Am I locked?
Posted by Kiya86@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 135 comments
So uh, I just got endorsed to do my solo at 6.2 hours. And uh, well, I'm scared asf like what if something goes wrong? Any tips to reduce the anxiety? Also is it normal to do a solo at 6.2 hours? I'm also flying the Warrior (I'm too broke to afford to the Archer)
weech@reddit
6 hours seems insane and borderline irresponsible on the instructor’s part IMO. I just can’t imagine having trained someone to reasonable proficiency in all required maneuvers and emergency procedures much less takeoff and landings in 6 hours.
Sea_Professor8394@reddit
I soloed in 7 hours and have now been flying for over 35 years, he’ll be fine
slbxhaiisnd@reddit
youre a dinosaur. A relic. GPS didnt exist when you learned. Airspace was simple. Avionics were simple. Rules were hardly enforced. The mentality was “give it a shot”. Your 35 year old experience couldnt be less relevant to todays world, so dont give shitty dangerous advice to people on the internet in the 2000s you fossil.
craciant@reddit
Ditto
SRM_Thornfoot@reddit
"6 hours seems insane and borderline irresponsible.."
I disagree with you. Some people may take longer, but that does not mean everyone needs to take longer. If you are not soloing your students when they are ready just because you think more hours should be in their logbook first, then it is you who is being irresponsible.
6.2 hours is not the norm, but that is an indication to me that the OP is doing a fantastic job!
brrrrrrrrtttttt@reddit
It’s also an indication of someone instructing that hasn’t had a bad incident with a student yet. 6 hours and solo assumes that some time was spent on power on/off stalls, slow flight, steep turns. It also assumes that at best the student has maybe 20 landings, most likely not in any sort of medium-high demonstrated crosswind configuration. Probably not the most proficient in a wide variety of situations.
OP might be alright like the dudes that anecdotally had 4.4 hours for their first solo and lived to tell the tale. Who knows? Hopefully they are successful and learn trial by fire without a safety net.
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
That is a great way of putting it!! I did get some experience from flight sim (214 hours), which helped A LOT, like I already knew how to do maneuvers, comms, and a couple other things (Although a lot more difficult in irl). Also ty for the compliment lol
Environmental-Rub878@reddit
In the 40s, 50s, and 60s, it was not uncommon for someone to solo with more than 5 or 6 hours total time.
Yes, I get it was a different time and age. But flying is and was flying. Probably harder back then with all the underpowered craft. And most were conventional gear.
Jackie Cochran, and many of the WASPs soloed very early and went on to fly behemoths for the duration of the war.
Can it be done? 100%
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
Well, I did log a lot of hours on the sim (Something like 200 hours, I got bored lol). And for the last 2 flights, I've been doing everything, including take off, landing, and comms. However, my weak point is comms. I've practiced a lot, but it's not the best work yet. For emergency procedures, we have covered all of the procedures.
Lanky_Beyond725@reddit
I mean just the fact you say you've been doing everything as if that's a big deal is rather suspect. My students were definitely doing everything many, many times before I let them solo. I would never solo someone at 6 hours. There's just no way you know enough. Have you landed after he pulled the engine completely to idle? He has 1,000 hours....that's not a lot. It depends more on his judgement.
ammo359@reddit
Theory: 6 hours flying out of a sleepy uncontrolled airport might be about the same amount of useful training as 12 flying out of a class C where you have to wait to taxi, wait to takeoff, fly 0.3 to the practice area, then do it all in reverse. Can easily add 0.7 per flight of not really useful training.
Lanky_Beyond725@reddit
I'm a CFII, 6 hrs at any field is not enough. The C is better training with the radios etc but I get your point. Talk to me when you're a 1,000 hr instructor.
ammo359@reddit
Your combative tone here is unnecessary - I probably won’t be talking to you when I have 1000 hours; I have no reason to.
Electrical-Bed8577@reddit
(1) Comms are people. Like friends. People you know. People in a hurry. Speak the dialect: It's me. I'm almost there. How's the road today? Got a spot for me? Me again. I'm here, where do i park again? Got it, (thanks). Hey, hi, it's me. On my way out. Got a best route? Follow that guy? Got it. Have a great day.
