First Solo at 16 ... When Was Yours?

My first solo was in a Piper Cherokee Warrior, at Alexander Field (KISW) in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.  It was 1978, and I was 23 years old.

Cheers!

Joe

November 28th 1998 in Piper L-4, G-BWEZ at Cumbernauld Airport in Scotland, age 27. 

Still smiling!

When I was 17 at Chicgoland Airport in a Piper Colt during the summer of 1966. Six months before I got my drivers license.

January 20, 2009 on Runway 27 in Oshkosh.  Temps were in the single digits and snow covered the runway, so you couldn't see the center line but could still make out the orange dot.  

A truly incredible feeling!

http://www.eaa.org/wings 

July 1969, age 15, in a Schweizer 2-33 at Holiday Soaring School, Tehachapi Ca.  Sometime in 1971 I soloed a Cessna 150 from G&H Cessna at El Monte, Ca at age 17.  After my private checkride,  we taxied back between a narrow row of planes and the examiner said if I could get it back to the tie down without hitting anything, he'd type up my license.  I've been learning how to fly ever since.   

It was in 1984, in a Piper Colt, off a grass strip in the heart of  Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I was 23 years old and completed 4 sucessful touch-&-goes as the sumer sun was starting to turn that golden color. It was an experience that I'll never forget! 

December 8, 1997 at Carlisle Business Airport in a C150 at age 64 (after waiting over six months for Ok City to approve my medical).  Finally got my ticket in an Aerocna Champ at Bermudian Valley Airpark on November 8, 2007.  Ten years in training is not long, is it?  After all it takes 12 years to get out of high school....

I soloed on my 16th B-Day.  In both a 1946 Aeronca 7AC Champ and a 1977 Cessna 150.

I also received my PPL on my 17th B-Day.  Took check ride in same aircraft I soloed in.  Ground referece and all manuvers in the Champ and instrument (hood) and radio navigation etc in the C-150.  Interesting aside I recognized that I had a magneto failure while under the hood doing turns.  The DPE had no clue.  I really think that assured that I would pass my checkride!

I now own a 1946 Aeronca 11 AC Chief.

I was 20. It was runway 9 in OSH.  I told my boyfriend at the time about it and he wasn't excited enough, so I broke up with him. 
  lol.... OK, maybe that's not the ONLY reason I broke up with him. 

My solo was Aug 30, 1977 in a Piper Flightliner ... remember those?? I was 30 years old. My instructor was Mike Sullivan and I flew out of the field in York, Pa (KTHV).

July 1974 solo on my 16th birthday in a C-150 at 8am. Got my drivers license that afternoon and bought my first car the same day in Grand Rapids MI. All with my own money earned working at a local airport.

That was a good day........

I was 16, flew a Beechcraft Skipper out of Pasco, Washington.

Unfortunately while in college, I left my flight back in my truck.  Just got back from a flight and was going back out the next day.  Truck was broken into, flight bag stolen.  A log book is absolutely worthless to anyone other than its owner.  Just a reminder to everyone out there, make sure to make copies of your logbook and/or keep it secure.

I was 17, July 1984, Shelby, MI. Jeannie Scheerer. Cessna 150 N704CR 700hrs. on it. I saw the plane surface in the Controller a few years ago with over 5000 on it. I guess it got around.

One never forgets their first...

On the afternoon of 8 May 1987, I soloed a beautiful little red and white Cessna 152 - N714UE at Front Range Airport outside of Denver. I was 20 years old.

I'm staring at my old clipped t-shirt tail right now...

February 6, 1972 on my 16th b-day at Casa De Aero (68IS now - C77 at the time). C-172N using runway 27 with wind 310 at 20 knots and -1 degree F! Rotten, windy, cold day but...it was my b-day and I had been waiting a while.

I remember THEN going to get my driver's license later in the day. Priorities.

Make that Feb 6, 1988.

I love to hear about young folks getting involved in aviation since they are the future of the industry, and they won't regret not doing it sooner, like I do.

My first solo was June 20, 2007, in a C-172, at Franklin County, Louisburg, North Carolina, age 64. I had been wanting to do it for a long time and was finally encouraged after catching several articles about, um, mature pilots. I passed my private checkride on a cold (for North Carolina) January 4, 2008, and passed my instrument checkride on April 21, 2009.

Best thing I have ever done. Should have done it a long time ago.

Recently, a fellow in the neighborhood has started lessons, and the husband of one of my wife's cousins has also started lessons.

11/6/1973, 16th birthday, Kentucky Flying Service, Bowman Field, Louisville, KY. 3 Touch & Gos in a C-150. Paid every last cent of training through newspaper route (remember those?) working as a line boy at the FBO. After soloing took the driver's test also at the airport. Only interest in cars was to get to the airport on my own. Flying was just as expensive then as it is today; it's all a matter of life priorities.