The boy that lived...
September 16, 2023
ROSTRAVER TRAFFIC, MAKE SOME ROOM. THERE IS A NEW PIC IN THE TOWN.
YES !
Yes - today was IT. All the stars aligned today - the perfect weather, CFI availability, airplane availability, and everything else. Before Drew signed me off for my SOLO, there was some prep-work. I had to take a pre-solo written exam. That exam was very thorough and basically tested my knowledge about the airplane I fly, and its characteristics - such as V-speeds, each traffic pattern leg-specific things to note, etc. Then, there were some solo-specific documentation requirement we needed to take care of. After all the paperwork was taken care of, Drew and I jumped in the plane. The plan was for Drew to evaluate the outside conditions, my flying, and then jump out of the plane. After that I would need to perform 3 full-stop landings for him to consider my PIC (Pilot-In Command) time in the log book.
During our pre-solo flight check, Drew told me
Drew: What's the Number 1 rule?
Me: Go-around if I am not comfortable.
Drew: Yup. You get low - you go around, you get slow - you go around. your nuts itch - you go around, I don't care man…
HE CARED - NOT ABOUT MY ITCH, BUT MY GO-AROUNDS…
Drew: … And when you land, if it's squirrelly, you continue to fly and control the airplane. You DO NOT let IT control you, and always get back on the centerline.
Me: Roger !
Drew: Alright! I need 3 from you. We don't have to do them today, but if you can - do them for me. If you're tired after one, we will get them tomorrow. I need 3.
Me: I got it… I got it man !!
Drew: I know you do ! I wouldn’t be doing this right now if you didn’t have it.
Rohan (from the back seat): Isn't Dada gonna do it on his own?
Drew (to Rohan) : Yeah, we are getting out now...
Ohh Yeah! Whole crew was down there to support me - Vijeta, Rohan, Justin, Drew - all were cheering for me.
Everything we worked on so far, we worked for the next few moments - giving my CFI 3 landings to a full-stop. It was my time to shine and deliver. I had put in so much effort, the traffic pattern at Rostraver was in the back of my head. I knew that I was well-trained for today. As long as I don't panic, as long as I clear my head of any confusion, and as long as I commit to the action, I should be able to come through unscathed, and victorious. I told to myself - “ 70 on final, and when in doubt - GO AROUND. YOU GOT THIS! ”.
Outside on the ground, I knew Drew had complete confidence in me. Rohan - I couldn't tell what he was thinking, probably about Harry Potter level he is stuck on on PS4. Vijeta and Justin - They trust 100% on my capacity to fuck-up, so how much ever they said that they were fine, I knew they were quite nervous. Ironically, the song I was listening that morning was fitting to the situation-
When you're running out of tightrope and there's empty sky below Where'd you go ? Please, does anyone know ? does anyone know ? When you've laid down all your aces and there's nothing left to show Where'd you go ? Please, does anyone know ? does anyone know ? When you can't shut out the voices and your head's about to blow Where'd you go ? Please, does anyone know ? does anyone know ? When you're running out of tightrope and there's empty sky below Where'd you go ? Please, does anyone know ? does anyone know ?
I won't go in the technicality of my SOLO traffic patterns and landings, because, frankly it wasn't my best technical work. The physical absence 200 pound human body in the right seat sets a very different stage up in the air, and the only way to know that feeling is to fly solo. It cannot be told, It cannot be demonstrated, but can only be felt. Some of the default airplane tendencies are more pronounced and anticipating the effect would only come through more practice. For example, the left turning tendency, or the control surface smoothness. And with every little change, you have to adapt and make changes to your input. But, I stuck to my fundamentals, and remembered Drew's advise at all times.
When I landed the plane the third time, I wasn't tired as much as I was hoping for, but I was certainly humbled. To me personally, this is one of the life-altering, defining moments of my life. This is a HUGE accomplishment, and though it took me 40+ hours to get here, I trained hard and well.
Traditionally, most training airplanes had tandem seating - front & back. Back in the day an instructor would commonly have to tug on the back of the student's shirt to get their attention. Cutting the tail off of that shirt was a right of passage showing that there was no need for the instructor to tug on student’s shirt anymore, as the student now knows how to fly the airplane.
That tradition still lives on.
Rohan must be thinking that how crazy Dada is. I am sure in due time, he’s gonna feel PROUD.
Vijeta, Justin, Drew - I know you will cherish this moment as much as I do, as you are integral part of this team. There is a lot more to do now that I have solo-ed, but can’t thank all of you enough for all the support and help.
Great achievement, proud of you.