17 Year-old student solos airplane in under 17 hours

I had to share this with someone, so I thought why not you folks?

I had my very first student solo today. Kris soloed after just under 17 hours of initial training. It would have been sooner, but we have had some crazy winds and weather in Minnesota for the past couple of months that in the interest of safety and prudence, and a nervous instructor...we had to wait for a near perfect day.

After a month of below zero (or close to it) temps, we finally warmed up to a balmy 37 today and the ice melted off the runway at KLVN (Airlake in Lakeville Minnesota). We fueled up, did two practice landings, I got out and signed his log book, and away he went with me mumbling 'steer with your feet, and go a-rounds are your best friend' (he greased in three for three).

Now if I can just teach him to find his way home after his first cross country...

Scott
www.lsanorth.com

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Airplane
• Pilot
• Solo
• Student
• Flight
• Design
• CT

[daveannw]

Way to go, setting a high goal and achieving it...good way to start/live life.

[novsierra]

@AC150driver dude my dad has owned a plane for years and that's why I could do it. I knew everything about the plane already.

[km6xo1]

The photographer could use a lot of practice with a camera.

[jsteiger2228]

I flew solo at 17yrs old after 10 hrs.

[AC150driver]

@novsierra you are a dumb fuck

[novsierra]

i'm 15 and I have about 4 hours, and i'm ready to solo.

[Unitedastwo]

ah i remember my first solo.

it was from kpne to allentown regional it was good.

[jairoorita]

i flew solo at 12 hours when i was 18.. i guess its up to your instructor to decide when ur soloing

[pilot865]

you are way wrong. It's people like u, who think the know everything that makes america so bad. You have to have training. Once you turn 16, pass a class 3 medical, and your instructor feels it's safe to let you solo, then you solo

[sweetcheels]

you can solo any prop plane as long as someone is willing to let you fly it on your own. My friend asked his best friend to fly his plane and he handed him the keys and went up alone ay 16...