First Solo Baby!
Due to weather issues I had to wait many many weeks between my solo phase check and my first solo, but it finally happened and it was GRRRRRRRRRREAT!
I flew 5043J because my chosen "soul mate" airplane 186CS was in the shop.
This was the usual first solo activity -- a warm up with your instructor, then you drop him off and do three laps around the pattern on your own. I landed without trouble on my first and second laps, then ended up doing a go-around once on my third lap. I admit to freaking out a bit after the go-around (even though it's totally normal) as I found myself thinking that I may not be able to bring it down, but I managed to bring it down just fine on the fourth lap.
My instructor took videos of all my landings. They were all like the below -- early roundouts and floating forever. Some of that was due to my not being prepared for the lower weight (one less person in the cockpit) but I do actually have an issue with early roundouts.
Now I can freely rent a plane and fly around the bay as long as remain within 25nm of my home airport, Palo Alto. I'm allowed to land in Palo Alto, San Carlos, Hayward and Livermore, each with their own unique characteristics (though Hayward is going to be my go-to airport since runway 28L is large enough for me to perform touch-and-goes under my club's 4000ft runway length requirement).
I foresee some hefty airplane rental fees in my near future.
