any oddball surprises beforehand, and have a little plan in mind for each. And if you're in doubt at any point- speak up!!  And one more thing: assuming it's a C172 or similar light single, she'll be a little friskier without the CFI's weight in the right seat, and a little more reluctant to descend. In a 150, the difference is quite pronounced: you may find yourself compensating for a slight left-rolling tendency. Good luck- and have fun!! That first solo pattern is something you'll never forget!

I don't know, but when one airplane loves another very much...

Nice story, I hate getting that feeling when your up there alone and something happens that catches you off guard.   But don't worry, your CFI wouldn't let you go up if he didn't think you could handle anything that may come up.

Quote:

LOL yea, I hope that was consentual.

Mobius, your story just further proves how dangerous and unprofessional GA pilots can be. While some may find it amusing, I swear to god I would have smacked her (I'm kidding-of course I would ask my CFI if it was ok to smack her first ) once I got down on the ground.

That reminds me of a fella at my field who was strongly opposed to going around. It was a really, really busy saturday at my airfield (uncontrolled) and someones takeoff roll/rollout was taking longer than expected. people were shouting at him "go around! go around!", but I'm going to assume you can figure out what the moron did.

And rotty-I remember that story

And dude, you are like 0 for 5 on your last five quote attempts. You've somehow managed to mess up the code for them all. Straighten it out or else... I'll write angry PMs!

Enjoy it. Mine was on the evening of my 18th birthday at (RAF) Manston airport in Kent. C152, G-BHHG. My second first (RAF) solo was a year and a half later...

Looking forward to the third, whilst I get stick time on anything I can at the moment...

Charlie

Quote:


Always the way...

Quote:


No, that heppened with my first passenger.  12 kts of x-wind and I was expecting to have a large bump, when I hear the wheels hit the ground.  I was a lovely landing, worthy of a round of applause.

Oh, here he goes again.. rub it in, Boss... . I really do envy you that first time. And it is crazy when you've been reminded for weeks to be ready to solo,disappointed each time it doesn't happen, then- bam! The CFI gets out right in the middle of a lesson.  Mine said: "Gimme three good ones, I'll be right here watching". Ulp!

Good luck! Not that you'll need it- you've done it before, just not by yourself... And don't forget to log the solo time under "P.I.C"!