First Solo featuring my Grand Seiko SBGX063
I started flight training on October 30th of this year and I’m excited to say that I just completed my first solo flight! I wear my Grand Seiko exclusively when I fly because being on time is crucial and the 9F movement is an extremely accurate, independent time source that I know I can rely on.
I completed my first of three solo landings in N172SS, and the other 2 in N20437, both Cessna 172 M models. You might be wondering, why 2 planes for a first solo? Well… upon landing in 172SS, I encountered a right brake failure. I responded to the emergency, contacted tower, and eventually had to shut the airplane down on a taxiway before climbing into N20437 about an hour later to finish the other 2 landings! I was all business and honestly surprised that I reacted to the emergency so calmly, especially considering I only have 22 hours 😳.
Merry Christmas!
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
Glad you handled the emergency well
I have two things on my wish list, a GS and learning to fly. Congratulations.
Congratulations on completing your first solo flight. Great accomplishment.
I have two things on my wish list, a GS and learning to fly. Congratulations.
You should take a discovery flight if you haven’t been in a small airplane before. Awesome experience that motivated me!
Congratulations on completing your first solo flight. Great accomplishment.
Thank you!
Glad you handled the emergency well
Me too 😅
Congratulations on your solo. You are on your way to some of the most rewarding experiences imaginable. To paraphrase the famous poem, you will do a hundred things others have not dreamed of.
Congratulations on your solo. You are on your way to some of the most rewarding experiences imaginable. To paraphrase the famous poem, you will do a hundred things others have not dreamed of.
My flight school has a big poster in the hangar that says “Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what others can’t”. At first I thought it was a little cheesy but I gradually came around to it and absolutely take it to heart!
Congrats on the solo flight!
Now you need a pilots watch.
I know! I reeaaallly want a Laco Flieger Pro 37. Very well built watch, got hands on with it at Windup Chicago this year.
Congratulations on completing your first solo flight!!! I started flying as a teenager…I believe I was 14 at the time and I’ll never forget my first solo flight, first cross country flight and my check ride. I trained and earned my private pilots license on a 172SP back in the day before Cirrus came along. I eventually transitioned to Cirrus and I’ll never go back to a 172. I got really spoiled with the safety net (parachute) in the Cirrus. Keep chugging along and I can wait to see pictures of your cross countries & check ride! Good luck with ground school too!! 🙌🙌
Congratulations on completing your first solo flight!!! I started flying as a teenager…I believe I was 14 at the time and I’ll never forget my first solo flight, first cross country flight and my check ride. I trained and earned my private pilots license on a 172SP back in the day before Cirrus came along. I eventually transitioned to Cirrus and I’ll never go back to a 172. I got really spoiled with the safety net (parachute) in the Cirrus. Keep chugging along and I can wait to see pictures of your cross countries & check ride! Good luck with ground school too!! 🙌🙌
First, HoroSexual is a great name 😂 I really like the 172 for what it is, but I could see Cirrus being pretty nice. I’d be happy just to have a G1000 and a 2 axis autopilot at this point! I’ll absolutely be posting some more flying stuff on here as I keep going, thanks for the congrats!
Congrats on the achievement, and the watch is ptetty darn awesome as well! I can see why the 9F would make a great timepiece while flying!
Congrats on the achievement, and the watch is ptetty darn awesome as well! I can see why the 9F would make a great timepiece while flying!
Yeah I found myself with a disdain for quartz early in my watch collecting journey and when I started reading about high accuracy quartz I took a big step back. I now have huge appreciation for even basic quartz watches, but the 9F does make an excellent tool. I’ve always loved the Rolex OP36, and this felt like a natural option in that vein that’s different enough from the OP and offers functionality and reliability in a range of circumstances.
Yeah I found myself with a disdain for quartz early in my watch collecting journey and when I started reading about high accuracy quartz I took a big step back. I now have huge appreciation for even basic quartz watches, but the 9F does make an excellent tool. I’ve always loved the Rolex OP36, and this felt like a natural option in that vein that’s different enough from the OP and offers functionality and reliability in a range of circumstances.
I agree 100%. My 9F SBGN005 has opened my eyes to the world of higher end quartz movements. It's nice not to have to adjust the time every few days. Even though I still love my affordable automatics, (and someday I'll own a Rolex Explorer I 🙂), I'm now down a rabbit hole considering Citizen Chronomasters, Seiko Astrons, or another 9F.
