My First Solo Flight | PA28 | 16 years old

[@brianduffsalinases9792]

I'm 64 years old and also first soloed at 16. I have never forgotten that experience...and neither will you. Well done.

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thanks Brian, great to hear that :-)

[@ThatNiravGuy]

Ahhhhh Yes… I’m 63 years old and I solo’d on my 16th birthday… My dad was my flight instructor… who was also a USAF Test Pilot in the 60’s. After I solo’d… My dad drove me to the Bureau of motor vehicles for me to get my driving temps. I left the DMV driving my dad back home… It was the first time I had ever driven a car. I flew a plane, before I ever drove a car!

[@PilotKatya]

What an amazing flight! I’m 12 and did a trial flight on the Piper PA 28 and can’t wait to go into training when I’m 14. Never forget this, it’s an experience for life.

[@D77tcPelican]

I’m currently 17 years old and looking heavily into Aviation as either something to do or as a career. The idea of accelerating down a runway and taking off has always been a dream of mine. You make it look easy!

[@Snaproll47518]

Attitude will control your altitude. Aim high!

[@aaryaman2702]

Congratulations brother! This was truly inspiring to watch as a 16 year old myself. I wish you a very good luck for your training and the future. Keep it up mate.

[@thecotswoldpilot]

That's great to hear - thank you! Will do!

[@jimpinkowski3394]

Its pretty rare in the states to get signed off for solo with as few as 10 hours flight training! Well done!!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you!! 😁

[@ScaledNotesMusic]

Typically in the UK people do it around 12ish hours. We have to do 45 hours for the PPL, 10 of which need to be solo. :)

[@stephenwheeler8628]

This is a really wonderful thing to see. Thanks so much for letting us all be witnesses! You brought back so many fantastic memories of all of the "firsts" we get to do as aviators.

[@JamesJohnson-mn9bb]

Wow, good job. Must have been an amazing feeling to Taxi, take off, Fly and Land Alone…! 👍🏻

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Yes it was amazing!... thanks James 👍🏻

[@glennog]

That "Wow" on takeoff... I had exactly the same reaction on my first solo. Very confident looking circuit, too. If you were nervous, it didn't show. I still speak my checklists out loud, too. Nice work.

[@alancampbell1161]

Congratulations on the day you will remember for the rest of your life. Clearly you will make a very good pilot, so if I may, I would like to offer a small but important point to help you be a great pilot. Have yet another look at the video (I'm sure you've watched it a few times) and look at the amount of aileron "jiggling" going on and look at the response of the aeroplane. It's hard to see a reason for most of the inputs, but if you look carefully you will see the adverse yaw that occurs, especially on short finals. My point is, don't make any control input unless you are prepared to ask yourself why you did it, and if you need to apply aileron in particular, use a little rudder to counter the yaw. Wishing you a long and happy career in aviation.

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thanks for the comment, Alan. Totally agree with your point and was having a think about this the other day! Now just need to work on slowing things down a bit and, as your say, reducing the amount of inputs especially to the ailerons. Good advice! Glad you enjoyed the video :-)

[@maverickdallas1004]

Probably a bit of nervousness going on here! I know the feeling being alone in a moving airplane for the first time!!! It will all smooth out with time as you gain confidence flying alone! You also flying one of the best training aircraft you can ask for! It's what I trained in and it's a very solid and docile aircraft. Stay safe and happy landings!

[@billdegener8105]

Soloed and got my drivers license on my 16th birthday. I was so excited to get to the airport that I ran a yellow light at end of driving test and the examiner made me wait about an additional hour to re take the driving test. Lol , a day I’ll always remember.

[@possessedllama]

And 10 months later, only one video. It's such a good quality video too. We need more! :)

[@jimwalsh8520]

Spent a few years as an FI and I must say, very good, your airmanship was superb. To many forget the situational awareness and keep their heads inside. You have a good career waiting

[@williamwilliam728]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. "LOVELY"...you said it all with that statement and your greasing of the landing! Happy Flying!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you! Lots of concentration led to that one word after landing! 😂 Glad you enjoyed it. 👍🏻✈️

[@drteletubby]

Right on! Great job man, can't wait to start my training hopefully soon.

