Johnny goes Solo!!!

Ye that's it... I finally went solo in the air!! And this picture says it all... that's me taking off from Falcon Field, all on my own for the very first time!! Wuhh what a day to remember!!

Ye I know I should have written something immediately after my solo, but time here ran so fast during this last week! Basically it was one whole run from my solo at Mission 32 to Mission 41, where I stand now.

But ye... let me talk a bit about one of my unforgettable days in all my life! Initially I was supposed to do my first solo flight on Monday 12th January, but the winds were a bit too much for a first solo so I had to postpone to Tuesday 13th January, and that's where I left my blog. Well gues what... no, 13th January wasn't the big day either! It was windy again, and I was so pissed off! So I had to wait for another day!

But, 14th January 2009 then became a day to remember! I was scheduled to fly early morning, at 0730 local time. So ye, I had to wake up at 0500 (something which I have been doing everyday since then!) Anyway, when I got at the school I met my instructor and prepared the weather briefing. The winds were finally withing my limits and my instructor said, ye we can fly. I then made the pre-flight inspection of the N4107F, which was going to take me solo to the skies for the very first time! The birdie was airworthy so off we went!

First, I had to make three full-stop landings together with my instructor. Those seemed quite normal, as I had been doing landings with my instructor for quite some time now! But then it was time... I landed and taxied back to the ramp and my instructor left. It did start to feel a bit tense, you know, looking at that right seat, seeing it empty, and thinking "What if?!..." But ye, I was looking forward to get back in the air and do my first solo flight. I taxied out to the runway and then... "Diamond 4107F, runway 4R cleared for take off..." Wuuu here we go... I pushed the throttle lever and there I was, rolling on the runway... going solo. It really went fast but I remember actually taking off, leaving the ground, and me just going WAAAAAAAAAAA in my head :-) At time I couldn't beleive I was actually flying the bird all on my own! After take-off, I joined the traffic pattern on the North runway to come in for landing. Everything went so fast... but everything was so cool. I kept a sharp lookout for the other traffic, more than ever. Normally, there used to be two pairs of eyes watching out, but now... there I was all on my own. As I approached the runway for my first solo landing, I was concentrated on getting the landing right, but at the same time I was still thinking "wuhh am I really doing this?!" Anyway, in a few seconds, there I was, flaring on the runway to put the bird on the ground. The landing was quite decent as well! It just felt great! I repeated two more patterns, and then landed, and taxied back to the ramp. My instructor and my friends were waiting for me there and soon, the "after first solo ceremony" was about to start!

Basically, after your first solo, you're not allowed to touch the ground! So what happens is that, your friends push the aircraft back in its place and then one of them, carries you on his shoulders (the unlucky guy who had to carry me was Josef :-)) Then, you're dumped in the trunk of the car and driven back to the residence. No, you don't touch the ground... but, you're taken out of the trunk and thrown in the pool! And ye it all happened and withing twenty minutes after landing, I was all soaked in the swimming pool! Everything went so fast... but ye, it's one of those unforgettable days!! There are some photos of my solo online. Just click on the album below!! I also have a couple of videos of the big day but I still need to edit them to make one whole video. Ye I want to get it done as soon as possible but this week was very busy!!

My First Solo Flight!!

Here, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who made this day possible! Thanks to all my friends here for making this day a special one, for all the photos and videos, for throwing me in the pool and stuff :-) Thanks to my instructor, for getting me ready to solo! Thanks to all my friends who e-mailed me wishing me luck and thanks for all your support (I still have to answer your e-mails!). Thanks to anyone who in some way brought me to this day, and finally, most specially, thanks to my family... especially my parents for all the support, each and every single day, and also my sister and her family! Thanks people!!

Anyway... and after my first solo? Uuh it was one whole busy week!! I flew everyday since then, except on Sunday. Thursday and Friday I made two flights, half an hour with my instructor and an hour solo each time. I stayed in the Falcon Field pattern practicing my landings. On Saturday, I flew again, and had two missions, all solo, and went over to Gateway airport! On Monday and Tuesday, I flew with my instructor in the morning and solo in the afternoon, and finally today (or rather yesterday, now) I had another solo flight. So ye, one busy week, and everyday waking up at 5am... ye I'm getting tired :-)

What's next? Today we had the navigation briefing, which means that tomorrow I'm going for my first cross country with my instructor! That's right, I'll be leaving the Falcon Field area and fly over to Gila Bend, south west of Phoenix. It's a whole lot of preparation; today I spent a lot of time planning the flight, and tomorrow I have to wake up early again to check the forecasted winds! Ye busy busy busy... but... fun!

Well, that was a long post for today, and now it's time for me to go to bed and get some sleep! I really need it! Anyway, take care everyone! See ya!!

First solo flight postponed...

Hey!

