FIRST SOLO FLIGHT

1st September 2005 is a historic day for me. I woke up in the morning after a sleepless night. It was 6.15 am and I had to get ready to go across to the college to prepare for my flight which was scheduled at 8.00am. I was really nervous for this flight as I was running out of hours to clear my solo check.

Just a few days back I was changed to a different instructor after failing to clear the check with my previous instructor.... The pressure is on... Many things ran through my mind.. What if I failed? What if i had to go back home? Can I look for a new job? God!! I need to start fresh again... Will companies still be interested in hiring me? I'm only gonna be a burden to my parents.

All these thoughts were only making it worst for me. You see, flying is supose to be relaxing.. If you want to fly the plane well, you mind has to be clear and totally focused only at the job at hand.

Well... this was my second flight with my new instructor. He's a really nice person. His really skillful with flying and his method of teaching was just what I needed. I manage to grasp the skill to land the plane properly ad sofly.

We started taxying the plane to the run up bay. Halfway he took control of the plane saying I was too slow. I thought man, i'm in trouble... He then completed the run ups and took off the plane. After completing one circuit, he handed the plane over to me. I did 3 touch and go's and finally the last circuit he the tower told me i have an option to glide the plane. He took the option and asked me to glide the plane down.

In my mind I was like damn, I've not done a glide before in Perth and here I am required to do a glide which might be used as an assesment for my eligibility to fly solo. I thought i was a goner!! Thankfully my instructor guided me by telling me what's I need to do. I manage to get the plane on the runway with a soft landing.

To my delight, he made a call to the tower telling them he is sendimg me on my FIRST SOLO!! Many things ran through my mind that instant... Mostly a sense of relief and yet a little worried knowing that I cannot screw this flight as there is no instructor in the plane to safe me.

After dropping my instructor at the run up bay, I taxied back to the runway and took off. I completed a circuit then landed the plane. It was wonderful.

What amazed me is that through out the flight, I can hear my instructors, voice in my head, telling me what to do. I owe him big time for this. On the same day, 4 other friends of mine cleared their solo along with me. They were all Malaysians. Everyone was saying that we must be patriotic and we all cleared it the day after Malaysian's independence day...

Today I was sitting and having breakfast with one of my buddy when he told me he has a picture of me taxying the plane on my first solo. It just happened that when I was doing my solo, his girlfriend and parents were at the lookout point taking picture of him flying. They happen to take a shot of me in my plane. I'm like no way!! That's so cool... I should get the picture sometime later this week. Will post it up then...

Anywayz, I'll end here now. WIll write soon again. My mind is still in reflection mode thinking about my life and so on.