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Go for it!

[@triskellian]

Very good work on your first solo! I hope that you are getting closer to finishing up training for the private pilot. You'll enjoy having this hard earned privilege, whatever you choose to do with it. I like that you stayed alert during the ground and pattern phases of the flight. You seemed to have had a good instructor teaching sound habits. This brings back fond memories of my first solo more than thirty years ago. My training was in a 1977 Cessna 150. I hired an experienced instructor here in Texas and was one of the best teachers I could find. I like that we had a solid ground school syllabus and meaningful flight lessons. After all of these years I can still remember the techniques taught to me. Since then I moved on to instrument, commercial and multi ratings. It became an advocation next to my day job at the time. Now after retirement, I don't fly as much but try to get a flight in whenever I can. Good luck to you and blue skies!

[@flybobbie1449]

Nice to see a 1st solo where the pilot actually looks around.

[@leethomas6624]

Well done dude! Reminds me of my RAF Flying scholarship, all that concentration followed by pure joy. All the best for the future

[@davidwheatcroft2797]

Nice flying! Glad to see your head very active, looking out all sides. Also like your saying checks out loud. Helps a teeny bit to make you actually do them. Well trained. Good instructor. Keep doing "fanstops" every few flights; when it does happen, it will be easy....look out for smoke to tell you which way wind blowing. Now you can move on to aerobatics, formation, and low level, even Instrument flying........in the RAFVR, doing PAR GCAs to RAF Wharton, the controller talking you down - always supportive; nice to be part of a strong team. CAVU skies to you and all aviators. I built C-IAVW, an aerobatic biplane.

[@snuggles03]

Congratulations mate, it was great to be along for your first solo flight.

[@CJThePilot]

Excellent job and at such a young age! Good luck with the rest of your training. I'll be following your progress 👍

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you, CJ! Loving it so far so excited to keep going. Thanks for your support! 👍🏻✈️

[@Justin-xj7te]

Love that the GPS is zoomed out to see all of Europe. You got your sights set high! Congrats!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you, Justin! Yes! 😂 Feel free to subscribe, another video out very soon of some more solo circuits! ☺️

[@advaithsprasad2935]

Cool.. Expecting more videos from you Thomas❤️

[@joeglennaz]

Hello from Phoenix Arizona. I also soloed around 16 in a Cessna 152. Congratulations!

[@rangefreewords]

Congrats! Total envy seeing you ride around in such comfortable seating in that aircraft... good on ya!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

They're super comfy! Thank you 👍🏻

[@_JonathanTroney]

"lovely" is what you said, indeed that landing was absolutely amazing, and I loved it too!! way to goo!

[@FranklinZulualpha]

I'm 14yrs old. I want to become an airline pilot. This is very inspiring....

[@ianstewartaviation2634]

Well done Lad the look on your face says it all good luck with everything for the future 👍

[@deltafour1212]

Did ATC ever tell you they could hear your heart beating out of your chest in their headphones, during your fist solo?

[@thecotswoldpilot]

They didn't, but imagine that's definitely true!! 😆✈️

[@andykeeney6755]

Well done, Did mine at 16 and there is no feeling like it.

[@rn2811]

Congrats! I remember mine WAY BACK 😉. My club just purchased an Archer, always liked flying them.

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you! 😂 Good choice - love the archer!

[@patthepilot]

Nicely done! Just had my first solo on 7.9.22, best feeling in the world!

[@sundar999]

That was as coming back to my first solo flight. Good blind transmitting and a great flare before nosewheel down;)

[@Dndieiwnsnsnjdid]

I fly the exact PA-28, enstone airfield! Hopefully doing my solo in December when I’m 16!

[@namasivayamm9234]

congratulations, thank you for sharing thrilling video, really appreciated.

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@Nbolanos0624]

best feeling in the world!!!! pro tip: don't forget to use the pitch trim switch on the yoke its also a very good friend. best of luck!!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Sadly that's inop for that aircraft! would be nice though :-) Thanks!

