avionics74

Hello,
I was wondering how much time people take to solo on an average in
the US. I am sure it is a great feeling but how nervous does one get
on their first solo flight? Would be interesting to know how people
dealt with their nervousness on their first solos.
thx

btiz

this has been discussed many times.. do a google search.

you will find low hours (6-10) to solo in "remote" country areas, and high
times (20) to solo in more densly populated or metropolitan areas. Radio
work or busy traffic patterns?

BT

geoffrey barnes

I had 15 sessions of dual, and around 24 hours when I did my first solo. I
am indeed in a metropolitan area (Pittsburgh), at a rather busy towered
airport (AGC). I also am an aging gentleman who required significant effort
to do things like steer with my feet after so many years of driving a car.
I also faced a spate of days where the weather was fine for dual
instruction, but no so great for soloing. In other words, I probably took
far longer than the average bear. But it's not a race, and it's not a
contest, and I don't feel the need to compare myself to anyone else. I'm
proud to say that when I finally did solo, I was 100% certain that I could
do it, and I knew that my instructor was totally confident as well.

I might have been more nervous if my impending solo was more of a suprise to
me. My instructor had already told me to start wearing "old shirts" to


it was coming. Then, on the day of my solo, we had unexpected good weather,
and the instructor actually called ME that morning and asked if I could come
out to the airport. Clearly, he had something in mind. Finally, when I got
there, he asked to see my logbook and medical and disappeared into the back
office for a few minutes. So when he stepped out of the plane after a few
touch-and-goes, I can't say that it came as a big shock.

That's not to say that I didn't have butterflies. But at that point, you
have done so many turns around the pattern that you find yourself taking
only left turns in you car when you are driving. You've done so many
landings. It's suddenly very quiet, but you've been there before. And it
worked out for me, just as it does for nearly everyone.

mrqb

I did an average of new and student pilots at my local FBO's average was 26
lowest was 8 highest was 72.4 that only 39 pilots & students i excluded the
72.4 hour student as it would make the average way off and the kid that had
them hours soloed on his 16th B-Day when he was of age.

This is in the Portland, OR & Vancouver, WA Area Kinda Busy

tony roberts

20 hours is probably about average across the country and allowing for
all the different classes of training airports.
However - time to solo isn't so important as the ability and knowledge
of the student soloing. It also depends upon your instructor. Most will,
I believe, solo you when you are ready and not before or after. Some
will delay your solo through their own insecurities (their neck is on
the line), or even to squeeze a couple more hours tuition (very rare)
Some will solo you before you are ready - everyone makes mistakes.
The thing is not to get hung up on time to solo - it isn't a race - it's
a case of being the best/safest pilot that you can be. As a potential
passenger, the fact that you scored in the top 10% on your flight test
will impress me far more than the fact that you soloed in 10 hours.


Once you realise that after takeoff, for the first time in your life
there is nobody - nobody - to help you until after you complete this
task on your own, you stop being nervous. You are too busy checking
everything 6 times
But the bottom line is to trust your instructor. If your instructor
signs you off for a solo, you have the capability to solo.
Because if you screw up your instructor is in deep doodie


--
Indiacharlieecho@hotmail.com
Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Almost Instrument
Cessna 172H C-GICE

gene whitt

Flying,
Time to solo is not a good indicator of anything. I could teach a person to
drive around the block in a car in the
same time I could teach a person to fly the pattern in a
trainer. Controlling is not flying. Just as steering is not driving.

When I solo a student, and I have soloed many, he is
proficient in many skills far beyond the FAA minimums.
That is the problem. All FAA requirements are minimums.
At minimums you are barely able to do anything right.
An instructor should never teach toward minimums and a student should never
accept minimums as an accepable level of either safety or achievement.

gilan

I'm sure as many people will say in their replies the time to solo will vary
greatly.
I soloed in 9 hours at Orlando Executive airport. Everyone is different and
the environment they fly in will be different so I don't really think you
will find a good average. My knees were a knocking that first time but it
sure felt great to up there for the first time alone.
--
Have a good day and stay out of the trees!
See ya on Sport Aircraft group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sport_Aircraft/


Private Pilot in 10 days
http://www.perfectplanes.com

tony roberts

I sure hope that this doesn't appeal to anyone here.
I just visited the site which is full of a whole lot of waffle about how
long term memory fades rapidly day by day and that is why you should
learn in ten days.

So is he saying that he doesn't give a sh*t how much you forget once you
have youe PP-ASEL? That is scary.
--
Indiacharlieecho@hotmail.com
Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Almost Instrument
Cessna 172H C-GICE

btiz

Does not leave much time for "excersise" to build the long term memory, nor
the opportunity to experience different weather patterns or wind
conditions..

BT

ebackscheider

I Soloed in 10 hours. I am in Cincinnati, but I train out of the
reach of CVG's airspace. I also am in a Piper Cub, so all I had to
do is fly. I have no radio to deal with.

As far as being nervous. I thought that when the time came that I
would be a wreck. It was actually the opposite. Once I took off and
realized that it was me flying. Then I just was thinking altitude,
airspeed, when to go to idle, when to flare, ... Basically I was
busy thinking about flying the plane safely, that I was not a nervous
wreck. Don't get me wrong, I was nervous, my heart was going, and I
still get that way. I don't think it was from being scared, but more
like a dream come true.

Thanks,
Eric