Alaska Solo

Can you hear my heart thumping?

Since my flight instructor told me after my last lesson that she thought I would be ready to solo on my next lesson, I have had a difficult time concentrating on anything else. All week the weather reports had predicted snow for today but it dawned with only high clouds, 10 mile viability and light wind. As my flight instructor (CFI) was on vacation today, she wanted the other CFI (the company’s chief pilot) to go up with me for a few touch and goes so he could be comfortable with my solo and sign off on it. If he was satisfied he could turn me loose. When I arrived at the hanger, he was already up  checking out another pilot in a Cessna so I had time to preflight (inspect) the little sport plane I was going to fly. I think I gave it the most thorough physical it had received in it’s young life…..

Finally he returns and we take off for the touch and goes.  After the 4th time around I’m beginning to wonder if he thinks I can do this and then I begin to wonder as well. After 2 more he says “ok, go to a full stop and drop me off at the hanger”. Gulp. Gulp. So I take him back and he gets out. I get out also to stretch my legs and try to get my heart to slow down. Kathleen is there recording the event and showing her support so I can’t quit now. Not in front of my best friend. I climb back in and notice how empty the right seat appears. What is going through my head is….”well, now I am the only person in this plane and I have to do all the talking to air traffic control (ATC)!!”

Trying to figure out what to do next

It’s now or never. I am thankful for checklists. The engine fires up and instruments look good. Closing the canopy gives me a little trouble which has been a problem for this Piper Sport but it finally latches tight. I get the latest local airport automated information report and now need to talk to ATC ground control. I have to tell them who I am (the plane #), where on the field I am, what latest info I have and what I want to do. I do that and throw in that I happen to be a student pilot making my first solo. ATC answers giving the taxi instructions slowly so I know which end of which runway to use. Fortunately it was short enough that I could repeat it back to them and not sound too senile. That gives me permission to taxi to the beginning of the runway but not on it, get my plane (and me) prepared and then call the tower to let them know I am ready to depart. The tower tells me to wait as a plane had just landed but quickly come back and give me clearance to takeoff. Wow! This is it!! Oh boy….

Before I had time to think, I was in the air feeling the runway sink away below me. To help reduce the noise of aircraft taking off the powers that be have a fairly tight rectangular pattern around the field so there is not much time to enjoy the scenery.

I'm committed....

Before I know it, it is time to make adjustments to prepare for landing. First landing goes really well despite coming in a bit high. Without stopping I push the throttle full and take off again. This could get to be fun…Another touch and go with slightly rougher landing and swing around for a final approach.  I have the presence of mind to tell ATC this will be for a full stop and as I land I am sure there is a collective sigh of relief in the tower that they have survived another student solo. I make it back to the hanger area to the welcome of Kathleen and my CFI who are also breathing a sigh of relief.

Looking back over the experience it will certainly be a day burned into my memory. All the time I was up with the CFI and even when by myself I didn’t really think through the significance of the solo for me. I have been wanting to do this for 50 years. Flying as kid with my dad gave me the bug but life happened (none of which I would change) and God saw fit to work it out now.

 

Beautiful background

So why am I doing this? I can’t see the end result but having a dream for 50 years that just wouldn’t go away says to me it is more than doing something just for the fun of it. Is it more important than family? Not in a million years. Is this a midlife crisis? No, those are usually sudden and often related to one being unhappy in their life which is not me. New career? No, I can’t sit still for very long and I like my current occupation,thank you. But there is nothing like seeing the land and mountains from 2500 feet that is hard to describe. Sure, I ‘ve seen it many times from 35,000 feet and as we all know there is little to really see. I think God built the earth from 2500 feet and that is when He said “It is good!”

 

Dad, I hope you saw it today. You, of all people, must have gotten a kick out of my banner day. Grampa Clyde did as well.

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