FlyGirl

1st Helicopter solo on 4/3/2011

After 2 runs around the pattern, John asked me to lower the engine to idle. When I did, he said, "okay, do three patterns and a clearing turn before each touchdown. Each time I will give you a 'thumbs up' if I want you to do another." He then took his headset and handheld, latched the door and waved.

A line from one of my favorite books, The Time Machine, came to mind: "I suppose a suicide who holds a pistol to his skull feels much the same wonder at what will come next as I felt then." Paraphrasing the next line somewhat: I took the collective lever in one hand and the cyclic one in the other... and called the tower: "Palo Alto tower, helicopter 290SH, with Uniform, would like to do a pattern, FIRST solo." The tower kindly replied: "Helicopter 0SH, cleared as requested, remain south of the runway, good luck."

I lifted off gently but definitively, since Palo Alto procedures from the spot (where helicopters depart and land) require a maximum performance takeoff until you clear the light towers, because the airplane owners don't like their babies being sprayed with debris by the downwash. Once clear of the towers, I accelerated northwestward between the tower and the runway (the tower also prefers that we don't directly overfly them although I don't know if it's because they like to keep us in sight or because they have some "concerns").

The standard "maintain 60 knots and turn left before the canal" went through my mind as I did so. Turning downwind before reaching 101 felt normal... and then it hit me: "I'm up here by myself, it is solely *my* responsibility and if anything goes wrong, my life is in MY hands." It's a bit more unnerving than most might think -- especially those who know me. But I'd flown airplanes and gliders many times before, so I reminded myself that it's a responsibility that I can handle.

Downwind... all gauges in the green, carb heat on, power down to 15" manifold pressure, begin decent, but maintain 60 - 70 knots until established on final, be sure not to approach the extended runway centerline. A glance to the right reminded me the last was important as there *was* a plane on final.

Turning final I noticed I was tending higher than usual. Then I remembered something that John had told me... "without me in the aircraft, the CG will be further back and so, with the same control inputs, it will tend to be nose higher..." exactly what I was, without realizing it until that moment, experiencing. So, check the airspeed... Yup. A little low... forward a bit on the cyclic to get the correct attitude and lower the collective for about 10 seconds to get back to where I should have been.

Oops... a little too much, now I am going too fast. Leave the collective where it is since the altitude seems fine but back on the cyclic a bit to adjust the speed. Over that DAMN tree just before the fence and start descending a bit steeper and really slowing down. Over the spot... oops... remember the clearing turn before touchdown... a quick (not too quick) 360 to the left and a smooth touch down.

Almost immediately, the kind gentleman (he had to be since it was my first solo) says "Congratulations, 0SH... 10,000 pieces all trying desperately to fly apart and you managed to keep them together. Nice first solo!" To which I replied "Thanks Palo Alto" and before I unkeyed the mic, I saw John's promised 'thumbs up' gesture and continued on the radio, "Thanks, VERY much... I enjoyed it so much, can I do another?" The reply came "Cleared as requested, 0SH". Another, unidentified, voice gave a quick "Congrats, 0SH" and I responded with a quick, but very cheerful, "Thank you!"

Two more trips around the pattern like that and John came back to the cockpit... I expected him to get back in, but he just said "Nice job... want to park it?" And I said "Sure!". I took that as a REAL vote of confidence since, frankly, hover taxi and low-level maneuvers, in general, are, in my opinion, the riskiest things that one normally does.

So, I ran the engine up again, got permission from the tower (resisting the temptation to ask the controller if I could treat him to dinner), hover taxied to the parking spot, ran through the shutdown procedure, and got out to have John fill in my logbook... yet another entry I will never forget...