The thrill of going solo - the first time you truly feel like a pilot!
For me... well I thought I was just going to be doing another hour of circuits - and that's how it started out. After the first three touch and go's, my instructor told me to make the next landing a full stop. When I pulled off the runway, he asked me to taxi back towards the threshhold, and while I was doing so, he was having a chat to the guys in the tower. When we got to the holding point, he simply undid his harness, opened the door, and said "Three more circuits, and I'll see you back at the office". Out he got, and started walking back towards the hangers. That was it! My first thoughts were close to sheer panic, but I figured that if he thought I was ready, then damn it, I was ready.
I called up the tower and requested clearance for circuits, and advised 'Ready". "Alpha Sierra Victor - Runway 03 right, clear take-off, and good luck" (Obviously they knew!!!). I had completed just over 9 hours of training, and here I was - on my own. "Alpha Sierra Victor, thankyou".
Flaps set, trim set, fuel on, fuel pump on, a little throttle, roll over the piano keys and apply full throttle - speed increasing to 50 knots, increase backpressure on the yoke and whoosh. That was the first thing I noticed - that without the extra 80 kilos in the right-hand seat, the Warrior got off the ground real quick, and climbed real fast.
Runway heading, flaps retracted at 200 feet, fuel pump off at 400 feet, climbing turn to crosswind at 500 feet, speed good at 75 knots, level out and turn on to downwind at 1000 feet, set trim for straight and level- all good. "Alpha Sierra Victor downwind, touch and go". "Alpha Sierra Victor, clear touch and go". "Alpha Sierra Victor".
Start my downwind checks - Brakes, Undercarriage, Mixture, Fuel. Enjoy the scenery. Watch out for other aircraft in the circuit. Time to turn onto base leg. Throttle to 1500rpm, fuel pump on, speed back to 70 knots, flaps first stage, trim. Flaps second stage, turn final at 500', final checks - Prop, Undercarriage, Fuel, Flaps - lined up nicely, descending nicely, full flap selected, throttle as needed to maintain approach, over the piano keys, flare, close throttle and settle gently on the runway. Retract flaps to take-off position, apply throttle, rotate at 55 knots and around I go again.
Boy that felt good. The first landing was a pearler - smooth as silk - hardly felt the wheels touch the runway. The next one, however, was a little bit bumpier, but not too bad, and the final landing more than acceptable.
Three solo circuits completed - taxi back to the apron - shut down procedures completed, and out I get. I can't remember if I still had the smile on my face when I walked inside (I'm sure I did).
What a great feeling.