Red, Jan. 13th
Well, folks, this doesn’t have a lot to do with banjo playing, but I wanted to make a personal posting. This Wednesday, January 13th, 2010, I soloed in a small plane. This is the first (and biggest) hurdle every pilot has to achieve on their way to earning a pilot’s license.
In the last few days I’ve found that there are quite a few professional pilots and instructors, active or retired, who play banjo. To them, newbie students are a known quantity because they have done it all before, but even the most seasoned pilot remembers his or her first solo.
Yes, I did this once before. And more. You may remember my old USAF photo that I somewhat ostentatiously posted a few days ago. But that was about a hundred years ago, and this is new. And it counts.
Some details: I made three takeoffs and three landings (a convenient ratio) in a slightly rusty Cessna 172P, N51056, here at Winchester Regional Airport in Virginia. The three landings were all different (as every landing is) and they improved as I went along. The third landing was pretty smooth, if I say so myself.
There’s a lot more work and flying to do before earn my Private license, but I’ve gotten past Step One! More later as I go along–
Red
Tags: flying
Congratulations Red! Keep us informed of your progress.
Marty