Unfortunately my first solo flight had to be postponed today! Why?! Too much crosswind! I was very eager to go but as soon as I arrived at dispatch, I found out the wind was at 15kts, with a direction of 020. I met my instructor and he told me we had to delay the flight and wait for the wind to calm down a bit. Ye... I was pissed off, but there was nothing else to do! Unfortunately, the wind wanted to keep me on the ground. I waited and waited, and the wind slowed down to 10kts later on during the day, but it became more of a crosswind! We decided to postpone the flight to later in the afternoon, so I went home. My instructor called later and he told me we would cancel the flight, since the wind ended up giving an 8kts crosswind, which for a first solo flight is a little bit too much!

But anyway, I should now be doing my solo tomorrow, Tuesday 13th January at 1115 local time (1915 Malta time). The aircraft was also changed. I will now be flying the N4107A for my first solo. This aircraft seems to accompanying me on these special events... I had my first flight on it, I also had my pre-solo check, and tomorrow, I'll go solo for the first time on it! My companion in flight!!

Anyway, I'm now off to bed. Tomorrow will be the big day... (and I hope the wind allows it to be so!!) I would like to thank all those who are wishing me luck for my first flight. Thanks a lot for all your support everyone; to all my friends, and especially to my family, most of all, my parents... tomorrow's solo is all for you!

I'm off to bed... for tomorrow, the skies await me!!

Pre-Solo Checkride... PASSED!!

Yes... my Pre-Solo checkride is over and done with, and I made it. I passed my first check and so my next flight is my first solo flight!

The Pre-Solo check went pretty well. As usual, I went through the weather briefing and prepared the mass and balance and performance documentation, and then went down to the aircraft to perform the pre-flight inspection. I then met my examiner and we boarded the aircraft. I took off and then joined the traffic pattern to perform the touch and go's. First one was a normal traffic pattern. It went pretty well but I cut the power slightly too early and so the landing was not that smooth, but well, not as hard as they used to be still!! The second pattern was a flapless pattern. I extended the downwind land to gain more distance and made my approach below the normal glide. Otherwise, it's much more difficult to land; these Diamonds simply want to fly! The flapless landing was quite smooth. Back in the air, I asked the tower for a short approach to do a power-off landing (landing with idle power from abeam the touchdown point). All looked pretty well, until I decided to put down the last notch of flaps! It was a bit too early so I screwed it up and started to sink rapidly... so... go around!! Well, I still had to do at least one go-around during the check ey! Anyway I repeated the pattern and made a short approach again. This time, it was much much better and I landed very smoothly. Taxiing back to the ramp, I had one question in mind, passed or failed?! Well, my flying was ok so I was hoping it was a pass but ye the tension started to build up. After parking and shutting down the engine, the examiner said nothing other than, "I'll meet you upstairs." I was so anxious to get to know! But anyway, back upstairs, the first thing he said was "Congratulations... you passed" I was WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!! :-) So ye, finally it was over, and I passed my first check!

And now... well having passed the pre-solo check, next on the line is one of my historic events in my training, the day every pilot never forgets... my first ever solo flight! I'm scheduled to fly tomorrow, Monday 12th January at 0915 local time, 1715 Malta time. The aircraft is the N4110R. First I will do three take-offs and landings with my instructor, and then I'll taxi back to the ramp, leave my instructor behind and taxi once again to the runway, and take-off on my own for the first time! Then I'll do three traffic patterns with three fullstop landings with taxibacks. I'm really looking forward to it! After landing, there should be the traditional first solo ceremony. You're not allowed to touch the ground. From the plane, you go on top of someone's shoulders and then to the trunk of a car. Then you're driven to the apartments and thrown into the swimming pool, in full uniform, and without touching the ground! Well, I'm also looking forward to that!!

I can't wait for tomorrow. It' going to be a great day for me, I'm sure! My first solo flight!! I'm off for today... take care everyone!!!

Pre-solo Checkride tomorrow...

Hey there!

It's been a while since my last post. Actually I now realise it was last year :-p Ye I spent a nice New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, seeing David Copperfield perform some impressive illusions, and going around the luxurious hotels at the Las Vegas Strip.

But now, back to business... tomorrow I'm scheduled for my Pre-Solo Checkride, in which I should fly some traffic patterns and from then on, if I pass, I can go for my first solo flight. If I fail the first attempt, I'll have to do an extra mission and then have a re-check. But we'll see how it goes. I'm trying to be optimistic.

My performance during my last three flights varied a lot. Last week, on Tuesday, I flew but it was quite messy. Then I had another week without any flying and then flew again last Tuesday, and that was a good flight in which I improved a lot. My landings were finally taking shape and I was "landing" the plane, rather than "banging" the plane on the runway! I flew again today but I think it wasn't as good as last time. So ye, mixed feelings for tomorrow... but we'll see how it goes. It's all up to tomorrow's flight. I hope it goes well and I'll fly good enough to convince the examiner! I should be flying on the N4107A which is also the first aircraft I flew on. I hope it brings me luck ;-) Wish me luck!!

I'm off because I need a good rest tonight and I have to wake up at 5am tomorrow morning!!

Take care everyone!!