My First Solo Flight

It was a sunny, brisk 11/19/2000 and the winds were 220 at about 12 knots at Lorain County Regional Airport.  Eleanore (my instructor) and I were preparing for this moment for the past 2 weeks in ground school.  Knowing in advance that this was a potential day for me to solo, I packed my digital camera for the event.  Shortly before I pre-flighted the plane, Eleanore wrote my pre-solo endorsement in my log book and ensured that my log book was in order.  I was so excited, I could barely contain myself.  After pre-flighting the Piper Tomahawk, Eleanore said, "Mary, take me around a couple of times and then you can drop me off."  Drop her off?  Even then it was so incomprehensible to me.  Could I do it?  Fly by myself?  Without my Eleanore?

Well, we took off and I stayed in the pattern.  The air was incredibly smooth and after the third landing, Eleanore said, "OK, one more time around and then you can drop me off."  And after going around one more time and landing, I taxiied to the hangar to drop Eleanore off.  She had me shut off the engine, asked for my camera, and she got out.  As I did my mini pre-flight, she took pictures of me.  Click on the images below to see  bigger versions of the pictures.

Eleanore and I

Flying solo and landing that plane by myself has definitely left an indelible mark on my soul.  And I am forever grateful to Eleanore for being such an excellent and patient instructor.