What was the first aircraft you flew solo on?

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Various-Blood-3902@reddit

C172. Interestingly enough the plane was a former WMU plane, and my first CFI job was at WMU.

I did not attend WMU.

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MaybeBowtie@reddit

I was gonna go to WMU

I stupidly applied for the wrong major (engineering) and it was past the deadline when I noticed. I tried changing it but to no avail. Also happened with UND, too.

Ultimately decided on Embry Riddle, then withdrew after a week of classes since the fuck ton amount of money wasn’t worth it to me. Got 100% refund, drove back up to PA, and now fly for a cheaper community college and flight school.

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Various-Blood-3902@reddit

The flight school is run by narcissistic idiots whose only purpose in life is to make everyone else’s lives harder.

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MaybeBowtie@reddit

Good ole clapped out C172

Was actually 2 days ago lol.

Almost got stranded an hour away from my base airport because when testing idle it was teetering on sputtering out. Had another lead flight instructor that was there waiting for another student test it for us and it was good. We tested it again and it was good.

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campus159@reddit

1977 C152-M

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BigC208@reddit

K8 glider.

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soarheadgdon@reddit

Loved the K8. What did you do dual in?

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BigC208@reddit

K7 most of the time and when that was down for maintenance we had a K4 Rhönlerche, aka the brick. The club got an ASK21 in 1982 and the K8’s were phased out and replaced with ASK23’s In the 90’s.

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Purple_BuCkt@reddit

1969 172K! Also took my first checkride in her

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DR-973@reddit

Velis electro ! This plane is so underrated

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No-Improvement3801@reddit

Cessna 150, ol reliable, N10839, had a snoopy decal on it

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Perfect_Big_5907@reddit

TG-3 Glider at 15

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Grand_Raccoon0923@reddit

Bell 206

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Bartaaron04@reddit

The man P2002, I just called it the Fiat 500 with wings

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FlyingWater@reddit

DA20

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cirroc0@reddit

Team Katana (or Eclipse) represent!

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TheBisexualFish@reddit

T-6B

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GuaranteeUnhappy3342@reddit

Wren 460. 1969 at VTE.

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lassombra@reddit

PA28-161. Interestingly enough with the callsign "66" (266ND) my friends and I joked about it being a cursed plane.

So of course on the 3rd lap around the circuit the engine failed on takeoff. Long runway, non-event (and I mean non-event, literally training kicked in and I put it down all on automatic. My instructor did an amazing job preparing me to solo and deserves the cushy airline job he has now).

More interestingly, the same plane did end up having a fatal accident a couple years ago. I always joked that the plane had tried to kill me that day...

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jetstrea87@reddit

C172 it was overhesting on climbs, had to climb - level, let it cool, climb, level - let it cool, reepeat until my cruising altitude

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indecision_killingme@reddit

N series 172, STCed for 180 hp.

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LRJetCowboy@reddit

Aeronca Champ, hand-prop, no radio, 65 horses under the cowl.

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aftcg@reddit

And probably after 6 hours

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Canadian47@reddit

The first tail wheel aircraft I flew. Easy to hand prop but I never quite got used to it. My checkout was a whole 1.1 hours.

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LRJetCowboy@reddit

I was a slow learner, took the short school bus to the airport - it took me 10 hours and I lost the back of my shirt in the process.

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aftcg@reddit

Ha! I love it

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Bluevette1437@reddit

Same here, but it had an electric starter and radio

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LRJetCowboy@reddit

Ah yes, the high tech Champ haha.

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Bluevette1437@reddit

I might have the opportunity to go back to that flying program and instruct out of the same Champ.

It’s going to be quite a culture shock since I’ve been flying DA40s with the G1000 for the last 3 years

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LRJetCowboy@reddit

That would be really cool to do. I can’t imagine it’s easy finding TW instructors these days?

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KiwifromtheTron@reddit

C-172R, sadly destroyed several years ago after a bent conrod necessitated a landing earlier than planned. The aircraft landed in a farmers field, hit a wire fence and popped a fuel line which sprayed av gas all over the overheated engine block and poof, no more plane. Thankfully all onboard walked away with just bumps and bruises.

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Crafty_Vast7688@reddit

C 172 in T-41 disguise.