(2) Emergency Procedures are never fully covered. Keep running the checklists. You know that. Walk through your 'what ifs' routinely enough, like a checklist, so when it goes sideways, you have a maneuver in your back pocket.
noideawhatsupp@reddit
This is so well described.. Tell me you are a FI without telling me you are a FI ;)
Electrical-Bed8577@reddit
: ~ /) just love flying
Scared-Rent-6915@reddit
I am surprised he told you that you were going to solo on the next flight. I soloed around 8 hrs after doing some landings, he got out and said give me three. I was totally surprised and didn't have time to think about getting nervous. I wished your instructor had done the same with you and on your next lesson have you solo and not have to agonize about it for 24 hours. You will do fine.
gbchaosmaster@reddit
Yep. My instructor swiped my logbook from my backpack, slapped the endorsement in there and snuck it into the helicopter with us. Had me fly us out to our training area and said alright, you’re gonna need a bit more forward cyclic without me in here as he was getting out. Man that thing flew so much better minus 180lb. The engine was also way more reliable; those damn O-360s seem to fail at least twice an hour when there’s a CFI onboard.
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
I thought it was going to be like that too! I saw videos like that on yt, and I prefer that lol.
Scared-Rent-6915@reddit
Let me tell you something. I was in Air Force ROTC while at college. In my last year we got to tour some AF F-4 Phantoms including climbing in the cockpit. There were so many switches and dials that I came away from the tour totally dejected thinking I could never fly anything like that. Two years later I was flying them! Never underestimate your abilities.
SP_Aman@reddit
Uh, uh, uh
Fly good don’t suck. Your instructor wouldn’t have endorsed you if he thought you were going to kill yourself.
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
This definitely helps lol, hopefully it goes well!
slbxhaiisnd@reddit
Theres a 0% chance you are ready to solo. Your instructor is hoping everything goes 100% perfectly with the plane, weather, and other pilots in the pattern. Maybe you get lucky, maybe you dont.
But at 6hrs im 100% sure you have not practiced landings in many conditions, have not drilled in what to do with mechanical failures, and have not gotten a good feeling with the plane yet. You probably dont even know what to do if a plane does something your are not used to in the pattern Do what you want, but id look for a new instructor who cares about your safety.
Capable_Parsnip_156@reddit
Crock of shit.
You only fly light aircraft VFR in certain conditions as a solo student - if the weather isn’t acceptable on the day, their instructor would not allow the solo to take place.
6.5 hours is plenty for a competent student to learn to takeoff land an aeroplane. It isn’t that hard.
slbxhaiisnd@reddit
Hahahaha Show me the lesson plans that get you to solo in 6hrs.
Lesson 1 - Intro to basics (climbs, turns, descents, coordination, trim) - 1.5hrs
Lesson 2 - Intro to steep turns and slow flight (shallow vs medium vs steep bank, slow flight clean / dirty, maneuvering in slow flight) - 1.5hrs
Lesson 3 - Intro to stalls (power on, power off, accelerated stall demo, spin awareness) - 1.5hrs
Lesson 4 - ground reference maneuvers (turn around a point, s turn across a road, rectangular course) - 1.5hrs
Lesson 5 - Emergency procedures (lost comms, engine failure, engine fire, cabin fire, wingtip fire, emergency descent, rough running engine) - 1.5hrs
Lesson 6 - Intro to pattern work (pattern operations, normal landing, no flap landing, forward slip, go arounds) - 1.5hrs
That alone gets you to 9hrs MINIMUM and you have NEVER EVEN DONE A SINGLE THING TWICE. You think someone is ready to fly alone whos done pattern once? Just been introduced to maneuvers without showing control or understanding? Run through emergencies once?
FAA - PLEASE PULL THIS MANS CFI. You disgust me sending a student to solo because they can land the plane half decent after 2 flights.
Austerlitz2310@reddit
You'd be surprised at what I've seen...
SP_Aman@reddit
What have you seen?
No-Improvement3801@reddit
A kid who had flown a perfect solo, but smashed the wing into a hangar while parking thinking he was Mr. Cool. It’s my job as the dispatcher to park the planes…it’s what I get paid for.
Austerlitz2310@reddit
Dispatchers who literally have to dispatch the airplanes hahaha
itsPolarisRadio@reddit
You’d be surprised.
PhilRubdiez@reddit
I wouldn’t. I’ve seen a lot, too
SquidWeenies@reddit
I for one, was surprised how much could be seen.
