When has it Been too Long before you solo

I'd like to thank all of you for replying. Seeing that so many of you
have replied, I've chosen to reply to most using this one post. I've
tried to
attribute the copied quote to the correct person. If I've made any
mistakes, then please accept my apologies.


Peter Duniho ) wrote:

I agree with Bob, at least in fact if not tone. Just from your
message, it
sure sounds like the standards your instructor is expecting from you
before
solo are just too high. A solo student needs to be able to safely
operate
the airplane in the expected environment. A solo student does NOT
need to
be good enough to pass the checkride. If he were, an instructor
would just
send him off for his checkride.


The Pre Solo Check Ride is a policy of the school and not the
instructor. The School will not allow a student to solo a school
operated airplane until a Student is signed-off by a Designated Check
Airman.

Wizard of Draws ) wrote:

If I soloed only after I was able to consistently land on the
centerline,
I'd still be riding dual after 265 hours and my instrument ticket in
hand.

I've been told by the instructor that the Designated Check Airman
wants to
See consistent landings on the runway centerline.

If you can fly the pattern and land without your CFI being required
to touch
the controls for reasons of immediate safety, I'd say you should be
solo.

After reviewing all of the after lesson training reports last night
(which I tallied in a pretty colored spreadsheet), I figured that I
was ready to solo
in the pattern any time after twenty hours of dual instructions. This
is my opinion.

Dave S ) wrote:


Ask to fly with another instructor or with the chief flight
instructor
for a second opinion. This is a perfectly valid approach to take. If
you
dont feel that the staff at THAT school can give you an honest
second opinion, go find a freelance instructor or another school. It
would be
PREFERABLE to take this "second opinion" ride in the same type of
aircraft you have been training in.. less to "learn" while
demonstrating
your stuff.

I may do that, but not at the same school. It's not a reflection on
the
School, but asking for a second opinion is an action that people
usually
Hear about.

Blanche ) wrote:


So what? Are you in a race with someone? The only downside of
this many hours is the money. That's all. And in a year or so,
(assuming you still have a job) you probably won't even remember it.


Not a race. My plan is to build my own airplane. An RV-7A. I see
Building my own airplane as a nice challenge and not an impossible
task.
However, it pointless to build an airplane if can't fly it.

Also, if it takes this long just to solo, then is flying a suitable
hobby?

Cub Driver ) wrote:


If you are having fun, keep at it. Personally, I think the training
was the most enjoyable part of flying.


It stopped being fun last week. I flew yesterday morning on my day off
and
I was dreading it, since I knew that we would be doing hood work.

Under the Hood, I can do the individual maneuvers (climbs, descents,
turns both shallow And steep), but when they are combined together,
then the execution is not to standards. I think the big issue it
getting the airplane trimmed while under the hood. When flying VFR,
I can trim the airplane, since I can see the nose rise or dip in
relation to the horizon. But under the hood that reference point is
not available and I must use the AI and I find it difficult to fine
tune the trim using the AI. It also doesn't help that the AI and the
Turn Coordinator can't agree on what is a level attitude. The turn
Coordinator is correct, since the DG is steady when it (turn
coordinator) indicates a level attitude. The AI indicates a slight
turn to the right. Which is enough to initiate a heading change.

I've decided to take a break and not fly the rest of the week. Also,
I'll try to
schedule a flight with another instructor from a different school.

In the interest of presenting both sides of the situation, I've
scanned all 32 of the Private Pilot Training Records (I'm missing the
very first report) that the instructor completed and which both of us
signed. I've also scanned the pages from my logbook (6 pages total).
I'm prepared to make those available for your review.

Given that this material is confidential, I don't want to send it to
everyone and seeing that some if not most of the people that posted a
reply seem to know one another, it might be good to decide amongst
yourself who is interested in reviewing the material. The reviews can
then post their impressions to the newsgroup.

The material is 7.35 MB is size, so I'll need to email them in chunks
to those selected. You can email me at

I'd like to once again thank all of you for your suggestions. I'm
feeling
Better today than I did yesterday.