On Aug 16, 12:07*pm, Eric Greenwell wrote:

Does anyone know where and why the seemingly bizarre custom of throwing
a bucket of water on a newly soloed glider originated?

I think I read somewhere that the custom of throwng water on a pilot
after landing was to hide the signs of in-flight urination. I don't
know why that would be associated with first solo though. Perhaps to
get them used to the idea?

Skydivers have a tradition that any "first", or any inadvertent
admission of a "first", results in buying beer for everyone. That
seems a much better than sitting around wet on the outside. Although
in Arizona the two can be combined quite well.

Andy