Congratulations Rob Patraulea on your first solo flight! Flying solo is the biggest milestone in a private pilot’s curriculum and Rob was as calm and composed as any pilot when he was at the controls on N410LR.
Rob actually wrote up a blurb about his solo experience and we would love to share it with you:
Thanks a million buddy! He totally blind sided me! Made me take the written pre solo test and said “let’s get this out of the way so that when you come back you can do the solo”. Then he made sure I had my medical and also student license on board just in case “something happened to him”.
Then flew to KPHK and we did 3 take offs and landings. He was writing in my logbook something but I had no idea what, I was focused on my landings. Then he tells me to Taxi the airplane to full stop and take a break. Once I stopped the plane he unplugged his headset opened the door and said: “ ok good Luck, I’ll be here while you do your first solo.! I tried to grab him and hold him but he was having none of it. Put my head down and then lifted it up and said to myself: let’s get this done. I loved every second of it, I was so well prepared thanks to you, Luke and Scott!
Once I landed the third time and taxi off I saw Scott running towards the plane. At that point I had the plane at full stop and I broke down as it just sank in what I have done! Adrenaline was pumping so hard and lost my emotions.
Then I realized that he had all of this planned for me and I was completely oblivious to any of the signs. He was actually writing in my solo endorsements in my log book in the plane way before he bailed on me.
I could not have done it without you!
Once again thank you!
