i did my first solo cross-country flight today in a Cessna 162. i have not soloed in 5.5 months, and the last time was staying in the pattern (basically, 3 takeoffs and 3 landings at my home airport). i was at 93.5 hours total time and 237 landings.
i flew a short XC route that i’ve done before with my instructor, just 102 nautical miles roundtrip. aviation defines a flight as XC if there is a landing at least 50 nautical miles away from your point of departure.
i purposely chose the late afternoon because i knew the scenery is absolutely gorgeous then, especially nearing sunset. it’s hard to capture great photos in the air behind dirty plexiglass while flying a plane – but i tried.
when i rolled up to the runway to takeoff, i started shaking with adrenaline. i slowed my breathing and reminded myself to trust in my training. i took off without much issue although i did drift from the centerline.
i climbed to my target altitude of 4500 feet and headed towards KCLM, an untowered airport that is situated right by the ocean. on the way, i got hit with some turbulence from the mountain winds. i was expecting this from the forecast. as i approached the airport, a plane that had taken off was climbing into the same route that i was descending. i tried to spot them to no avail, and eventually was forced to do a right turn and fly towards the sea instead of gambling my life.
after that avoidance, i continued my descent into KCLM. i announced my intention on the radio: “Skycatcher 5689M, 5 miles out, straight in for runway 27.” after a few moments, i heard on the radio – “Army Copter landing on runway 9.”
i tensed up. they were going to land on the same runway as me but in the opposite direction. fresh on my mind was the mid-air collision just 1 month ago over the Potomac River near Reagan airport when a military helicopter crashed into a landing airliner. i never want to make the news in this flying hobby. luckily, i heard a followup on the radio: “Army Copter, we have you in sight, 89M – and will clear the runway before you land.” i spotted the black helicopter hovering lower and lower at the opposite end of the runway, and felt at ease again.
i landed, reconfigured the plane and ForeFlight on my iPad, and took off to return to my home airport KPAE. there were some strong winds coming off the mountains still, but less than before. on my way in, i asked ATC for the short runway on the far side of the airport so i had to cut across landing traffic. ATC advised me to stay at 2500 feet and to spot the traffic on my left. it took a while to find but eventually, i saw them about 500 feet below me at my 11 o’clock. we crossed and i was treated to an amazing fly-by of a landing Cessna… i wish i had a video of the moment but well, flying the plane and avoiding traffic is probably a smarter move than pulling out your camera.
i flared too high on my first landing attempt and had to go around (abort landing, full power, takeoff, fly the traffic pattern and try again).
on my second landing attempt, a bit of stress creeped in. there was no instructor to save me. even if i was tired and/or nervous, it was entirely up to me to get myself onto the ground safely. i breathed deep and remembered my training. a bit of cross wind, so point your ailerons into it, and then use rudder to point the noise. it was a butter landing.
on the drive home was when the feels really hit me. i started this flying journey partially because my dad flew helicopters in the Vietnam War, and my brother got his PPL a few years ago. it felt like a good way to connect with my family and aviation lineage. the 1st generation immigrant boy made it. he left the rough neighborhood he grew up in, went to college, built a career, started a family, and now flies simply for the joy of it. i felt so much gratitude for the fortunes bestowed upon me by the universe.
i used to have dreams of flying around like Superman. i always woke up feeling sad that i’d never be able to actually fly. but you know, being up in the skies in an aluminum can is probably the next best thing.
life’s short. i’m gonna keep making the most of every day, and that means finishing my PPL and taking to the skies every week.
here’s a video of my first-person view today: https://photos.app.goo.gl/t2sjEiTZLsBAt2FV6