AssetZulu@reddit
Even I’m surprised with what he’s seen
GrumpyOlAsian@reddit
I still can’t believe some of the stuff he’s seen
FujitsuPolycom@reddit
Unbelievable seeing
Imaginary-Knowledge4@reddit
That's the last thing I wanted to see in this lifetime
RyzOnReddit@reddit
Not sure about anxiety vanishing, but even 25 years later I can remember feeling very determined and focused to get those 3 touch and goes to work 😂
slbxhaiisnd@reddit
you are not ready to solo at 6hrs. Find an instructor who cares about your life
Melodic_Visual1595@reddit
Did you do stalls and slow flight?
Mediocre-Life3012@reddit
Your trained to know what to do if something goes wrong ?
Fn-5-7@reddit
I soloed a 172 so I don’t have any tips pertaining to the plane but just know that your instructor wouldn’t endorse you to solo if you weren’t ready, your instructor also won’t let you solo in unsafe conditions. Double check your checklists rely on your training and enjoy your first big milestone in flying. Congratulations!
live_drifter@reddit
What training?
Fn-5-7@reddit
If his instructor endorsed him then he knows how to start it up, make calls, takeoff and land.
nolaflygirl@reddit
Let's hope.
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
Realest thing I've seen lol. And yes, I can start the plane...
nolaflygirl@reddit
Let's us know how it went after your solo.
carl-swagan@reddit
Soloing under 10 hours is… unusual. Have you gone through emergency procedures? Have you drilled what to do in an engine failure? Are your landings consistently safe and unassisted? If the above are true you have very little to worry about. If not you may not be getting the highest quality instruction.
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
Yes, I have covered every emergency scenario except the spinning dive. We aren't allowed to do it in our location. For the past 2 flights, he has been letting me do everything from Taxi to Landing, which is pretty cool. For comms, I am pretty confident, I just need to practice airspaces and landing clearance (Maybe some pattern comms too). I feel like I'm just underestimating myself because I'm so nervous lol.
No-Business9493@reddit
Just out of curiosity, how many landings have you logged, unassisted?
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
20-ish; I would say 5 of them were hard landings because I set the power to idle too quickly.
Mid_Atlantic_Lad@reddit
You can always land a little long if the runway is big enough. Yes you shouldbe practicing landing at your self design gated touchdown zone, but only if you know you can land safely.
Just remember that you shouldn't be losing airspeed before ground effect, don't be scared of the ground, cause then you'll balloon and smack it anyway.
And you can ALWAYS go around.
finners9689@reddit
Yes! Always remember go arounds are free. I had to do one on my first solo because of getting cut off in the pattern by someone that wasn’t on comms. If you do have to go around remember to side step away from the pattern.
Taylor_Pilot@reddit
sweet jesus...
Masterofnonn@reddit
That’s hilarious
MangledX@reddit
If you're calling anything in aviation the "spinning dive" then you're not there yet.
majoranne@reddit
Also chair fly your solo flight, including saying the radio calls out loud, and various taxi routes back to parking, several times. And every pilot I know, including me, heard noises we had never noticed before during our solo. It is freaky, but wow, that exhilaration afterwards when you realize it was all you and you did it!
mud2897@reddit
Just did my first solo leaving the field I’m so glad I rad this, I had that exact thought I was hearing stuff I’d never heard before engine sounding bad or something etc lol
baby-shart@reddit
Soloing without fully being on top of clearances and comms already?
Odd-Broccoli-1617@reddit
I think this is pretty individual. Around 20 unassisted landings could be OK, how many total landings did you logged?
My syllabus was quite different, we did a lot of pattern work and even cross country flying before the first solo, so I did mine after 22 hours and 126 landings.
What definitely helped me during the first solo was the decision to fly in the evening and landing with the low sun behind me, the shadows helped me to estimate my height over the runway a lot.
Taylor_Pilot@reddit
The CFI must be brain dead...There is no way he met all the standards for a solo in 6 hours...He would get destroyed in court...
AvailableAd4131@reddit
If he signed you off he’s confident in you and that should instill enough confidence in you that you know you can do it no problem, you’ve done it before just do it again with better performance. Anxiety and stress is completely normal for a solo and it will be gone once the throttle is in and your on the roll down the runway. Action kills anxiety, good luck.
erinhump777@reddit
Did my first solo on my 5th flight. You’ll be golden. “Fly good, don’t suck and sound cool on the radios”. Remember, Wave offs are free.
rufio_sg@reddit
You’ll be fine bro just fly good and maintain the proper attitude. If you don’t feel good about the approach just go around. Don’t over-bank and get too slow on that base turn and final turn. You got this.
iamflyipilot@reddit
One to say “no” two to say “go” applies here. Both you and your CFI need to agree you are ready.