[@tomarmstrong1281]

Nice video, congratulations. Without doubt the best age to learn to fly in the shortest amount of time is early to mid teens. Verbalising intentions is a good strategy. One small point I thought 'take off' had been replaced by ‘departure'. Related to a misunderstanding in the Tenerife accident I believe.

[@ojusrastogi4554]

congrats brother , it is my dream & you are just 2 year older than me . *JEALOUSY INTENSIFIES*

[@hawkertyphoon2021]

Congratulations 🎉 a day that we all remember, our first flight, you will remember it also 😌

[@Austin-cn5xd]

Nice plane! I’m learning in an 1949 Cessna 152. Great video! I’m getting ready to solo pretty soon. I’m at 5 hours so far!

[@Reacta-dev]

Are you going to make any new videos soon? I loved this one!

[@bluefunkybassman]

Great job! And those seats are WAY better than normal ones I've seen in Archers!

[@roflopoulos1633]

Congrats young man, may you have a great and long career!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you!👍🏻✈️

[@studentjohn35]

He will; i didn't. My mother put a stop to it after I'd logged 5 solo hours. (It was my dad's idea....)

[@tristanbriggs17]

Amazing to see the progress good on you!

[@michaelcolletti790]

Excellent job! I’m sure it was quite a thrill. Such a wonderful feeling it must have been. I’m hoping to solo soon. Taking lessons now. All the best to you!

[@justinbourget1560]

Awesome take off and landing,I see you in the futur as a airline pilot,continue all the times,greeting from Montreal in Canada :)

[@tomstravelingadventures]

Congratulations! All the best on the rest of your training!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you, Tomas. Loving it so far!

[@samuel_tse]

Congratulations on your first solo! I have only managed to do this at the age of 25.

[@a20axf]

Congrats 👏🏻 I love those seats 😍

[@viktorsisk9735]

Inspirational bro! I have also a question, where do you live because in my country it isnt allowed to fly in general before the age of 17. Greetings!

[@loukvaternik5260]

Hey, I’m 16 as well and just did my first solo 3 days ago, so I totally feel what meant your “wow” :) Did you knew beforehand you were going to do your first solo ?

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Awesome! well done :-) I was told I was ready to do it, so I had everything set up for that day.

[@TimothyOBrien1958]

It's lovely.

[@westdasaint2246]

Awesome! My 1st solo was 17 and was a great day

[@aviationlover5503]

Spotless congrats young man.

[@navsofour2892]

Congratulations! Great awareness & attitude.

[@pedro13565]

Great job all around especially looking around for other traffic. Also did my first solo @16 yrs old , the beginning of my flying career Good luck going forward!! 🇨🇦

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Ah amazing! What were you flying? Thank you! 😊

[@peterglennie1166]

@@thecotswoldpilot DC-8, B737,DC-10 and last 11years on the B747-400 Flight Instructor for a couple years to build time

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Pretty good line up! sounds great.

[@Gaibel2]

My Deep Respect from Switzerland :-)

[@vertix10]

this is absolutely amazing, well done man

[@Rehankhan-ru5nw]

Congratulations! Keep it up Buddy

[@PilotJonathan]

Congratulations on your Solo! ✈

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you!

[@randygodwin8160]

Great job young man. Real nice.

[@ياسينالبصراوي-غ8ح]

I study in Greece and they don't allow 16s to drive only 18 by the way, your landing was amazing

[@leoruotsalainen6339]

Well done yang man 100% GREAT FLIGHT !!!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you!

[@mashudali8482]

Dude. Woah. Well done!

[@BPPUK]

Congrats! I bet you worked hard and deserved this!

[@new_zealand_aviation]

I’m your 500th subscriber 😊 congratulations 🎉

[@botchi1]

Yes, I know. Wow. Well done. 👍 Good luck.

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you 😁

[@ACalisthenicsJourney]

This. Is. Amazing. I’m 20 years old and I haven’t yet done this. One day though … one day. Well done for doing something like this at such a young age. I have one question though, what’s it like to fly a plane if you were to explain it to someone that’s never flown before?

