A pilot describes his first solo flight, when his instructor left the cockpit and he was alone with the plane. No phone, no distractions, just him and every instrument. He landed it and felt like a superhero.
Chapters
The first time I had full control of the plane by myself and the instructor wasn't with me, I was like, holy shit. I mean, what do I do now? I took off and we've done it so many times, but it's so different when the instructor is sitting there next to you. It's really scary. And man, your acuteness of detail and attention to detail, everything that you didn't even think, every spark in your body just starts firing because you got to pay so much attention. I guess I don't know how it would be today. You take out your cell phone, take pictures, videos, because everything is all electronic computers and it's so much different today. In those days, it wasn't like that. You know, you didn't have those kind of things to take your attention away. Of course, you know, when I touched down after I landed the first time, I thought I was Superman. But during the period I was doing it, it got me concerned. But that kind of stuff really is what builds confidence, because so many people don't think they could do so many things, and they'd be surprised when they try what you can really accomplish.