6 hours is definitely on the low side but its not necessarily alarming. There is an almost infinite number of things that affect the amount of logged time it takes to get through any part of training. There are amazing pilots I know who took 30 hours to solo simply because of the training environment they were in.
thiefe@reddit
Be happy! I soloed at about 8 hours in '72. It was the best feeling on the first landing, still euphoric on the second and it was not pretty, put my head back straight and nailed the third. You'll do great, just remember your training.
charlieray@reddit
When in doubt, fly the plane.
Sharp_Experience_104@reddit
Different strokes, I guess.
Six hours in the plane is equivalent to just after lunchtime on your first day in the office. If you need more time and experience, say so. This compulsion to get everything done in minimum hours does not promote safety IMHO/IME.
Such_Elk_7084@reddit
You can always go around. That first lap in the pattern is the hardest. I’d rather be yelled at by tower than become a splat on the runway.
ManufacturerThick961@reddit
Aviation training is a marathon not a sprint. Train at the pace you’re comfortable with, the anxiety fades as you build experience and become more confident in your skills
Beautiful-Low9454@reddit
That’s pretty early to solo. I soloed when I had about 10 hours in a Cessna 152. I’m taking a check ride tomorrow in a Citation CJ4 initial. Yikes here we go
Professional_Read413@reddit
This has to be satire. 6 hours? I mean I know people have done it before but solo after 20 landings? That cant be real
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
Well, it's real, I guess lol. I have been doing everything last 2 flights. Pre, start up, taxi, take off, cruise, and landing. He's just been helping with comms and giving me advice on little things.
Professional_Read413@reddit
Hey man, if you're ready you're ready. Took me like 50 landings or so before I soloed.
As far as nerves, yeah you are going to be nervous as shit. I just focused on my training. Do everything exactly the same. After that 2nd touch and go you'll be good
toraai117@reddit
Nice job. Don’t suck have fun. Don’t listen to these suckers I solo’d in 3 flights you’ll be fine
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
Haha, I will!
atlimag@reddit
Are you fine with it? If you don’t feel ready just ask for couple of hours more
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
I'm fine with it, I'm just nervous lol. And I feel like I'm underestimating myself.
AK_Dude69@reddit
You’re good. Stay humble and stay ahead of the plane
Hot_Indication470@reddit
It’s normal to be a little scared, if you weren’t that would be cause for concern. Follow your checklists. Do as you’ve been trained. If you don’t like the landing, go around and try again.
CommunicationWarm318@reddit
Can I ask where you’re learning to fly?
SATSewerTube@reddit
I feel like this is borderline, “I hovered at 1TT” territory…
ammo359@reddit
As a fixed wing pilot I was not prepared for trying to hover an R44 with about 0.2 stick time. Holy cow that thing gets away from you fast.
After a couple tries I consciously forced myself to make smaller corrections much faster, and it stabilized a little bit. Couldn’t believe my buddy could do it casually and talk at the same time.
Electrical-Bed8577@reddit
Hey, some of us live in the J Curve. It's the 130th time that's not the charm.
Brotein40@reddit
Damn it’s been a minute. Almost forgot about that chapter
Jake6401@reddit
6.2 hours is definitely fast for a first solo, but not completely unheard of. You’re never going to feel 100% ready for your first solo. That’s just how it is. Your instructor wouldn’t sign you off unless s/he felt that you showed proficiency. If you’re TRULY not ready, then talk to your instructor. Go do a lesson or two with your instructor as a “passenger” to build some confidence.
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
Thats some really good advice, I'll text him abt it tonight. Although he doesn't really fly himself, I fly the plane 99% of the time. Taxi, Take off, Cruise, and Landing. He is that confident in my abilities lol, and I think I'm just underestimating myself.
Frederf220@reddit
As long as he's not letting you develop bad habits uncorrected, the more you're flying the better. Hours isn't 1:1 with experience. I landed my discovery flight. Moving the plane around reasonably is not the hardest thing about flying (doing so accurately and consistently is). The hard parts were radio/adm/planning. Going up once around the block is pretty simple.