[@willianalonso429]

What a touchdown!

[@DukeCannon]

Congratulations!

[@mojibolahjabari5659]

Peace be with you dear pilot we love you

[@J_Thomas24]

Amazing job! That landing was butter. Do you get to fly often? If so, you should do more KZbin videos of your flights.

[@eliaslorenzomacuja4381]

THATS A WISH FOR ME AMAZING! IN 16 yr old thats insane

[@TakeFlightAviationUK]

Great work Thomas (not Tom). Looked like a very professional job and great RT. Welcome to the TFA team. Mike

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you, Mike! Loving my time flying and working at TFA so far, look forward to seeing you again soon. Thomas :-)

[@coreymcghee3635]

Amazing flying for a 16 year old! Congratulations on being a solo pilot!

[@leelipscombe6305]

Spot on mate , I rate that

[@cheapskateaviation]

Beautifully done. Soloing at 16 is very cool, but what's really impressive to me is the under 10 hours of dual. That's amazing. I recently soloed at age 32 with a little over 20 and I was proud of that :D. My question: You have almost 600 subscribers and currently this video has over 60k views. Sounds like you could get a pretty good following if you crank out more content. Are we going to be seeing more videos?

[@jetsetJon]

Great video, congratulations!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Jon! Thanks for watching.

[@PlaneOldBen]

Fantastic, great job!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thanks Ben!

[@ahmedkhalidturkistani3815]

69000 views congrats 🎉 Please upload more.

[@tetoe7855]

Broo .. it's awesome 😍❤️

[@pilotgianni]

Congratulations on your first solo!

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thank you!

[@boo7948]

only 10 hours and you've already soloed? jesus. i have around 30 hours and im still struggling with my landings. you have a great career ahead of you man. also do you fly in the sim at all?

[@HudsonSk8boards]

Looks so fun how was the experience?

[@Alex-cu5eu]

Great video man! I have my first solo in a couple of months when I trun 16 and watching this just makes me even more excited but a little more nervous 😬 Nevertheless great vid 👍

[@thecotswoldpilot]

You'll love it. Such a great experience. Thanks for your support, enjoy the training!

[@Alex-cu5eu]

@@thecotswoldpilot cheers man training has been amazing and do not regret the decision one bit!

[@djwashx]

congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Meniawy]

proud of you

[@Earlydrgpyro]

Nice!!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@xl3gtx]

Where are you in your career now? I started back In august of last year but didn’t solo untin October. I’m currently onto my commercial rating right now

[@GWAYGWAY1]

Most little planes leap into the air when solo first time and the ballast has got out.

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Yes! Definitely felt like that

[@Prod.Vinii22]

🔥

[@tsixtsix485]

Good job!!

[@user-kb6lq9ge4r]

Same age as your when I had my first solo (week ago)

[@Snaproll47518]

Great to see youngsters with serious goals. I noted how alert for traffic you were on approach. Well done lad! Attitude will control your altitude in life, whatever you decide to do. My solo was at age 22, 50 years ago. I remember it like yesterday, the late afternoon sun was casting long shadows as I taxied to the ramp. It was a great feeling of accomplishment.

[@jude11117]

I’m 15 myself currently building hours in a 152. How do you find the piper I’m looking to hire that for a few lessons

[@jimmymiller77]

I remember my first solo. You did Great !! 14 K later Stick a fork in me. I'm done. All my best, JIm

[@charliesavill7838]

Keep it up!

[@sivayamsiva9343]

Wonderful 👍

[@nemykinaleksandr]

lovely!)

[@JERios-wv8lx]

Wow, congratulations! Nice performance! For how long you were in the air?

[@thecotswoldpilot]

Thanks very much; about 5 mins!

[@w4jaso]

Hey i’m definitely not 13 (yt guidelines ) How many hours did you get in before doing this solo? and if you don’t mind me asking, How did you get funding for this? wether you worked a job or your parents helped.