Solo Flight Maneuvers Practice - 1

Spring 2010 has finally arrived in North Carolina ! The temperature in Raleigh Exec Airport [KTTA] today (04/01/10) was 85 F at 4.00 PM with a mild wind from SW. The density altitude at the airport was 1,700 ft (Elevation: 246 ft).

After a preflight check on the Allegro 2000 LSA, I taxied to RWY 03 and performed a soft-field takeoff and climbout. I turned left crosswind and reached an altitude of 3,000 ft about 7 miles North of KTTA. I reduced the airspeed just below Va (= 90 mph) and then performed clearing turns and slow-speed turns at 62 mph. I then turned the Allegro 2000 LSA towards KTTA and flew over it. Now, the winds have changed and the traffic was using RWY 21. After a left downwind, I performed a short-field landing for RWY 21 with Flap 1 and turned-off at the first taxiway. From RWY 21, I now performed a short-field takeoff and climbout at Vx. Turning left crosswind, I headed South above a field and performed clearing turns and power-on stall and recovery. I then entered the downwind for RWY 21 at 45 degrees and executed a simulated soft-field landing with Flap 1. I taxied the plane to the FBO.

First Solo Flight !

Jim Schmidt, CFI - Flight Instructor ; After my First Solo Flight

On December 17, 2009, after 15.8 hours of dual training, Jim asked me if I am ready for my first solo flight. I said yes and I took leave of Jim at the FBO and started taxiing to Runway 3 on KTTA after announcing over the CTAF.

I performed a normal takeoff at 56 MPH from the Allegro 2000 LSA (N50631) and started climbing at 70 MPH. I did four traffic patterns during my first solo flight - 2 go-arounds (one due to traffic and one being too high), 1 touch and go after a landing performed with a Forward Slip maneuver (my first solo landing !) and a Final landing with no-flaps....That completed my first solo flight...I have now logged 0.5 hours as Pilot-In-Command (PIC)...

B Bar D Aviation, Sanford, NC

I later realized that the First Flight by the Wright brothers was accomplished on the same day 106 years ago (December 17, 1903) !