And just think, if you really screw it up won't be your problem anymore.
arbpotatoes@reddit
You landed your discovery flight? That must be exceedingly rare
sage-longhorn@reddit
I "landed" on my discovery flight too, the instructor was "just barely" nudging the controls
Pretty sure I didn't even have my feet on the pedals and he did the whole configuration for me
druuuval@reddit
I checked out a lot of schools in my area. I thought I was super special until the 3rd schools discovery flight ended the same way. At that point I realized the chances of me actually being a naturally gifted reincarnated Chuck Yeager were much lower than the schools all trying to sell me on how quick their program would be compared to others since I was “such a natural”
EgressingTeacher@reddit
Same with mine, and the majority of the time he's texting on his phone (not when he's instructing of course he's doing his job!). He's either either that comfortable with me at the yoke, or there's a thread on reddit somewhere with a constant stream of complaints about what an arsehole I am.
Electrical-Bed8577@reddit
My favorite early times were doing slips and stalls with my CFI right seat and aged instructors snoring in the back seat.
fountainsofvarnoth@reddit
I soloed around 7.5hrs. Instructor was a hard ass who made sure I knew my stuff. I had a decade of MSFS experience and I was young, so I was decently coordinated and picked up things like a sponge. Nothing special, just young and conditioned to learn I guess.
My CFI had me full stop and taxi clear, and bailed out. “Three laps around the pattern, don’t fuck it up” and closed the door.
It went great. Yours will too.
bryteagle@reddit
6.2 hours is definitely on the lower side for a first solo, but it’s not unheard of. If your instructor endorsed you, they clearly think you’re capable, but that doesn’t mean you have to solo right away if you don’t feel ready.
There are a lot of factors that play into when a student solos: your comfort level, how quickly you’ve been progressing, and the conditions you’ve been flying in. If you want more time before soloing, just tell your instructor. There’s no FAA requirement that it has to happen at six hours.
And honestly, in the long run, the exact hour you solo doesn’t matter at all. As an airline pilot later on, nobody’s going to care whether you soloed at 6 hours, 10 hours, or 20. What matters is that you’re safe, confident, and building a solid foundation.
You may never feel 100% “ready” for that first solo, and that’s normal. Personally, at 6.2 hours I wouldn’t have felt ready. The important part is making sure you and your instructor are both confident in your ability to handle it.
Fly safe!
theitgrunt@reddit
All good Jedi remember their training. Use your checklists
OgeeWhiz@reddit
it used to be fairly common. Long ago I had many students who were safe to solo with less than 10 hours. The question for you is whether the instructor has covered all the required elements for solo flight (see the FARs) and are you competent in them? if you have concerns, don’t be in a rush to solo.
IguessIcanfly@reddit
Had a student once that was solo ready at 5.1 hours. I was astonished how good he was and was questioning whether or not I should solo someone with such low hours, but he did everything right, and better.
SoftAd5735@reddit
the biggest thing i can advise is the “IM SAFE” checklist if you stop at the “emotional” part because you are too anxious, don’t fly. as the PIC, you have final authority as to wether or not that aircraft flies.
FrostyKuru@reddit
First solo is acary but remeber you've done it a bunch of tines now yoh can handle it
Quirky_Roll_6451@reddit
I remember when I did my first solo, I had a conversation with my instructor asking how I would know if I was ready to solo, she said you'll probably second guess me when I tell you. That day she had her arms crossed the entire flight or her camera out taking pictures of other planes landing, a signal to me that I was ready. That's how I knew that I was ready. I was still nervous, also I was around 15 or 20 hours or so too.
CraftsmanConnection@reddit
6.2 hours sounds like way too little hours to actually do a solo flight. As cool as it seems to be deemed worthy, I told my instructor at some point before reaching 20 hours, that I didn’t care how long it took. I wanted to build my experience. It’s kind of like how you felt when you first started driving at 16 years old versus driving for 10 years or longer. Your situational awareness goes up. Of course you don’t exactly have planes flying out of a random parking lot driveway and cutting you off, etc., but it’s still better to have much more experience. Don’t be in a rush. Don’t you still need a minimum number of hours to get to Sport Pilot (20 hours), and private pilot (40 hours)? Maybe you can use some of the time to work on other things like soft field landing and takeoff’s.
