“1LU, left on Delta, Delta to parking, monitor ground .9, Congratulations.”

“1LU, left on Delta, Delta to parking, monitor ground .9, Congratulations.”
“Left on Delta, Delta to parking, monitor ground .9, 1LU, Thank you.”

And thus ended my first solo flight on the beautiful morning of December 11, 2013.

The first solo is a milestone in a pilots training. It’s the moment you become a pilot. The moment you know for sure that you can fly without an extra hand from your instructor. Although I had already been in control of the airplane and had logged many hours of flight time in the Skyhawk, there was always someone beside me, ready to jump onto the controls with me if something happened or to take the controls and demonstrate a maneuver. This time it was just me! No matter what happened I was in control and no one was beside me! It was a moment of absolute excitement! Yeah, I was a little nervous at first, I was in sole control of a Skyhawk, if anything happened I was PIC (pilot in command). But, my instructor knew I could fly and I had many hours of experience behind me, I was ready for this! I had been ready for this moment ever since I had begun my flight training almost a year previous (as a part 141 school we do our solo flights further down in our training). I flew the pattern four times before landing. As I taxied in I saw our Associate dean waiting for me, giving me thumbs up. My instructor, who had been watching me fly the pattern, came out to meet me and congratulate me while I got out to park the plane! It was a moment of complete triumph and excitement! The only thing I regret was that it was over so quickly! At the moment my heart is in the clouds, but my feet are on the ground. 

I am so thankful for everyone at the School of Aeronautics who helped me get to where I am in my flight training. They have been encouraging, patient, and overall amazing ever since I got to Liberty. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to work with and fly with! God has so richly blessed me by allowing me to be at Liberty!