I finally soloed! It was awsome! The plane really acts different without another hundred someodd pounds of instructor. And my landings were really good today! Didnt use the glide slope much though. I turned it on once and turned back off so I stopped fiddling with it, maybe I forgot the number of clicks or something. But yeah I'll tell ya what you really do hear all the little squeeks and bumps when your up there all alone.

Congrats !

Now, just wait until you actually GO somewhere solo. The first time you step out of a plane at an airport other than where you took off, by yourself, is something that.. well.. you'll see   


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The engine will start talking to you (and you won't like it) the first time you fly over a large body of water...

Way to go!! What aircraft was it, and why were you using the glideslope? How are you gonna learn to land if you're using that?

Congrats Drake!

As I've said numerous times, my solo was somewhat less than spectacular for me but the real sense of accomplishment came with the solo x-country-a new goal to work for for you!

Good job. 8)

Mostly it was a series of woots and hollars. I also wore my silly aviator cap and goggles. I found myself playing back the Major Tom song in my head though.

I actually soloed again today because I did so well on my landings the other day that I only got .4 hours and I needed .5 for my stage check.

Congrats on getting the ticket!  So, do you have any other plans... gonna start working on your IR soon?

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I still have my old Jepp syllabus: #15 is listed there as "Dual-cross-country". If I remember correctly, the CFI covered just about everything on the list, much of it verbally rather than through demonstration. But if you're wondering,  expect a lot of emphasis on pilotage, diversions and lost procedure, and unfamiliar and controlled airport procedures. And you will probably discover why I poo-poo use of the ILS for beginners: don't expect to have the luxury of a glideslope and huge runway at airports you'll be visiting on the XC rides. Just entering the pattern properly can be very challenging at some field you've never seen before.
  The sooner you show you've got all that stuff wired, the sooner you'll get to the check ride.
also, expect to really enjoy it, despite all the work. As you work towards that first solo XC, it's just as exciting as anticipating that first solo flight.
Good luck!!

I've been trying not to use anything too brand new. I discovered fun with VORs the other day. I discovered that a broken ADF, VOR triangulation and a sectional can get you un-lost and back to an airport when you are confused after recovery from unusual attitudes with foggles on. My instructor actually told me to just follow the GPS back but I dont like that GPS, in my opinion it doesnt flow well with the other instruments so I ignor it or turn it off most of the time. I was useing it occasionally for DME but now that I can triangulate I may just plot it from now on.