So that happened...

This week has been incredible from the flying side of things, I have been so short of time away from flying which is always a good thing. Monday came around an it was time for my solo check ride. This is a 0.8 lesson with instructor where he decides if your good enough. Was not ideal to have this on a Monday morning after the weekend off but hey, play with the cards your dealt. The check ride went really well except the last landing, which was damn awful and on the edge of being safe! This left the instructor on tender hooks as I taxied out for my virgin solo circuit and meant that he wrote me a interesting message on my shirt once I was completed. Glad to say all went well, the pressure meant the circuit was perfect! Since that flight I have completed another three solo details taking my Pilot in Command hours to a grand total of 3!!

CP112 have taken the liberty, as mentioned before, to set the precedent for solos in the USA. We thought being thrown in the pool wasn't quite enough, therefore we took up the old tradition of cutting away the tail of the shirt you wear for your solo. This goes back to a story before radio comms where the instructor used to pull on the shirt tail of the student while sitting behind him to get his attention. Once you are solo you don't need this shirt tail anymore so it is removed and signed by the instructor. Something nice to hold onto. My message was "thanks for the ulcer" after leaving him fearing for my life after that last check ride landing.

 The next few solos are pretty nerve raking but I found this really good training to begin to trust yourself and be confident in your own ability! To be honest I hardly noticed that the instructor was not there with so much time spent looking out the window! Friday has come and I flew two details yesterday and today so I am pretty tired, and all these details were in the circuit at Goodyear, which I have not left for about a week now, so looking forward to Monday when I will be signed out to fly to Buckeye after a check ride about 20-30mins flight from Goodyear.

Obviously it is time to celebrate after the solos so a trip to LA is planned for this weekend, about 6 hours drive away. We leave at 4am Saturday and will be back late Sunday night. 4am is pretty normal time for us to be up to fly so no problems there!

Only other news from Phoenix is that another 2 aircraft are expected before the next CP arrive early June taking the total to 6 DA-40NG's. Also that we now have a livery on all the aircraft. I will leave you to judge your thoughts on this! But is very nice not to be flying white tails anymore.

Below is a film I put together of the Solo experience at Goodyear, so those who are coming out I hope it gives you a good idea of what is in store. All good fun.