SOLO!

I started thinking about my first solo when I was 13 years old...I thought I would do it when I was 16...that was the initial plan...but the plan was still followed...just a few years later--26 years later than planned! When I arrived at KFES after school yesterday, the winds were too high at first to consider solo, but they slowed down and after 3 landings with my instructor, he asked me if I was ready? I told him I felt ready and I dropped him off. As soon as I started the takeoff roll it felt different, really different without my instructor on board and the airplane was literally wanting to jump off the runway....I was struggling to keep it on the ground until the proper airpseed was attained when my window, for some unknown reason popped open...luckily I had plenty of runway and pulled back the throttle, hit the brakes and consulted my instructor. Even though I was spooked now, I knew I had to do it. I was ready for the feeling during the takeoff roll this time and once I was airborne all of my jitters went away and I felt very relaxed. Winds were calm, the setting sun was beautiful, airborne straight north from runway 36, a warm February evening. I climbed to 850 feet, then turned crosswind, at 1250 feet, I pulled back power to 2200 RPM and trimmed it for straight and level flight, I settled in at 1300 feet, turned downwind and relaxed and enjoyed the view for a few seconds. Midfield--carb heat, 1500 RPM, keep the nose up until white arc, 6 seconds flaps down = 20 degrees, 2 spins of trim nose up, luckily she settled right into to 70...all smooth. Turned base at the two ponds and started judging altitude and relationship to runway 36, I still felt calm, all good. 900 ft. turned final, lined up with runway...over the tree line a burst of wind, no problem, I didn't let it phase me, this was me, nobody else who controlled it through the wind, it was a great feeling....runway made, pulled all throttle off, a little wind at about 50ft, no problem, touchdown right on the numbers...not the prettiest landing, but I was down...pulled up to the hangar, shut the plane down...time for pictures--see above!! In the end, I think this would have been easier when I was 16!! It all hasn't really sunk in yet...I encourage any of my flying readers to share their solo stories in the comments below and for all of you climbing your own various "Everests" feel free to post any milestones you would like to share.

Still climbing the Everest until late last night, worked through all 171 questions in chapter 4 of the Gleim's...this time I got an 89%...last time 71%....progress being made, major climbing....climb the Everest. Next, I will take a combo test of chapters 1-4 for review and then start hitting chapter 5 this week. Chapter 5, that's a tough one--weight and balance, take-off and landing distances using some really hard to decipher graphs, the density altitude is easy enough...plenty of work ahead....a lot more work and a lot more difficult than I ever imagined, but climbing your Everest isn't easy...otherwise you would have already climbed it long ago!