Member Highlights: Vivian's First Solo

The LIVE Aero Club would like to recognize our fellow member Vivian for achieving the first of many milestones in her aviation journey: Her first solo flight!

Flying solo isn’t just one of many hurdles student pilots face to get their Private Pilot’s License (PPL), it’s the first real experience being pilot in command.

It’s normal for many students to feel at least a little intimidated, like a bird leaving its mother’s nest for the first time. Vivian herself attested to this:

“I was a little nervous because I knew I was the PIC and fully responsible for the flight.”

But don’t let this fool you: Many students, including Vivian, look forward to the once in a career opportunity.

“I was actually more excited than scared that day.”

And while you’re aren’t supposed to carry any passengers on a “solo” flight, Vivian had a different idea:

“I brought my stuffed animals with me as my ‘passengers,’ which actually helped me relax a little and made the flight feel less intimidating.”

That’s right, Buzz Lightyear isn’t the only toy that can fly!

Students also notice changes in aircraft performance and the overall flying experience when there’s one less person in it:

“Once my instructor got out of the airplane, I immediately noticed how quiet it was and how much lighter the airplane felt without my CFI’s weight. It definitely flew differently than I was used to.”

This phenomenon exposes the student to an area of the aircraft’s performance envelope that’s not familiar to them. But leave no doubt, it reinforces the training they’ve received up to that point and lays a foundation to learn future piloting skills.

But the fun doesn’t stop there, Vivian looks forward to the next phase of flight training: Cross country flying.

“Overall, soloing was an unforgettable experience and a confidence boost. I’m excited for my cross country trip to travel more.”

"Unforgettable" couldn’t be more accurate. Whether you’re a general aviation weekend warrior or flying a jet in the flight levels, you never forget your first solo flight.

And with that, we wish Vivian the best of luck in the rest of her flight training endeavors!

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