Hey Fellas... I also just completed my first solo (4/19/07) at KDSM Brown Field (San Diego, CA) flying a C172. Now I have strong weather minimums (7,000 ft. ceiling, 7 kt headwind or 4 kt crosswind) I must wait for in order to fly again. I can't wait for the weather to get good again so I can keep flying! I also wasn't too scared... but I was little nervous on my final landing when the variable wind rose from 5 knots to 9 knots with a slight (30 degrees) crosswind.

 

Waiting for good weather in San Diego??? Whaaaaat?!?!?!

 

I soloed this past Saturday. It wasn't a total shock,but I was a little nervouse untill I got the first landing done then I enjoyed the next 4.

 

Our June gloom came really early. It has been overcast for 4-7 days a week for the last 3 months. Not our typical weather by any means.

 

Well said! Keep up the good work!

 

Is your training including cross wind landing? There is nothing like getting out and learning how to handle cross wind landing and then when you are faced with it you focus on the effects of the wind and make the correct control inputs.

You can also practice side slips and foward slips at cruise alitude at approach speeds. Ask your instructor about Dutch rolls. This is where you try to keep the nose on a point by applying cross control inputs.
I have seen vast improvement in cross winds landing when this manuever is mastered. Oh yeah, do not lock yourself into any landing when you have the option of going around and setting up again for a landing.

 

Congrats friend!

You think you're smiling now, just wait until you do your first cross-country solo with two airports in between...it will go down as one of the best days of your life!

Mike

 

Congrats on the first solo. A great achievement for all pilots.

 

First off, 7kts on the nose and 4kt crosswind component is very restrictive!! My first solo limitation was 10kts, not a direct crosswind. Wind that is down the runway does not hurt, infact, I prefer to fly in 15kt winds down the runway vs 5kt winds (not gusty). All it means is you land slower!! In my opinion, you should ask your instructor about higher limitations. (Besides, we need more pilots that know how to negotiate )

Crosswind landing is great training, but personally I think any crosswind above a 5-7kt component should be done with an instructor during private triaining. My best story was the last flight before my checkride. We were landing on runway 23 with winds 230 @ 17 with another cessna. The other cessna went to runway 30 for crosswind landings. After his first landing, he calls "Hey, Cessna in the pattern on 23, want to join us on the crosswind runway?" I look at my instructor and say sure. A 16 knot crosswind component the day before my private. After about 3 landings, a Citation 5 called the uncontrolled field for traffic advisories. The other aircraft told him wind was favoring 23, but we were flying a pattern on 30. He accepted the challenge and made a decent landing. I think my 4th and final landing was better than the Citation 5!!

The experience was great for two major reasons. First off, I never felt 100% comfortable with crosswinds before that, but now I will do anything up to the max demonstrated crosswind component, even though I have fewer than 100hrs. Second, it was a great confidence builder right before my checkride. Crosswinds should not be avoided. Just they should be done with an instructor until you are really confident.

 

Hey bro I just read your post and even though it has been a while and I am sure you have flown since then, just wanted to congratulate you. I am working on my PPL and am nervous when thinking about my first solo. Wow I can't wait. Congrats and Good luck