Longest First Solo

Boomer alert: These are stories from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Any offense taken is all yours buddy.

“Back in the Day”

I was recently asked to tell some interesting stories I had as a flight instructor in the last 30 years. There are so many stories I don’t know where to start really, but here is a pretty funny story about giving a student his first solo.

The SitRep

Jim had been training with me for about 3 months and was really itching to solo. My standards were simple. Give me three touch and gos in a row that I didn’t have to touch the controls, and were reasonably smooth.

Jim was having a tough time putting three together.

Finally, on a nice clear day without any significant wind, he did it. I informed ground control that I was stepping out of the aircraft at the runup area of Runway 7 at KORL with my handy Sporty’s handheld radio. Yes, we were allowed to do this back then.

This is the new version. Mine didn’t have the fancy LCD display back in the early 90s.

I told Jim to go around at least three times. “How many can I do?” he asked. “As many as you want.” I said, not thinking ahead …

He did three in a row and they looked good. However, he took off again for a fourth. “Well that’s OK” I told myself. “He’s earned an extra.”

Then he did a fifth. Then a sixth. Then a seventh. At this point I contacted ground and asked them, “Ground, can you ask N739SK his intentions? I’m getting tired out here.”

Ground came back and told me “He says he’s having fun. You want us to send a vehicle out to get you?”

So I retired to the FBO to wait for Jim. Finally, 90 minutes later, on his 23rd landing, he pulled off and taxied in.

I can’t prove it, but I really doubt anyone else has logged “1.5 – first solo” before or since.

I bet if I hadn’t called he’d still be out there …