About a month earlier, after several days of solid landings, Bruce Lynn, my flight instructor, told me to drop him off and go up on my own. Unfortunately, I had not finished my FAA physical, so I was not eligible to solo. That lessons was followed by about 19 days of work and weather related delays before I could fly again. I did get my physical done, but when I went back for lessons, it was a windy day and my crosswind landings were pretty shaky. The next lesson was better, but I screwed up a practice go around and Bruce kept me under dual supervision.

March 9 was my first day in about two weeks, as more work delays kept me grounded. That morning, I arrived at the airport to find it fogged in. We waited about 30 minutes but cancelled and I headed back to the office. On the way in, I called Bruce back and asked him if we could try again at 4 p.m. Bruce and the plane were both available, so we set it up.

It was a sunny and warm afternoon, and as I headed to the airport I noticed the flag at Maxwell Jeep was blowing right in the direction of the runway. I figured that was great, no crosswinds to deal with. We would use runway 17 and fly the pattern. By the time I got to the airport, however, the weather gods had different ideas, because the wind shifted to a crosswind pattern. Well I need work on crosswind landings, so no big deal. But also no solo.

I always worry after a couple of weeks without lessons that I have somehow forgotten everything. But I felt good on takeoff and even though the plane didn't climb well in the heat, I got to pattern altitude right on schedule. I configured the plane and just before I turned on base, Bruce pulled to power off and called simulated engine failure. Usually, I do really well on these, but the last time out I screwed it up. Today, however, I got it turned, lined up and touched down just a little off center. I overbanked to compensate for the crosswind. However, for a simulated emergency landing, it wasn't bad.

We flew the pattern a few more times. I handled the crosswind better than last time out (although it was a calmer crosswind today). One about the fifth landing, Bruce pulled the power again as I was just starting on the downwind leg. I handled it really well and got lined up with plenty of altitude to make the runway. At about 30 feet, Bruce called "go around" and once again I screwed it up. Bruce had to take over the plane and fly us out. I had rehearsed go around procedure on the way in both morning and afternoon. If he had called it on a normal approach, I think I would have done it fine. He threw me with the call during a simulated engine failure. I know why he does these things though. He doesn't want the student to have time to rehearse it. He wants you to have to react under pressure. It's frustrating but effective.

At this point, I figured there was no way I was soloing today. With crosswind and a screwup, it was going to be more pattern time and hope for a solo on Sunday. However after touchdown on the seventh landing of the day, Bruce told me to let him out and go fly the pattern. He asked me if I was ready, and my heart said no, but my head (and mouth) said yes.

It was a nervous taxi out, but once the plane hit the runway, everything was automatic. I flew the pattern, amazed at (1) how quickly the plane climbed with 175 fewer pounds and (2) how quiet it was without Bruce on the intercom correcting me. I lined up well for my first solo landing, but flared too late and had a little bounce. I recovered it well and did a touch and go with no problem. My pattern was better the second time around, and even with the crosswind picking up a bit, I managed to bring it down and flare nicely right near the center line. (Note: To a real pilot, the wind would probably be scarcely considered a crosswind - to me it might as well have been a hurricane!). I pulled up to talk with Bruce and we called it a day. I soloed at 14.9 hours, pretty much right on schedule. Now its on to navigation and cross country flight, and of course, intensive practice on ground reference maneuvers and stalls. Sunday we are going to try to fly to Rockdale and Bruce hopes to sign me off to solo there.

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