Thursday, March 13th 2007, started like any day. A day of work in anticipation of getting to fly. I knew I was getting close to soloing but didn't think it was going to happen today. I figured at least two more flights. I have just started flying with a new instructor and he was still trying to figure out where I stood as far as skills. When I got to the airport for my 5:30pm lesson I was asked to meet Bennett upstairs in the flight instructors office. So, up I went. Bennett was sitting behind his desk and asked me if I had ever taken the presolo test. I told him that I had just passed my FAA written exam and should count for something. He said that I had to take a local test. Luckily I had printed out and taken a test I found online from an instructor named Darren Smith. (A little plug for Darren: http://www.geocities.com/cfidarren/).
After Bennett reviewed the test real quick he said it was a good test. We went over the test and he asked me some questions and had me do some look ups on the sectional. After he was satisfied I knew my stuff, we got dispatched.
We did a thorough preflight as I explained what I was doing on each step. Bennett had some good info as well.
It was about 6:30pm when we finally got fired up and started taxiing towards the active runway. We did our runup checks and announced our intentions to take the runway. We were departing on rwy 5 for a straight out departure to the practice area north of the airport.
We did some slow flight practice, an engine out and some turning stalls (which I hate). Then we headed back to the airport for some practice landings. We did two touch and go's and Bennett said the next one would be a full stop. I had a suspicion that he was going to hop out and I was 100% correct. We cleared the runway and he popped open the canopy and said he wanted me to do two touch and go's and a full stop.... BY MYSELF! I asked him where his radio was so he could talk me down if things went wrong. He said he didn't have one.
After dropping Bennett off to stand in the field off to the side of the taxiway I headed towards the active runway. Making sure my flaps were set correctly I announced my intentions to the area, I took the runway. Lining up with the centerline I slowly added the power to full throttle. She rolled out just fine and lifted off so quickly it scared me. With just me in the cockpit she took to the sky like I have felt her do. Then I realized as I removed my notch of flaps that I was all my myself. Everything looked different.. there was Tampa off to my right... there was the Hard Rock casino right in front of me... there was the Ford Amphitheater off to my left. I made sure to hit all my altitudes and marks and make all my radio calls at the right time. Things were going great. I did notice that the sun was starting to set and I only had about another 15 minutes until sunset. Turning to final I thought to myself... this is it... I have to nail this. I saw Bennett standing in the field next to the runway. He looked like a little ant down there. I lined up the runway and finished my final descent. Things were looking good. There was a slight crosswind of about 5kts off my right side. It blew me around pretty good but I managed to keep the plane on the centerline. I nailed my first landing perfect... not too hard, no ballooning. The Evecktor LightSport gets a little "squirmy" on touchdown and gets very touchy. I gently fought the plane as it wanted to veer off the runway to the left, then back to the right. I finally got her lined up again and punched the throttle again.. off she went. My next two landings were just as good as the first. I picked up Bennett and we headed back to the parking area. He congratulated me and said it looked good from where he was standing.
Sadly, they don't do anything special at Leading Edge Aviation for your first solo. So, we just filled out my log book and made the endorsements. I can now practice by myself in the local area. I think I'll wait another hour or so with an instructor before I trust myself. Somehow it feels like I was just getting lucky landing the plane by myself.
Here is the link to the presolo exam for the Tampa area on Darren's site.
http://www.geocities.com/tampafbo/presoloexam.pdf
Smooth Air and Happy Landings!
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