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T-1A_pilot@reddit

The mighty Mescalero!

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Kooky_Pilot5236@reddit

Yep. T-41 at Hondo, TX!

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T-1A_pilot@reddit

Lol hey, me too...

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Ok_Big_3300@reddit

Boeing 747

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Healthy-Sort-7293@reddit

C-152

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thattogoguy@reddit

The mighty Skyhawk (C-172N)

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EnderDragoon@reddit

R22

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Bulky-Challenge2098@reddit

I’ll get back to you on that

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Kein-Deutsc@reddit

PA28-140 Cherokee 1972

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T-1A_pilot@reddit

T41 Mescalero, the USAFs version of a C172, was technically first solo, but the one I normally think of would be the T37 Tweet... 🤪

...yeah, I'm old....

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hogdriver@reddit

Not that old. My first solo was a T-37. Twas back when they suspended soloes in the T-3.

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Necessary_Topic_1656@reddit

PZL KR-03 - my first solo was also my first emergency when the towplane caught on fire at 200ft on the departure climbout and he did the wing rock to tell me to pull the tow release.

the tow pilot afterwards said after he rocked the wings a few times, he was about to let me keep the tow rope and pull the release from his end if i hadn't pulled the release when i did..

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gromm93@reddit

Ooof. Was that a straight-ahead landing or some wild return-to-base thing?

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Necessary_Topic_1656@reddit

the towplane turned left after i pulled the release. i turned right and landed downwind - opposite direction on the runway i had just taken off of.

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gromm93@reddit

What was your altitude when you pulled the release? I know that they train glider pilots to do the impossible turn at 200, but it's still pretty sketchy.

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Necessary_Topic_1656@reddit

i had just tapped the altimeter climbing thru 200ft AGL , when i looked back up the towplane was rocking his wings,. i was just like "really?" is he really rocking his wings? i hesitated why does he want me to release now? after a few more emphatic unmistakable wing rocks, i pulled the tow release.

you practice rope breaks before solo, the instructor pulls the release on you during takeoff a few times when you're least expecting it. you have to demonstrate it several times before youre signed off to solo.

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dragonguy0@reddit

Grumman Cheetah!

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FridayMcNight@reddit

Citabria

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Cxopilot@reddit

A Schweitzer glider

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gErMaNySuFfErS@reddit

SGS 2-33 gang rise up

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Mikofthewat@reddit

Piper Cherokee, just a few laps in the pattern. T-34C is what I count my real first solo as

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f182@reddit

C150

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grouchy_ham@reddit

First true solo (sole occupant)- Cessna 150 Sole manipulator of the controls- either a Cessna 172 or a Socata TB-9. I don’t recall which was first.

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FeelingFussy85@reddit

Piper cherokee pa28

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VileInventor@reddit

Technically a c172

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ToastedBread107@reddit

PA-28-181. It was after waiting a little over a year to meet medical clearance standards, so my school made it into a bigger deal than I think solos usually are haha

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nealoc187@reddit

C172

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Wemest@reddit

C152. I was surprised how sprightly it climbed after my instructor got out.

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SavingsPirate4495@reddit

Grumman American Cheetah

12-JUL 1991...I was 14.3 hours into my PPL.

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Schwalbe262Guy@reddit

C172

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DuelingPushkin@reddit

A Zlin. Don't tell my instructor I was doing loops on my solos.

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Fuzzy-Region1644@reddit

Mainair Mercury with a Rotax 501 pushing me along. Before I went an aircraft had crashed in a field and we circled above to see if they were okay (they were), we landed, instructor got out to send help and came with a tap on the shoulder and said off you go!!! 😱. I overshot and had to go around 😅

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dinanm3atl@reddit

1977 172N

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IGotRangod@reddit

Socata TB20 Trinidad

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ppepitoy0u@reddit

152

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gatorav8r@reddit

TH-55

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andpaws@reddit

Not happened yet. 8hrs in and starting circuits. It’s gonna be PA28-161.

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TTMR1986@reddit

DA-20C1

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flyingron@reddit

Cessna 152. Good ol' 714YF.

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Bythion@reddit

A paramotor, does that count? If not, c152.

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Fragholio@reddit

Paramotor fits OP's generalized "aircraft" rule so I counted it too.

