Ups and downs

Hey all

Been a while since my last post. I'm sorry about that but I had a bit of a rough time this week. Unfortunately I was getting stressed out on my checks and I took some time for me to get my pre-solo checks through. We are all finding it a bit difficult. Guess it was one of the downs of my training. Pilot training is a mental game - you feel like shit one day, and you feel Top gun the next day..

Fortunately all went well, and yes ... I AM SOLO! For those who don't know what it means, I am now authorised to fly a Piper PA28-181 alone! Which means - there was also a first SOLO.

My first solo was on Tuesday, 21 October. I cannot fully describe what I felt before taking off. My whole life was passing through my mind - when I was a kid I would only dream of something like this to happen - I finally realised my dream. On taking off, I pulled the yoke and off I went. One word - exhilarating. I felt loads of satisfaction - I worked all my life to get here and I really felt good - one of the pilot training ups.

I was laughing all the way through downwind and saying loudly to myself - look what i'm doing! look what I'm doing!

I landed 3 times and went back to the ramp where my friends were waiting for me. After it was a very nice and comfortable trip in the trunk of our Jeep, to our apartments and they threw me in the pool in my uniform - as is custom when one goes solo! It was really a day full of emotions - I will never forget it.

I have done another four flights these past two days, and I'm feeling ever more confident to land now - from the beginning I have 124 landings! nice eh? I am always learning from my mistakes and that makes you feel better. I am also flying quite a lot right now and my training is going really fast.

I will post my photos when my new Macbook is here... :)

Life's good - and I'm still kickin' (and flyin')

Kris