First Solo Cross country

This is where things get really interesting.
I had to leave airspace i'm familiar with and on my own. I have to say on the way to my destination(kism) I was nervous. I almost was hit by a bald eagle!!! Those things are big! The wildlife seamed to be attracted to my helicopter as I had a few close encounters. I landed the aircraft ok and then had to do a funny take off to avoid the active runway which was full of normal airplanes landing...
I had to take off on half the runway and then do a hard left turn (helicopters still need some space to takeoff, none of this straight up and down stuff, that's dangerous). The way back was nice flying under bravo airspace which had the big jets coming in for Orlando international airport.
It felt good touching down at home base and feeling accomplished. I am flying again tonight up to Daytona so need to eat lunch and have a nap before planning my next flight! This is where the flying becomes more fun as you get used to it so are then able to enjoy it more.

Complete solo - no instructor!

This solo was one of my best flights. The conditions were great calm wind sunny day in the morning. I was still nervous but that went away quite quickly.
I was so freeing just being on your own, and flying the helicopter. Its like you have your own wings attached to yourself.
I was able to hovering around and do normal take offs and approaches.
They weren't all perfect but were definitely fun!

First Solo

Horray!!! I did my first first solo today. I had butterflies in my stomach the whole time I was doing my preflight and also as I flew out to the hele pads with my instructor. She said we would be doing 3 times around the pattern together and then she would get out and let me do 3. After our first lap she said ok I’m getting out! I could feel my face going white. I said to her “you told me 3 times round first!!” (My confidence wasn’t that great) But she said you can fly the aircraft fine. So she got out and that was that…. I have never felt so alone….My instructor was like my security. If I screw up she is there to help… but now I was on my own. As I was flying round I had to keep focusing my mind on what I was doing, as I kept on thinking what would happen if my engine failed! (Where would I try and land etc…)
But all went well. It felt really good while feeling scary at the same time. Can’t wait till do it again. I can’t fly solo again until next week due to the air show happening soon, but am doing my first dual cross country tomorrow…
Check out the pictures and the video I made of the flight.

Pre Solo Stage Check

I did it! Today was the day. I had my stage check today. I did everything myself with the instructor with me. I had to do the following maneuvers:
1. Preflight
2. Start-up
3. Communications
4. Airmanship/safety/Awareness/Judgement
5. Inflight Malfunctions Procedures
6. Pickups/Setdowns
7. Hovering
8. Takeoff
9. Approaches
10. Straight and level, Climbs, Descents, Turns
12. Go Around
13. Forced Landing
14. Settling with power
15. Low RPM Recovery/RPM Control
16. Hover Auto (dual)
17. Pilot Technique, Control Smoothness

I managed to do of the above ok, with the exception of my first normal approach was too shallow and then I made it too steep and had to go around for a another try.
Also on my final landing when told to change to ground frequency for the parking I hadn't put in the frequency, so the instructor had to do it.
But apart from that the flight was a success. So I should be flying solo in the airport pattern next!