While stationed at the Naval Base Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico I made up my mind to learn to fly. In a previous blog I wrote about my first dual flight as a student Pilot. In this blog I’ll recall my Solo flight with Dalton, my certified flight instructor.
After weeks of dual flying (Student Pilot and the Flight Instructor at their individual controls), My flight instructor was convinced I was ready for “Solo; I had seven hours flight time.” This is what I had been working so hard for, but at the word Solo, Me? The blood drained from my head, sweat beading on my face. I orated the universal “are you sure?” as my eyes were getting wider with each passing second. “I wouldn’t let you solo if I didn’t believe so” He said. “Do you have your Student Pilot Certificate on you?” he asked. “Yes” was my reply. He endorsed it authorizing my solo flight.
His last words were “three touch and goes. No bouncing. Full stop on third touch. If you bounce, you redo.” He exited the airplane. The engine was already taching as we had just come to a complete stop just off the runway at the Fajardo (pronounced Fahardo) Airport after ten touch and goes. I got on the radio and indicated my intentions on the Unicom, this airport had no tower. After lining up at the end of the runway with 30 degree flaps, mixture rich, controls free and accurate, wet face and shirt I gave her full throddle. watching the airspeed indicator, 30 then 50 now 70 mph I gently pulled back on the yoke, I’m airborne.
The transition is immediate, not leaving the ground transition, but transition from fear to confidence. I had multiple things to do to keep this plane flying. Hey, I’m enjoying this! Watch your airspeed, raise flaps, level off at fifteen hundred feet. Power back. Constant swiveling of the head to search for unannounced and wayward aircraft.
I announce on the radio “left cross wind departure, touch and go runway two seven.” Power back, 15 degrees flaps, air speed 80 mph. “left down wind runway 27.” maintain speed, 30 degree flaps. “Left cross wind runway 27.” Full flaps carb heat on, “Final approach runway 27 touch and go.” Mixture rich.
So it went for three more times. But now I’m on final approach Full stop; approach speed 70 mph. Just off the runway I cut power, flair, pull back on the yoke. Just a couple of feet off the runway now; I sense ground effect; speed 60 mph. She’s starting to settle,;pull back on the yoke, engine at idle. Transition, a bounceless touch down. Apply both breaks which are at the top of each rudder pedal. I took the first exit. There’s Dalton smiling. “Fly us home” he commanded as he crawled back into the cramped cabin of this great little trainer, the Cessna 150.
