Locator: 45900ARCH.
For the family archives.
Olivia, her plane, and her CAU instructor.
Our high school junior / senior (Olivia) granddaughter soloed today -- under the auspices of the United States Air Force hosted by Edwards AFB instructed at the California Aeronautical University.
She soloed at her "first opportunity." Soloed after less than ten full days flying, probably fifteen hours flying time, though I understand 20 hours are required, so perhaps Olivia got those 20 hours in ten days.
Of her class of about 30 students, she was among the first to solo. Some will not advance to solo at all by the end of three weeks of flight school. But she soloed at "first opportunity."
Aircraft:
- cruise speed: around 130 mph
- cruising altitude, max: 13,000 to 15,000 feet
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is an American four-seat, single-engine, high wing, fixed-wing aircraft made by the Cessna Aircraft Company.
First flown in 1955, more 172s have been built than any other aircraft.
It was developed from the 1948 Cessna 170 but with tricycle landing gear rather than conventional landing gear. The Skyhawk name was originally used for a trim package, but was later applied to all standard-production 172 aircraft, while some upgraded versions were marketed as the Cutlass.
Measured by its longevity and popularity, the Cessna 172 is the most successful aircraft in history. Cessna delivered the first production model in 1956, and as of 2015, the company and its partners had built more than 44,000 units.
The aircraft remains in production today.
Will post more information as I find it.
Soloed out of Schafter Airport, established to train WWII pilots.
Fourteen miles from Bakersfield, CA.
The Bakersfield Sound:
From wiki:
Schafter Airport Shafter Airport (IATA: MIT, ICAO: KMIT, FAA LID: MIT), also known as Minter Field and formerly known as Air Corps Basic Flying School, is a public use airport located four nautical miles (4.6 mi) east of the central business district of Shafter and 14 miles northwest of Bakersfield, a city in Kern County, California, United States.
Originally a World War II primary training facility for pilots, it is currently a public airport owned by the Minter Field Airport District.
Lerdo Field, as the airport was initially known during World War II, was first opened in June 1941 when the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) dispatched a small garrison of airmen to open an airfield at Shafter.
The name was derived from close proximity to the highway of the same name. The airfield commander utilized Bakersfield College as his headquarters, while airmen were quartered in temporary facilities from Bakersfield to Wasco while barracks and other structures were being built. As construction proceeded through the rest of the year, the Minter Sub-Depot was established as a branch of the Sacramento Air Depot.
I soloed in the little brother to the 172--- a 152---- both great hardy little airplanes. Remember the day like it was last week. Quite a thrill. Congratulations to her----what an accomplishment at her age.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to write -- she is incredibly thrilled -- no words could express it ... and yes, she will remember this moment forever.
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