May 21, 1999

Hello! How are you guys? I just went for my first solo today. I am finally a
pilot.... YEY!

The flight started with the instructor and me doing circuits. The winds were
gusty at 9-15 kts and it favored the shorter 08/26 Runway at Brampton.
There was a slight crosswind component as well which made my approaches
quite interesting. The runway is only 2500 ft. long and I thought the
instructor won't release me today. We did a go around, force landing and a
few normal landings. On my 6th landing I believe, the instructor asked me to
exit and stop the plane near the Brampton GENAV building. He then asked me
if I was comfortable with the short runway or if I wanted to wait for the
winds to favour runway 33/15 which was 3500 ft. long. I said I was ready and I think I can handle
the runway and the winds. The instructor then let me sign my
solo-certificate and got off the plane.

The genav facility is just beside the taxiway for runway 08/26. My dad is
actually standing just a few feet from the plane. I gave him a salute and
taxied to 26. I was overwhelmed by alot of feelings during the taxi. It is
like riding a roller coaster only a hundred times more intense. It is a
combination of fear and excitement. I'll call it terror. Anyway, the most
terrifying moment of the entire flight was after I completed my pre-takeoff
checklist. It was the most terrifying moment of my life so far. I remember
my voice was slightly shivering while I was transmitting my intentions to
UNICOM....

"Brampton Traffic, Cessna Hotel Alpha Papa is taking runway two six for the
circuits".

I aligned the aircraft perfectly on the runway centerline and stopped for 3
or 5 seconds.

I took a really deep breath. It was probably the most soothing and deepest
breath that I've ever had.

From the moment I released the brakes and heard the roar of the engines
coming to life at full throttle, all the feelings of terror just
dissappeared and my mind was 100% focused on flying the airplane. The plane
was unusually light and more suceptible to wind gust. I have to do more
adjustments to keep the plane centered on the runway during the takeoff
roll. I was pulling back slightly at the yoke to decrease pressure on the
nose wheel during the takeoff roll. I was expecting to rotate at around 55
Kts. I was completely unprepared when the plane left the ground at only 50
kts. without applying that much back pressure. This is because the
instructor is not beside me and his weight really makes a difference.
The plane climbed like a rocket. I was used to climbing at 500 ft per minute
with the instructor. I was climbing at 800 ft./min at 76 Kts during the
climb.

At around 1400 ft. ASL, I turned for crosswind (Brampton's elevation is 900
feet ASL). I leveled the airplane at circuit height of 1700 ft. ASL(above
sea level) and turned downwind for 26. I called UNICOM
at mid-downwind and did my pre-landing check. I powered back to 1600 RPM and
turned base.

The final approach was the fun part. I turned final already configured for
landing (Flaps Full). Normally, during the approach, I trim the nose up to
relieve the back pressure I have to exert in the yoke during landing.
Without, the instructor, the plane was so light that I actually have to trim
the nose lower
to keep the nose down. The aircraft was really vulnerable to the wind. I
remember doing more adjustments to keep the wings level than when I was with
the instructor. The controls are much lighter too!!! The plane was actually
easier to fly. I crabbed into the wind (wing down to the wind and oposite
rudder to keep the nose aligned with the runway). During the approach, I
remembered what the instructor told me

"Power controls altitude and attitude controls airspeed"

I maintained a perfect approach path all the way. I was maintaining 60-65
kts. during the approach. At around 30 ft, I started to flare. I made one
last adjustment to keep the nose pointed down the runway and slowly raised
the nose up for a feather smooth touchdown. This was probably the proudest
moment of my life. I made it in one piece. I taxied off the high speed exit
and did my after-landing checklist. My dad was there and I gave him a salute
before I taxied on to the ramp.

Everything went well. I took my time during the taxi and parked the plane
just a few feet off the tie-down spot. Luckily there was a person waiting to
fly my plane so I don't have to worry about my parking. I put the mixture to
idle-cutoff and turned off the switches. I took off my headset and asked my
self, "what did I just do." When I went inside the Brampton airport
fascility, the instructor shook my hand and presented me a small
trophy(plaque) with my name, the date and the words "FIRST SOLO". I was
waiting for them to throw a bucket of water at me but I guess they don't
have that tradition here.

I might fly again on Tuesday next week. The next few hours will be crucial
and I have to be frequent for the next few hours as I go solo. The next
flight will be about 20 minutes long and the following flight will be one
hour long. So far, I have 0.2 hours solo flying time. Not alot yet but it
was one hell of a ride. That 15 minute solo flight was just incredible. I'll
never ever forget it as long as I live. I wrote down "First Solo" in my log
book and drew a happy face beside it. It was a happy day for me. Even the
plane I flew was happy. The registry is C-GHAP. I'd never expect that the
plane I've come to hate for its nose wheel shimy and frozen primer pump was
actually the plane that I flew solo in. Now I love the plane!!! It flys like
a dream...

Clear skies and keep on flying !!!

Capt. Kevin Sison