One time, we were flying back to the airport, and were over a lake. My instructor randomly said, you just lost your engine! Where can you land? I took a few seconds to scan the area, and spotted a strip of grass between a row of trees at the edge of the water. I set up for a soft field landing and headed to that spot. Come to find out, that was actually a legit strip of grass for landings. (Pat on the back 😄) Pretty good quick decision making. Have fun practicing some unique situations.
Long-Fruit-3339@reddit
I soloed at 8 hours. I was signed off before but made the mistake of telling my mom. She called my CFI who was a family friend and told him that while I might be ready she wasn’t 😂
kytulu@reddit
If something goes wrong... land.
So, let's look at this logically for a minute:
How is the maintenance on the aircraft? Good, poor, somewhere in-between? Does MX (or the owner/flight school) actually address issues when they are reported?
Have you had any mechanical issues thus far? If so, were they major or minor? Were they fixed, or placarded?
So, assuming that the airplane is mechanically sound, and airworthy:
Are your flying skills up to soloing, meaning you can safely take orr and land? Your CFI seems to think so.
Are your ground skills up to soloing? Can you preflight, get a weather brief, read approach plates, plan, and execute a flight plan? Can you communicate properly and intelligently on the radio? Again, your CFI seems to think so.
As humans, we are our own worst critics. Just treat it as any other flight and you'll do fine.
gosquawkyourself@reddit
If you’re soloing at 6 hours, it means you have the aptitude to be a good pilot. Don’t get cocky, but trust that you’re gonna do fine! Everyone is nervous about their first solo — that’s the fun part
craciant@reddit
I also had about 6 hours. But my instructor was very sly about it in a way that didn't give me any chance to get the pre solo jitters. While flying, he asked me "what's the tower frequency for [nearest towered airport]" and had me write it on my knee board, then collected the paper. In hindsight, that was my "pre solo written" after that we landed, he said let's make this one a taxi back, hopped out, rolled up his headset and said "alright go do a couple by yourself don't crash I can't afford a new headset"
When I was a CFI, I carried on this tradition of always leaving my headset in the plane when sending a first solo.
Imo, 6 hours is enough time to do a lap around the pattern, if you have the right stuff. Send it.
FiatBad@reddit
Fear is good, It is the small ancient part of our brain that says we might be in danger. Fear is an excellent clue to engage the big part of your brain and think about why you have this fear and then come up with a plan of action to mitigate the reasons you are scared. this is a big growth opportunity for you. slow down, think through all you are about to do and what actions you would take for any situation that may come up. then go enjoy it!
TropicBellend@reddit
If you're this scared you need to communicate to your instructor. When I sign people off their confidence level is a factor. You may perform great with me in the right seat but if you don't believe you're ready to solo, I don't think you are ready to solo.
Just my opinion of course
Rickenbacker69@reddit
Well, I can only speak for myself, but I think most instructors would agree: We don't let you go off on your own until we were sure you could do it 2-3 flights ago. :D
TempusFugit2020@reddit
I think the point is being missed. While the CFI is ready to solo the OP, the OP isn't comfortable soloing. If you aren't comfortable soloing, then don't. Tell your CFI that while you appreciate his/her confidence, you feel you need more experience before you go it alone. Don't do something that you feel you are not ready to do, and don't allow yourself to feel external pressure to fly.
Hmmmm...."don't allow yourself to feel external pressure to fly"...sounds like a familiar bit of advice that you'll get along the way anyway. Maybe consider this your first lesson in ADM.
Good Luck!
cficole@reddit
If there's one rule about how long it takes to solo, it's, "your mileage may vary".
If you're not confident, remember that the solo endorsement means you're allowed to solo under controlled conditions. It doesn't mean you have to solo; you can always discuss it with your CFI, and choose to get more dual first.
Your CFI should know your skill level much better than you, but it wouldn't hurt to let him know how you feel. That comes into evaluating yourself regarding readiness for any flight.
Substantial-Cat0910@reddit
If you don't feel ready for your solo, or for any reason you want more hours with an instructor on board, you can and should say so. It's you call, as it always will be, as pilot in command. There's no shame in postponing it until you feel more ready. Take an extra hour of pattern work with an instructor and ask them to act only as a safety pilot and nothing else.
k5xjs@reddit
I soloed around 7-8 hours, hard to remember as that was 1969. Back then there was no advance warning, the instructor just got out after some touch and go’s and sent you. I like that better. You’ll be fine! Congratulations.
countextreme@reddit
Was how it was for me too. Instructor asked "do you think you can do this by yourself", I said yes, he said great, hopped out on the runway and said do 3 laps and meet me in the hangar. First takeoff is stressful but there's really not enough time to psyche yourself out if your CFI does it that way.
