drunkrussian's Journal: Learn to Fly

We took off at 4:30, and by 5:45, I realized that there wasn't enough time left with the aircraft for me to solo. Christy also had not endorsed my logbook and student certificate for solo flight, a legal requirement. So, I was kind of unhappy, but at the same time, kind of relieved. I had been jittery ever since 2 PM, and with the pressure of soloing removed, I could concentrate on making my last landing real sweet. It was a good landing. I wanted to do another one, but my instructor called the tower and asked for clearance back to the west ramp (meaning the flight school, where we could secure the aircraft). So, we taxied back.

I pulled out the checklist and flipped it open to "Securing Airplane," then prepared to shut down the engine. Christy then turned to me and said, "Don't shut down the engine." She held out her hand, so I gave her a high-five, not knowing what else to do. She looked at me strangely, then said, "Give me your logbook and student certificate." I said, "Ohhh. Oh!" I handed them over and she signed the endorsements in both. I was ready to do a jig. She then said to me sternly, "Three takeoffs, three landings. If you have to go around [reject landing] for ANY reason, you do it without hesitation. Understood?" I said, "Yes, ma'am."

She got out of the aircraft and closed up her door. I then got clearance to taxi, taxied back to the runway, then got clearance to take off. The airport was devoid of all traffic. It was really kind of disconcerting how quiet it was. I was the only plane out there. So, I taxied out onto the runway, pushed the throttle to full power, sped up to 50 knots, and lifted off the ground. It was at that moment that I said to myself, "Shit. Now I'm kind of committed to landing this thing."

I flew around the traffic pattern, got clearance to land, turned onto final, came around, and then suddenly realized, "Wow. I'm landing this plane. By myself. Oh, God." I came in, pulled the power back to idle, and the nose yawed to the left. I tried to correct, but didn't get enough right rudder on it. Meanwhile, I had flared a bit too high. The aircraft hit the ground once and bounced, half sideways, half forward. It bounced three more times, then came to rest. One of the ugliest landings I've ever done, but it wouldn't be a solo without an ugly landing, right? I'm told everyone at the flight school cheered - half because they were happy I had made my first solo landing, half because the aircraft was still in one piece after that landing.

I taxied off the runway, and there, I saw Christy waving me back toward the runway (we agreed that she would wave me back to the runway if she wanted me to continue, and toward herself if she wanted me to stop and talk to her). I taxied back to the runway, got clearance again, and took off. I circled the pattern once and came back in. The approach was perfect. I descended onto the runway, flared at just the right height, and touched down as gentle as can be, right on the centerline. The landing was very pretty.

I taxied off the runway and saw Christy waving me back toward the runway again. I taxied back, got clearance again, and then took off. I flew around the pattern again, dropped onto final again, and touched down - this time, my rudder was a bit off, so although I didn't bounce, all the tires squealed.

Christy waved me back to the west ramp, and then she took off in her golf cart. I got clearance to taxi back to the west ramp, taxied back there, and then my parents, uncle (a commercial airline pilot), uncle's fried, and brother all took the requisite 2000 pictures of me with the aircraft, me with the instructor, me with them, etc. Then, Christy drove me back to the flight school, where she took my shirt and cut the shirttail off it. The cutting of the tail is a tradition that dates back to the early days of aviation. The instructor sat in back and the student in front, and when the instructor wanted the student to take the controls, he would rock the wings. However, when he wanted them back, he would pull on the student's shirttail. So, the instructor cuts off your shirttail to indicate that you no longer need an instructor.

It was AWESOME.

It was the second-greatest experience of my life. The feeling of flying all by yourself leaves you with a tremendous sense of accomplishment. It's incredibly exhilarating. Scary, too, but I feel much more confident in myself having done it.

I'm going to remember this day for a long time to come.

The absolute best moment, though, was when Christy turned to me after cutting my shirttail and said, "You're a pilot now!"

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Run and tell all of the angels
This could take all night
Think I need a devil to help me get things right

Hook me up a new revolution
Cause this one is a lie
Sat around laughing and watched the last one die

And I'm looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burn about bright
And I'm looking for a complication
Looking cause I'm tired of lying
Make my way back home when I learn to fly

Think I'm done nursing the patience
I can wait one night
Give it all away if you give me one last try
We'll live happily ever trapped if you just save my life
Run and tell the angels that everything's all right

And I'm looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burn about bright
And I'm looking for a complication
Looking cause I'm tired of trying
Make my way back home when I learn to fly
Make my way back home when I learn to fly
Fly with me
I can't quite make it alone
Try to make this life my own
Fly with me
I can't quite make it alone
Try to make this life my own

And I'm looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burning bright
And I'm looking for a complication
Looking cause I'm tired of trying
Make my way back home when I learn to fly