I soloed* today. I was the first in my class to do so. I rock at flight.
Soloing is, of course, a strictly controlled and tightly scripted event which leaves no decisions in the hands of the pilot in training. It is a ritual designed to demonstrate that they have passed the minimum thresholds of skill for safe flight. It in no way implies that they are fully qualified as a pilot–that would require demonstrated sound judgment in the face of changing missions, inclement weather, enemy fire, planning and procedures, and a number of other skills that they haven’t even begun to teach. Despite that, it still feels good to have reached the milestone, and even better to have gotten there first.
* Soloing refers to the first flight a pilot makes without an instructor in the aircraft. Traditionally, this is done as the only person at all in the aircraft, but the Army’s safety mavens decided that in case a soloing pilot was incapacitated, it would be better to have a second student pilot in the copilot’s seat with strict orders not to touch the controls except as necessary to save their own life.
Congrats, man.
Even if you are just an Army dog.
You are great !
Congrats, Corio!
Yay!
That’s so cool!