The Waiting Game
I’ve been waiting to solo for what seems like forever. Today looked like it was going to be another disappointment. What started out as a beautiful sunny morning, with calm winds, turned into an overcast, rain-threatened day. I tuned to ATIS as I was driving to St. Louis Regional in Alton, and heard that the winds were variable at 6 kts, clouds broken at 2500, ceiling at 4000. Oh well, so much for a cross-country and with those gray clouds, we were sure in for some rain. Probably won’t even get to do touch and gos. That was pretty much how the whole spring had gone; bad weather, high winds, in other words, springtime in St. Louis. Standard WX briefing said that there was no precipitation expected in the area, so Mike, my instructor, and I decided I could use some work on my touch and gos. Into my third touch and go of the day, we started getting a little rain. I knew for sure that my chances for soloing were pretty much nil now. By the fifth go around, the rain had stopped and the sky had definitely brightened.
My instructor wasn’t saying much as I flew, but when he did, every sentence started with “When you solo….” Could I really be soloing today? My landings had gotten better, but still were not what I consider pretty. He told me to take him back to the hangar and let’s sign the paperwork for my solo. He’s going to let me solo today! Am I ready? (Of course I didn’t ask him that!) Of course I’m ready! I’m ready as I will ever be. I can do this. This is easy. (I talk to myself a lot).

“This is my solo”
We signed all the paperwork to make it legal and I’m back in the plane and on my own. I can do this! “Regional Ground, Cessna 24338 at Langa Air, ready to taxi for stop and gos with information Zulu. And this is my solo.” (“This is my solo.” I’ve waited a long time to say those words!). Ground gave me clearance and I glanced back and noticed my instructor walking back into the building. Whew, he wasn’t going to watch (Yeah right!) Everything fell into place. I taxied to the end of 35, did my run up, received clearance from tower, pulled on to the runway and I was off. I was soloing! So far so good. Reached 1200ft…left traffic to cross wind…cruise altitude…. turned downwind; this is not too bad. The tower cleared me for landing while I’m on downwind. Abeam the numbers…start my descent….ready to turn base. During an earlier approach, someone had started a bonfire about a mile south of the runway. I hit the thermal and got a good jolt. Turn base, but avoid the smoke and heat of the fire….turn final. Oh oh, little too high and too fast. Pull the power… increase descent…cross the numbers…level off….flare…and touchdown! (A little harder than I would have liked!) But I did it! I landed my first solo flight! Oh yeah, this has to be a full stop. OK, apply brakes…stop! Raise flaps…full throttle, I’m outta here, #2 go around. 

On second downwind, the tower didn’t call. Did he forget about me? Does he want me to call him? OK. I call as I turn base… cleared to land. Oh no, don’t forget that bonfire and thermal. Cleared that. Turn final…still a little high and fast, but corrected for that earlier this time. Landed a little hard again, but better…oh yeah, full stop again. OK…flaps up…full throttle, #3. Third time’s a charm. Sun is now out. Sky is clearing. What a gorgeous day! Cleared to land, even the bonfire and smoke have disappeared. Good altitude…good speed… better landing. That’s it! I’m done! I taxi home; everybody in the place comes out to see me. (Like I really thought they weren’t watching). It’ll take a week to get the smile off my face. I’m still cruising at pattern altitude even though my feet are on the ground. My only regret is that Tim wasn’t here to see this. Well, maybe he was watching.

I’ve been a member of EAA Chapter 32 for five years now. I started working with the web page about a year and a half ago and recently started helping out at Young Eagles events. But until I started these flight lessons, I felt like I had very little to contribute. I wasn’t a pilot. Couldn’t contribute to conversations, and I understood little of what was being said. But I’ve been bitten by the aviation bug. I understand the draw of the blue sky. While I will never build my own airplane, the influence that this club has had on me has even astonished me. I’m flying!