He did tell me to be careful driving home because of the adrenaline crash and he was 100% correct, went home and took a very long nap.
things_most_foul@reddit
Solo at ten hours in a 172. If you’re ready you’re ready. Trust your CFI. I had a flap failure at 6 hours dual, and dealt with it well enough that he had confidence in me.
NovelPrevious7849@reddit
Geaux tigers
Austerlitz2310@reddit
Damn... I got it at 15 hours. Nice.
Pick a good song you'll sing! Your worries will disappear, and the airplane's performance will increase without the instructor there.
My instructor was a very big dude... 172 shot ip like a rocket...
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
It's the other way around for me. I'm the big dude (6"1 245 pounds lmao)
Austerlitz2310@reddit
No need to worry, you'll be fine! My instructor was 330 lbs (I still remember doing the M&B haha)
Best of luck! It's the beginning of a wonderful thing.
Shinsf@reddit
The standard is don't die. P Preferably you do need to file an ASAP. Have fun
BlueWolf107@reddit
Look, I’m not going to pretend I know what you are going through but I’ll tell you what happened to me.
I was scared out of my mind right up until the plane lifted off the runway. After that, I was too focused to be scared. After you level off at cruising altitude and do your radio comms, it’s really peaceful actually.
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the tip, I will definitely say that phrase lol
Samaritan-7@reddit
You’re so locked. If your instructor is willing to put his cert on the line for you then you’re ready. Slow down and be intentional with everything and look for any excuse for a go around each lap. You got this!
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
This really helps with my confidence, thank you!
LikenSlayer@reddit
If you think its too early, tell your CFI to go up with you again one more time but have them "Sit on their hands" for the whole flight.
If they have to intervene for safety reasons, then it might be too early. CFI job is to push you to the next step responsibly. Most students will drag their feet.
Best of Luck!
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the helpful advice!!
gritsource@reddit
Back in 1985 I soloed in 4.4 hours, not boasting, the rules for sign offs were different then.
Kiya86@reddit (OP)
That's awesome!
Hbgplayer@reddit
Fly good, land gooder
MarionberryChemical9@reddit
Everyone has different progression levels, I think I probably could have landed a plane at 7 hours but not well, and if shit hit the fan I definitely would have panicked. If you don’t feel totally ready then ask for a few more pattern flights.
jcurve347@reddit
I soloed at 6. The anxiety/impostor syndrome of it is totally normal and I knew that going into it. Make sure you get in some go-around practice before your CFI kicks themselves out of the airplane.
Diligent-Knowledge29@reddit
Yes soloing under 10hrs is ahead of the curve, let alone 6.2. If you don't feel comfortable yourself than don't do it. I soloed at 8.6 and felt prepared to do so. You will always have nerves and thats a good thing because it will keep you more focused and aware, but remember the decision is up to you. Your CFI wouldn't risk it their if they didn't think you were ready.
Low_Sky_49@reddit
Honestly, if you don’t feel ready to solo, just tell your CFI. You don’t have to take the plane out until you’re ready. Trust that they’re a better judge of readiness than you are, but don’t disregard your instincts. There are no awards for earliest solo.
For what it’s worth, 6 hours is pretty light, but if your intuition for stick and rudder are good, and you’re flying at a field with very little traffic and easy weather, 6 hours may be enough.
raetron1@reddit
Low but not unheard of if you got it. Healthy to be asking this question and not letting letting your ego be overconfident. If you don't feel ready, ask for more lessons where your instructor is hands off. You will need a lot more dual time to get your cert.
lolitstrain21@reddit
Tbh the warrior and the archer fly very similar besides the HP less in the warrior. As for the solo you will do good. An instructor wouldn’t sign someone off if you weren’t ready. 6.2 is pretty low but for a normal 3 landing take off flight you should be good.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
So uh, I just got endorsed to do my solo at 6.2 hours. And uh, well, I'm scared asf like what if something goes wrong? Any tips to reduce the anxiety? Also is it normal to do a solo at 6.2 hours? I'm also flying the Warrior (I'm too broke to afford to the Archer)
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