Guest Brett Campany Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Started off very well this morning, Mike followed me down to Bunbury today with an awesome camera set up ready to record my first solo. Andrew, a mate of mine from my Navy days, also tagged along to do some filming for me as well. By the time we got to the school it was already about 28 degrees. It was going to be a warm one! My second instructor, Trevor, and I spent 10 minutes briefing on short and soft field landing and take off's before I did my pre-flight and camera set up. It was a perfect day, very light breeze and we kicked off using RW25 and joined 2 other aircraft in the circuit. Already things became busy with the immediate change of runway, relevant radio calls and re-positioning to maintain the circuit on RW07. First up was a standard circuit....well I thought it was. Trevor pulled the throttle back to idle as we went abeam the threshold and had me do a glide approach. I talked the whole thing through on the way down, then 200ft to go, powered up as requested and did a go-around. The second circuit was great, normal landing, nice and soft as the wind was still slightly from the left on RW07. We touched down, flaps up, full throttle and at about 200ft, the throttle again went back to idle. I dropped the nose slightly and aimed for a small paddock about my 11 o'clock. Trevor was happy so I applied full throttle and away we went again. Third time around was another glide approach, touch and go and around again, then the 4th was a flapless landing, full stop. Trevor looked at me and told me to taxi to the apron. Once we were clear of the runway he made the call "Bunbury traffic, Sportcruiser 5323, taxiing for runway 07 for first solo, Traffic Bunbury" . "One circuit, go for it" I was on my own......this is great. There's no one next to me. It was very quiet but I was confident. Surprisingly enough, I wasn't nervous either. There was two aircraft at the hold point so I sat behind and waited and just absorbed the fact that I was on my own. Finally it was my turn, I moved to the hold point, did my checks and run up and made my back track call. The air was so still, not a cloud around, I lined up RW07 and made my rolling call. 80KG less in the cockpit and she came right up! My circuit was smooth and level, it felt so right. This is the beginning of something amazing. On final, everything looked sweet, as I approached, there was the usual sink, 65kts, looking good. Float over the keys, level.....wash the speed off....touch.....back pressure, keep that nose wheel up.....flaps up, steady brake. I called clear of RW07 when one of the other aircraft passed on a Congratulations call, then I smiled. I'm still smiling! I've waited the better part of 15 to 18 years for this, I wish I had done it sooner but now, here it is and it's just awesome. I'm off to have a cold one! :thumb_up: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Congratulations Brett... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icebob Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Well done Brett a day you will not forget! Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Orion Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Hi Brett Well done Cheers Kent PS didn't you want to follow my lead on solo on second thoughts. that's right i read somewhere that your not supposed to park the aircraft upside down after landing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Well done Brett a day you will not forget! Gee Bob, your a poet and you don't even know it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slartibartfast Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Congrats Brett. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relfy Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Top work Brett! What an awesome day. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetiredRacer Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Congratulations Brett I'm excited for you, well done. :thumb_up: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brett Campany Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Thanks fellas!!! Hi BrettWell done Cheers Kent PS didn't you want to follow my lead on solo on second thoughts. that's right i read somewhere that your not supposed to park the aircraft upside down after landing. I did think about it but thought I'd better keep her on her wheels! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Maj Millard Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Good job ace , you've probabily done the best landing of you'r career !!....but many more ahead, I'm sure. Cheers.................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brett Campany Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Cheers guys, will be back down there again this Friday afternoon to consolidate more training and do some more solo circuits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yenn Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Congratulations Brett. Now all you have to do is keep on learning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan_c Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Congratulations Brett, Lets hope I get to experience that feeling sometime soon aswell =] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvaner Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 All of the above Brett. Well done. A feeling you will get to relive i'm sure for many years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Congrats on the first solo.. Nothing will ever stack up against that first landing. :) Gibbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icebob Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Hi Tomo, Thanks.... "There was a sailor from Wagga, who sat an exam in"........ will tell the rest later do not want to get banned, ha, ha. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motzartmerv Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Onya Brett... good job mate:thumb_up::thumb_up: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mike_perth Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Although I was a witness to said solo event I thought I would still say congrats mate - the look on your face afterwards was priceless!:big_grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brett Campany Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Thanks guys!! great photos Mike, cheers for coming along mate, what a day!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mAgNeToDrOp Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Well done Brett, another WA soon to be pilot, hope to see you up in the blue sometime... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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