Click Here to Return to

I know this is a question that I see floated around a lot and it really means nothing, but I am still a bit curious about it.

I started flying with no previous experience (other than 600+ skydives under my belt which gave me extreme comfort in the air) and I solo'd a C172SP at 19.6 hours and 72 landings and 14 logged times in the airplane and was flying about 3 times a week on average.

My CFI informed me that this was the least amount of hours he has ever solo'd a student with.

I see a lot of people bragging about how they solo'd in 10 hours, etc. Is this possibly that they are flying an airplane that is easier to learn, the airport is close to the practice area so not to run up the hobbs en-route, instructor is not teaching them everything needed prior to solo, etc???

I feel my instructor taught me everything I needed to learn prior to my solo and he sent me when he felt I was ready (I actually didn't feel ready but believed he wouldn't send me if I wasn't).
I also know that we performed 1 night flight (7 night landings) prior to my solo which he described to me as "makes the student 'get it' like a butterfly coming out of the cocoon".

there is no standard. i've had students take anywhere from 9 hrs to 40 hrs to solo.

_________________
Everyone must believe in something, I believe that I will go flying.