OT MY GRANDSON JERRY3 SOLOED THIS MORNING

[JerryB]

My 21 year old grandson we raised did his solo this morning and I was at the airfield to watch. He left about 0730 and I told my wife that I wasa going to watch him do some touch and go patterns. I watched him do a few and they landed and came to the hanger. The instructor got out and said get in the truck. I got in his truck and we followed Jerry down the runway, Mr. Amos pulled over and told him on the radio to go to it. Jerry took off and I just ask the Lord to be with him, he did three take off and landings real smooth and then we went to the hangar where the instructor cut off his shirt tail signed it and his license.
Thanks for listening, a proud grampa.

[iceman]

Rightfully proud. Give him an attaboy from me.

[Terry Murbach]

THAT IS ALWAYS A GOOD DAY. HOW WELL I REMEMBER THE AIRCOUPE I SOLOED IN [ ILLEGALLY...]
DON'T ASK...

[Hobie]

Congratulations to that young man!

[Rusty]

Congratulations Jerry!! And Jerry3!!

[Lobo]

Hi All,

Lost my shirt tail in 1980...... exciting times !!!! Congrats!

[madman4570]

A great accomplishment! Congrats, and you should be very proud!

[kimwcook]

Congratulations, Jerry and Jerry3. That's got to make both of you feel pretty good.

[J Miller]

Congratulations to both of you. A moment to be proud of.

Joe

[AJMD429]

This is obviously a 'non-flyer' question - but what's the origin of the "shirt-tail" thing...?

[prebans]

This is obviously a 'non-flyer' question - but what's the origin of the "shirt-tail" thing...?

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_solo_flight

Traditions

Several traditions have developed in the USA around "soloing", including drenching the student with water and cutting off and permanently displaying the back of his or her shirt.

In American aviation lore, the traditional removal of a new pilot's shirt tail is a sign of the instructor's new confidence in his student after successful completion of the 1st solo flight. In the days of tandem trainers, the student sat in the front seat, with the instructor behind. As there were often no radios in these early days of aviation, the instructor would tug on the student pilot's shirttail to get his attention, and then yell in his ear. A successful first solo flight is an indication that the student can fly without the instructor ("instructor-less" flight). Hence, there is no longer a need for the shirt tail, and it is cut off by the (often) proud instructor, and sometimes displayed as a trophy.

In Canada, the dumping of water is replaced with a bucket of snow. The dumping is usually intended as a surprise to the newly minted solo pilot.

[Hillbilly]

That shirt tail thing goes back to the early days of aviation. On the average most private pilots solo around 10 hours of training or so. The instructor just sort of springs it on you..(I really figured I'd never solo... training slump around 8 hours)... but one day he asks you to land... he gets out and sends you on your way.

Congrats... it's a fun hobby... and can be a good job if your Grandson takes it that far.

[KirkD]

A hearty congratulations!

[Booger Bill]

Good on him! By coincidence I received my medical in the mail today! It is a big deal to me as I was really sweating it! I had to jump through many hoops as I had disqualifying physical problems in the past. I had to see 4 different doctors of my past and get statements etc. They now make me go annualy instead of every two years. My story is very unusual. I have about 400 hours but the last time I was active has been somewhere around 20 years ago! I have a old citaberia that is almost finished on a rebuild. 69 years old and starting over!

[JerryB]

My grandson and I thank each of you for the kind words, he read this with me.

[samb]

Congratulations on your grandson's solo, what an awesome feeling! I remember my solo, like it was yesterday. It is a wonderful thing to "slip the surly bonds". Here's hoping every dream he has of flying, is eclipsed by the flying he does.

Tell your grandson that last Wednesday, in a B737 just north of Salt Lake City at 40,000 feet a a guy who had dreamed of airplanes while staring up at Yukon sky as ten year old; looked over at his copilot who had just told him hours before, "I was born in Yukon", and mere minutes after the lead flight attendant had dropped in to deliver coffee's, only to casually reply to the question "Where did you grow up", with "I was was born in the Yukon".

I tallied up my crew times book, smiled, and said, "Huh, in about 15 minutes I'll have 11,000 hours, who woulda guessed I would be doing it with two other people on my crew from a place where the whole territory of 210,000 square miles, has only 35,000 people". My copilot Tim, grinned, stared out the window and said "it was meant to be, look, even the northern lights are out".

[olyinaz]

Hey that's some good stuff there. Still remember mine and I've cut a few too.

Congrats to 'im!

Cheers,
Oly

[stew71]

Many congratulations Jerry!!! There are few things more beautiful in this world than the view while climbing for altitude on a clear morning with the sun at your back.

Make sure Jerry3 takes you along for his first flight for that $100 hamburger!!!

[BigSky56]

Congrats Jerry now he can get his rotary wing license. danny

[gamekeeper]

Congratulations

[COSteve]

Exciting times. I too lost my shirttail way back in 1972.

[Nath]

Very good. Congrats

Nath.