Soloed My 170 Saturday
Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher
Soloed My 170 Saturday
Guys I finally soloed my new 170 this past weekend. I’m a low time pilot and N1714D is my first tail dragger. After about 3 flights with my instructor and a couple with an experienced TW pilot, I took the plunge. I made 3 touch and goes and one full stop landing. I was struggling to maintain alignment on final because by the time I soloed I had a 50 degree crosswind at 7, gusting to 14. Not the prettiest landings but successful. It’s a good feeling to be able to practice on my own going forward.
JP
JP
C170A N1714D
My First Airplane!
My First Airplane!
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
Congratulations!
- Bruce Fenstermacher
- Posts: 10320
- Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 11:24 am
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
Congratulations
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!
Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
- cessna170bdriver
- Posts: 4064
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
Way to go JP! Log all the landings you want but remember that only the full stop ones count for currency in taildraggers. Keep practicing and a 7G14 crosswind will be a piece of cake (just don't let it go to your head; taildraggers seem to notice when you've stopped paying attention ).
Miles
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
Congratulations! I remember my 170 solo as fondly as my student pilot solo.
I had about 1500 hours before I learned tailwheel, so I had lots of complacency to un-learn. For the first two years I had my 170, as I'd turn base to final I'd say out loud to myself, "Pay attention! You're about to land a tailwheel airplane!"
I had about 1500 hours before I learned tailwheel, so I had lots of complacency to un-learn. For the first two years I had my 170, as I'd turn base to final I'd say out loud to myself, "Pay attention! You're about to land a tailwheel airplane!"
- W.J.Langholz
- Posts: 1068
- Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:56 pm
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
Good Job JP
May there always be and Angel flying with you.
Loyalty above all else except honor.
1942 Stearman 450
1946 Super Champ 7AC
Loyalty above all else except honor.
1942 Stearman 450
1946 Super Champ 7AC
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
When I went through pilot training in '43, all the training had been in tailwheel airplanes with control sticks. My first control WHEEL was in a B-25. On my first ride, the instructor taxied off the parking apron onto the long straight taxi strip leading to the take off end of the parallel runway. "OK, you've got it." he said. The airplane must have known that taxiway and it went straight down to the end without any help from me. As we reached the end, I NATURALLY turned the control wheel to the right to steer it onto rhe runup pad. The stupid North American B-25 kept going straight ahead! Fortunately the instructor was alert to the stupidity of the STUDENT pilot and got us turned before we went off the pavement onto the grass. I thought for sure he would make me wear my Cub Scout uniform on my next ride.
BL
- Kyle Wolfe
- Posts: 707
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2003 12:30 am
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
Congrats on a major LIFE accomplishment, JP!
Kyle
54 B N1932C
57 BMW Isetta
Best original 170B - Dearborn, MI 2005
54 B N1932C
57 BMW Isetta
Best original 170B - Dearborn, MI 2005
-
- Posts: 3481
- Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
Congratulations JP! Keep up the good work and let us know how things are going from time to time. Wish you could have made the Christmas party but there is always next year.
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
That's a great story!blueldr wrote:When I went through pilot training in '43, all the training had been in tailwheel airplanes with control sticks. My first control WHEEL was in a B-25. On my first ride, the instructor taxied off the parking apron onto the long straight taxi strip leading to the take off end of the parallel runway. "OK, you've got it." he said. The airplane must have known that taxiway and it went straight down to the end without any help from me. As we reached the end, I NATURALLY turned the control wheel to the right to steer it onto rhe runup pad. The stupid North American B-25 kept going straight ahead! Fortunately the instructor was alert to the stupidity of the STUDENT pilot and got us turned before we went off the pavement onto the grass. I thought for sure he would make me wear my Cub Scout uniform on my next ride.
JP, congrats on the solo! There's just something about a taildragger and these days it seems taildragger pilots are a small percentage of pilots out there. I flew in to an airport about 50 miles from home a couple weeks ago and there was a Citation on the ground. The pilot walked up to me and we got to talking about how fast his Citation was. I was in awe, but then he told me he'd ever flown a taildragger.
ISAIAH 40:31
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
Congradulations JP. Now you will begin to realize how great it is to fly a tail dragger. Just keep alert and you will be fine with crosswinds.
John
John
John Hess
Past President 2018-2021
President 2016-2018, TIC170A
Vice President 2014-2016, TIC170A
Director 2005-2014, TIC170A
N3833V Flying for Fun
'67 XLH 900 Harley Sportster
EAA Chapter 390 Pres since 2006
K3KNT
Past President 2018-2021
President 2016-2018, TIC170A
Vice President 2014-2016, TIC170A
Director 2005-2014, TIC170A
N3833V Flying for Fun
'67 XLH 900 Harley Sportster
EAA Chapter 390 Pres since 2006
K3KNT
Re: Soloed My 170 Saturday
Thanks Guys.
Tomorrow will be the first day I show up at the airport alone and practice unassisted. I'm looking forward to it!
Richard, I was not ready for cross country flight for the Christmas Party this year but I do plan to attend the convention in Gulf Shores next summer.
JP
Tomorrow will be the first day I show up at the airport alone and practice unassisted. I'm looking forward to it!
Richard, I was not ready for cross country flight for the Christmas Party this year but I do plan to attend the convention in Gulf Shores next summer.
JP
C170A N1714D
My First Airplane!
My First Airplane!