Solo Flight

"Clear to take-off." The voice crackled in my ear, and I timidly repeated the instruction! This was my first solo flight- after having lessons for so many hours over the average. Now, here I was, all alone with an eerie feeling. Time stood still waiting for something to happen and I didn't dare to think. I should have been  prepared for this, but all the preparation in the world was not like the real thing, and this was it. It had happened so quickly;  my instructor had got out and told me I was on my own, and I needed to contact the tower  for instructions.

There was nothing for it, I did all the pre-checks, and   taxied up to the take off line where  I waited for the final clearance. I furtively glanced at the empty seat beside me. Then the tower came through. This was it! From this point on, there was no way back, the playing around  was over. I mechanically revved up to maximum as I had been taught, and took off the  brakes.  The plane rushed forward down the runway.  I remembered to lift the nose when I reached the take off speed, and as I pulled back the stick, I felt the pleasant sensation of lightness, of release, as the plane became  airborne.  All I had to do now, was to keep the nose up at the correct  angle. Surprisingly, it all went smoothly. The feeling of elation at that moment was never to be repeated in all subsequent take–offs.

When I reached the right height,  I turned downwind and  kept the plane parallel to the  runway below. To my left, the airport, to my right, a patchwork of fields. There was no feeling of height; just a picture unfolding as I went. I could now relax as I flew for a while with little to do, but watch the airspeed and keep my height at a steady couple of thousand feet.  Then I had to let the tower know that I wanted to land, so I spoke clearly. "Dandury tower, Cessna Papa Bravo 124 on downwind for runway zero eight."

"Papa Bravo 124 clear to land runway zero eight." After passing the end of the runway below, I went on to the base leg turning for the final approach.

I was a little worried about the landing, having had considerable difficulties in the past, but somehow this time everything went pretty well. There was little wind to throw me off, and I didn’t have anyone waiting behind me to make me nervous. I set the trim and the revs as I’d been taught, and got the plane down in line with the runway. I came over the fence at the right height and touched down early enough giving me plenty of runway to let the nose settle gently.

The wheels touched down and keeping up the nose, I landed smoothly.  This worked out so well, that I asked for permission to go round again. I was so pleased with myself and the tower gave me the o.k. so I just turned and headed for the take-off position. My confidence had grown, and I was a little cocky too. This time though, I was soon to find that something was very different. Frightfully different.

 I hadn’t been prepared for what happened next!  After reaching the take off speed and pulling back on the stick the plane reacted as it should. It rose off the ground but then refused to climb. I couldn’t raise the nose too high for fear of stalling the engine. It now looked as if I wouldn’t clear the hill ahead. I was in BIG TROUBLE but strangeley enough, I didn't panic; my mind  just went blank. My eyes scanned the instruments but in honesty, I didn’t know what I was looking for. I'd never encountered such a situation during my dual training.  I wouldn’t be here now writing this if my guardian angel hadn’t taken pity on me. He decided to intervene just in time, because my eyes caught something.  I saw this white control that somehow seemed in the wrong position; it was down. The flaps were still down - the air brakes were still on. Instinctively, my hand moved out to lift the white lever and the effect was immediate! I felt the release and the releaf as the invisible rope broke and the plane quickly floated up.  This was just as well, because I'd got dangerously close to the hill in front.  By now, my pulse was so high that I could hear it beating in my head. I lost no time though, in pulling back on the stick  and climbing.
 

"Phew," a near thing I thought,  but now I was scared. I didn’t even want to look down any more. Somehow, I completed the circuit and landed safely. This was a good lesson for me. I’d got carried away with my initial success and forgot to "clean up" the plane and fully carry out the initial checks before going round the second time.  “Hubris” I think they call it, but I learned to pay attention to detail and be well prepared before jumping into things using only my enthusiasm.