Still hoping someone lists a hot air balloon ir a gyrocopter here before it's over.

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retiredaaer@reddit

Piper J-3. Dec 17, 1957. A long time ago in a galaxy far away. (I am 87)

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Fragholio@reddit

I was so hoping someone listed a Cub in this one. Thanks for that! 😁

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Fragholio@reddit

Fly Products Flash Cruiser paramotor trike.

Hey, I had to start somewhere.

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Inner_Astronomer_287@reddit

TCraft on floats

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Overall-Lynx917@reddit

Slingsby Cadet Mk 3.

Does that count?

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daygloviking@reddit

ALL OUT!

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Overall-Lynx917@reddit

And then the bloody cable breaks😂

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daygloviking@reddit

If you can’t take a joke you shouldn’t sign up ;-)

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poisonandtheremedy@reddit

Absolute bucket Cessna 150 with a 150hp engine. It was a desert rat used at a super rural strip to tow gliders, and almost nothing, besides the engine and controls, worked properly.

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walleyednj@reddit

Musketeer A23-19

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aftcg@reddit

A gentleman's aeroplane

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walleyednj@reddit

I own/fly a Bellanca Super Viking these days.

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aftcg@reddit

Even more gentlemanly

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walleyednj@reddit

She’s a sweet plane. Flies like a winged Ferrari.

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Chago04@reddit

Ah, we have a man of civilization among us.

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DihedralCathedral@reddit

DA40 with a G1000, Im spoiled

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AnalKingSkyWater@reddit

DR400 :)

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TheDuckFarm@reddit

Schweitzer 233.

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tmspmike@reddit

C 152. 4587U. Gillespie Field outside San Diego.

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azbrewcrew@reddit

152 by Cessna

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Computerized-Cash@reddit

DA 20 Eclipse

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Enough-Rent-922@reddit

C172S, yes, I am a child of the magenta line

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Old_Ozarker@reddit

Cessna 120. Got my PPL in it also.

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DisregardLogan@reddit

Clapped out C150.

Faded paint, no spinner, doors that barely closed. I still fly it. It’s a nice plane aside from being a little ugly.

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BZ2USvets81@reddit

C172, N9883G

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N546RV@reddit

DA-20C1

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i_should_go_to_sleep@reddit

IFS/IFT?

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N546RV@reddit

Nah, just a regular old flight school.

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i_should_go_to_sleep@reddit

Ah, mine was also a DA20-C1, but it was during the first part of USAF pilot training.

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Mossieoak@reddit

C172 I’m one of the few

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looker94513@reddit

Grumman Cheetah AA5A

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Soft_Priority4153@reddit

RV-12iS

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mikeh0677@reddit

152

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Different_Hour2257@reddit

TB20

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Tuckboi69@reddit

C172 (L or M don’t recall the exact tail), don’t know why I didn’t lose my shirt.

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SWC8181@reddit

DA 20

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streetracer28@reddit

Cirrus SR20

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Bluevette1437@reddit

Aeronca Champ (7AC)

I loved that little plane and I may get the chance to instruct in it soon

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carnivorouz@reddit

R22

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GoFlingYourself@reddit

1953 Cessna 170B.

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LizardKing77733@reddit

C172

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mav3r1ck92691@reddit

ASK-21

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Moose135A@reddit

Piper PA-38 Tomahawk

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EntroperZero@reddit

N1057R, a C172S.

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AviatorCrafty@reddit

Cessna 162 Skycatcher

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Approaching_Dick@reddit

Diamond DA40

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alansoon73@reddit

Jabiru J160

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airbusman5514@reddit

Cessna 172

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NotDougMasters@reddit

N9501F it was a Cessna 172

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Shiv_ansh_st@reddit

C152

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nhorvath@reddit

a 1974 PA-28-151. it's a great plane, but hates being started with the fuel pump on. you can crank it forever and it won't start. if you turn the fuel pump off before cranking it, it starts within half a second, even when it's freezing out.

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HildaYuh@reddit

Did my first solo in one of these last week. Except this plane actually starts with the fuel pump on!

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sigmapilot@reddit

Tecnam P92

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Adept_Patient_4186@reddit

C152

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JuicyPossum@reddit

PA28-181

N4403W

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No-Breadfruit-1332@reddit

C152. N89215

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RedNeckSharkBitten@reddit

A 1968 Cessna 150, N22344.

