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!!!
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