I finally went solo today, in a glider! Its taken over two years, due to the infrequency with which I or anyone with a full-time job can get to the club [Surrey Hills Gliding Club at Kenley aerodrome]. Or to go back further, it's 29 years since I first ever handled the controls of any aeroplane, and 40 years since I first read a Biggles book, which was the real start of it. But since the beginning of the year the Club Flying Instructor has been making encouraging noises. And today, at about 1140 hrs, after three flights together in Grob 103 Twin Acro G-CKFG, he hopped out and sent me off. I took a deep breath (in fact I'm not sure I took another one until I landed) and basically did a repeat of the flight we had just done. Actually, at about seven minutes it was slightly longer than before; the lightened aircraft seemed reluctant to come down which was almost more disconcerting than coming down too fast; I thought it would be a bit presumptious to go looking for thermals on one's first flight, so I did an extra 360 degree turn to lose a bit of height. And not only did I walk away from the landing but they were able to re-use the aircraft, which is always a good sign. I don't know how long I'll be able to keep this up, with the obvious constraints of time and money and family commitments. Certainly I'll need to be checked out by an instructor every time I turn up at the club, for a considerable time to come. But, as one of the club members said, "Whatever happens, no-one can take this away from you". Adrian
Hearty congratulations, Adrian. Well done indeed. Sounds as though you can adapt well on your own too (extra 360) so that's a great sign of your skills and your future. Watch out migrating Buzzards!
Thanks everyone - it really is a great feeling! Admittedly you don't get a lot of chance to admire the view when you are actually piloting the aircraft; you're too busy controlling your attitude and wondering where the airfield has gone... But as it becomes second nature I expect I'll be able to relax a bit more, just as the act driving a car takes less of your thinking capacity as you get used to it. By the way, something I didn't make clear and which may not be obvious: we use a winch launching system at Kenley. Its a lot cheaper than an aerotow, and powered aircraft are no longer allowed at Kenley. With a cable running the length of the 3000 foot runway, you still get up to 800 to 1100 feet, depending on the wind strength and the skill of the pilot and winch operator - and with an acceleration of 0-60 in about four seconds its better than a Porsche! In-flight menu? Not exactly; we do have a tradition of buying cream cakes all round after a first solo, but in the event I was busy helping out launching the voucher experience fliers the rest of the day, so I got away with that one!
C'mon Adrian, you'd look good in that get up! i can loan you a pair of night fighter pilots goggles if you want to night fly
Well we do have a 1948 open-cockpit Slingsby T21 Sedbergh, which I had a ride in last year! We have some Biggles-goggles and a leather cap which are mainly lent to the voucher-fliers to be photographed in when they are flown in it. I eschewed the goggles and held my glasses on with one hand during the launch, but after that the thing cruises at about 30 knots so you hardly notice the wind! If the T21 is flown solo, a large teddy-bear with lead weights in his bottom accompanies the pilot as ballast.
Cream cakes on your first solo Adrian? Come on; in my day it was drinks all round, all night at the clubhouse! That's why as a poor SAC I never solo'd! Well done - and watch out for those birds pretending to soar in a thermal
Congratulations Adrian. I know how you feel, I got my hang glider pilot's license a few years back.. wait 'till you do your first soaring flight.. I was grinning like a Barbie doll for three days afterwards!