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Glittering-Elk542@reddit

C-150 in 1972. 16 yrs old.

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Salavar1@reddit

172SP

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BarnackBro1914@reddit

C172...and it was the ugliest plane on the ramp.

But during the glorious time of my first solo that Cezznuh was the most amazing machine ever created by human hands. :)

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Starboard314@reddit

C172 first

T-37 first mil

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17zhangtr1@reddit

DA40-XLS

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cienfuegones@reddit

C162, it felt like it floated for a mile on the landing without the weight of the CFI in it.

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Actual_Environment_7@reddit

Citabria

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Gl3g@reddit

Cessna 150

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aftcg@reddit

7ECA

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FlyAirbusB6@reddit

T-34C Turbo Mentor.

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mr_dee_wingz@reddit

Grob G115B

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h5n1zzp@reddit

PA-38 Trauma-hawk

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minfremi@reddit

My instructor asked if I was going on a suicide mission when I told him I’m taking the Traumahawk for the CPL long XC lol

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Chappietime@reddit

Not my first solo, but I did get my ppl in the ol Traumahawk. I loved it.

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ResponsibilityOld164@reddit

TRAUMAHAWK GANG

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de_rats_2004_crzy@reddit

C172S. I think N6012U

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No_Week_8106@reddit

159 Cessna 172. N8800B

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BrtFrkwr@reddit

Classic bird. Faster than the later ones.

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No_Week_8106@reddit

Same age as me. I have survived. It did not. Last time I saw it, only the fuselage existed and it was dumped in a big patch of weeds. Very sad.

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RaiseTheDed@reddit

Taylorcraft BC12D

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spectrumero@reddit

C172 N1219F (RIP). Was destroyed when a hangar collapsed on top of it during a hurricane.

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ttnbaok@reddit

C150

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Sunperson69@reddit

C150

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Zathral@reddit

Grob Twin II G-NUGC

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Zathral@reddit

https://media.abpic.co.uk/pictures/full_size_0559/1850542-large.jpg Photo of it

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weaselkeeper@reddit

Luscombe 8E

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AmbroseRL@reddit

Tecnam P-mentor

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Skeknir@reddit

Got to fly one once because it was the only plane with working VOR at my school available on the day I did radio navigation. Very nice to fly, had never flown either a stick or low wing, but was able to adapt quickly. Found it really stable and comfortable, did bang my head on the canopy a couple of times!

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AmbroseRL@reddit

Our flight school uses them for the "PPL" part of MPL training. Was my first time flying a GA aircraft so I had no other references but it always felt good to me. Maybe lacked a bit of power here and there (we jokingly call it the lawnmower due to the sound) and lacks some headroom for taller people but apart from that it really was a fun time.

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GoldWingANGLICO@reddit

T-41A Mescalero

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No_Bowler_9175@reddit

Good old glider, ICA IS-28. We count glider as an aircraft, right?
:-)

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icanfly_impilot@reddit

C152

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BathFullOfDucks@reddit

Robin hr200 always have a soft spot for them. Motor driven flaps, one fuel tank and a great view.

But also pretty gutless, two seater and not a great deal of range. With two people and a full tank, you need a very sharp pencil for weight and balance

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FireXDrive@reddit

Citbaria 7GCAA

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Cats155@reddit

Pa-28-161 N38986 on December 31 😎

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DFVSUPERFAN@reddit

C172

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djd565@reddit

C172L with the flap switch you had to hold down and count

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k12pcb@reddit

C172N

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IndigentPenguin@reddit

C152 N65416

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Double-Reflection838@reddit

C172

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Mountain-Captain-396@reddit

The mighty Skyhawk! A 2004 C172S

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Significant-Pen-2274@reddit

PA-38 Tomahawk

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Antique-Kitchen-1896@reddit

Pa28-180. The very same one I fly now.

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urfavoritemurse@reddit

PA-28-180 An ugly bird with super faded paint and a cowl with more chips than a bag of Lays. Coincidentally was on vacation with family about 10 years later and of the young girls brought a friend who was talking about her dad’s plane that he had bought from a very small airport where I grew up. Asked her if it was the same tail number and sure enough it was. Small world.

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