My First Solo Flight

Today marks a milestone I’ll never forget — my very first solo flight at Parafield Airport.

The day began with three laps around the circuit alongside my flight instructor. After landing, we taxied to Run-Up Bay Foxtrot, where my instructor stepped out and left me to take the controls on my own. Sitting there in the cockpit, about to taxi for departure, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement — this was the moment I’d been working toward for so long.

I completed my run-up checks, lined up at the holding point, and took off from Runway 21L. The flight itself went smoothly. With traffic ahead of me, I had to extend my downwind slightly to keep safe spacing, which reminded me just how important situational awareness is in the circuit.

As I turned final, I was really happy with my approach. The nerves kicked in as the runway threshold grew closer — I’m still learning how to apply just the right amount of backpressure on landing, and I was a little abrupt this time. But the most important thing is: I got the aircraft down safely.

After shutting down, I was handed my first solo flight certificate and my student pilot epaulettes — two symbols that I’ll cherish as reminders of this milestone.

Flying solo for the first time has given me a huge boost of confidence. It’s a powerful reminder of how far I’ve come since starting this experience, and how much more there is to learn and achieve. This is just the beginning, and I couldn’t be more excited about the path ahead.

Here’s to many more flights, many more lessons, and the dream of becoming a licensed pilot becoming more real every day.

— Nathan