I'm left wondering what the blue towel is that you're waving around?
I'm left wondering what the blue towel is that you're waving around?
It’s the back of my shirt. It’s an aviation tradition for your flight instructor to cut the back of your shirt after your first solo. Typically you write the date and flight information. In my case, it has my name, the date, the runway I landed on (20L/2R), the tail numbers of the airplanes (N172SS/N20437), and “Brake failure”. Then you hang it up on the wall. Not sure the origins, but I love the tradition!
Congrats! That is a major accomplishment!
Did you have to sacrifice the seat of your pants?
Congrats! That is a major accomplishment!
Did you have to sacrifice the seat of your pants?
Surprisingly the pants are still intact 😂
It’s the back of my shirt. It’s an aviation tradition for your flight instructor to cut the back of your shirt after your first solo. Typically you write the date and flight information. In my case, it has my name, the date, the runway I landed on (20L/2R), the tail numbers of the airplanes (N172SS/N20437), and “Brake failure”. Then you hang it up on the wall. Not sure the origins, but I love the tradition!
See? That's a really interesting part of the story - I think that's amazing - and you weren't going to tell us? ;)
It’s the back of my shirt. It’s an aviation tradition for your flight instructor to cut the back of your shirt after your first solo. Typically you write the date and flight information. In my case, it has my name, the date, the runway I landed on (20L/2R), the tail numbers of the airplanes (N172SS/N20437), and “Brake failure”. Then you hang it up on the wall. Not sure the origins, but I love the tradition!
No that’s friggin awesome!!!!😎. Talk to me Goose!
Beautifulp and congratulations 💯👊🏽
First, HoroSexual is a great name 😂 I really like the 172 for what it is, but I could see Cirrus being pretty nice. I’d be happy just to have a G1000 and a 2 axis autopilot at this point! I’ll absolutely be posting some more flying stuff on here as I keep going, thanks for the congrats!
Back when I was training at least I had redundant Garmin 430s and autopilot. I remember upgrading to the 530 and then the G1000 came out a few years later. The Cirrus came with a G1000 and I loved having an “all glass” cockpit. I definitely had luxuries when I was training because I was able to do ILS and GPS approaches with autopilot. Merry Christmas!!
Back when I was training at least I had redundant Garmin 430s and autopilot. I remember upgrading to the 530 and then the G1000 came out a few years later. The Cirrus came with a G1000 and I loved having an “all glass” cockpit. I definitely had luxuries when I was training because I was able to do ILS and GPS approaches with autopilot. Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas to you as well!
The 172M is unbelievably basic. Carberated, all steam gauges and a Garmin 430. I love flying it, and the steam gauges make a lot of sense, so I don’t mind flying with them. My friends and I used to goof off in X-plane all the time at work (long story 😅) and I have to say that the G1000 condenses the information very nicely. I’ll fly the G1000 172SP later in my instrument training to build some TAA time. Until then, the most AP I have is my elevator trim!
Merry Christmas to you as well!
The 172M is unbelievably basic. Carberated, all steam gauges and a Garmin 430. I love flying it, and the steam gauges make a lot of sense, so I don’t mind flying with them. My friends and I used to goof off in X-plane all the time at work (long story 😅) and I have to say that the G1000 condenses the information very nicely. I’ll fly the G1000 172SP later in my instrument training to build some TAA time. Until then, the most AP I have is my elevator trim!
I think you’re really gonna like flying the 172SP with the G1000. Cheers 🙌👊🥂
Thank you! I’ve shockingly only seen the first one, but I heard Maverick is pretty badass.
Must see!!! Large screen with surround sound.
Congrats on the first solo, that's a big deal! I remember my dad taking flight classes in the 70's and 80's and running into the same sorts of issues with the two and four seaters back then too, haha, some things never change, he wore a Seiko UFO himself
Congrats on the first solo, that's a big deal! I remember my dad taking flight classes in the 70's and 80's and running into the same sorts of issues with the two and four seaters back then too, haha, some things never change, he wore a Seiko UFO himself
Man, I gotta give respect to the guys who flew before me. They had a lot more difficult of a job!
Congratulations @Aherzfeldt ! You definitely need to get a pilot watch now. 😉
We’re definitely in agreement there!