The note about the young lady who soloed the Jenny got me to thinking about a young fellow that I taught to fly in the Cub. He was ready to solo way before his 16th birthday, but I'd promised his parents that I wouldn't solo him before his birthday, because they wanted to have a big party at the airport on the day he soloed. (He ended up soloing the Cub and his grandpa's C-172 on his birthday.)
Anyway, I wanted to let him know that he was ready to solo, but I was obliged to honor my commitment to his parents, so I told him that I'd ride in the plane with him while my eyes were completely closed from taxi to touchdown.
I did it several times, but I'll admit that it was probably the hardest thing I've ever done in an airplane. Way harder than watching a first-time solo pilot from the ground. Every time the wing dipped, every time the plane bounced or turned, I WANTED to open my eyes, even though I knew he was plenty competent to do it all by myself.
I'm sure that if the engine had quit, I'd have opened my eyes and taken over, but if you've never done it before, I'll challenge you to ride with a very young student without opening your eyes. It's much tougher than I'd anticipated!
Anyway, I wanted to let him know that he was ready to solo, but I was obliged to honor my commitment to his parents, so I told him that I'd ride in the plane with him while my eyes were completely closed from taxi to touchdown.
I did it several times, but I'll admit that it was probably the hardest thing I've ever done in an airplane. Way harder than watching a first-time solo pilot from the ground. Every time the wing dipped, every time the plane bounced or turned, I WANTED to open my eyes, even though I knew he was plenty competent to do it all by myself.
I'm sure that if the engine had quit, I'd have opened my eyes and taken over, but if you've never done it before, I'll challenge you to ride with a very young student without opening your eyes. It's much tougher than I'd anticipated!
