It was over twenty years ago since I did my 1st Solo 2nd January 1989 in a Cessna 152 G-BHIN
I can remember this like it was yesterday I am sure all Pilots remember theirs.  
 
Move this on a few years;  build your own with a tail wheel and this takes on a similar challenge.
Today was the day when John Dixon a 14,000+ ATPL  pilot; fellow RV-7 builder and very good mate of mine  Jumped out of the right seat on my airplane and said off you go !  
 
Fifteen minutes and two circuits concluded my 1st RV solo.... Whoooooo   Now I truly have the RV Grin.
 
On the flight back to Sherburn,   Mike Newall came along side at a steady 130 kts,  in his brand new RV-7 G-IVII.  
 
We were flying to the South of York with the York Minster in the foreground, Two brand New RV-7’s in formation  Life doesn’t get much better than this  only one thing let it down No Camera Ahrrrrrr !
 
Oh well that gives me another excuse to Fly !!!
        
 
 
 

Some footage of the day......  
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCHY6n907OE
 
Well done Mark, a great day  

Mark,
 
A big congratualtions from both myself and Josh. You are right, that first solo will always remain with you and further milestones along the aviation experience track such as this are no different. I remember going solo in the super cub and how that felt.
 
You must be so elated... well done mate...happy and safe flying
 
Simon

Hi all,
 
The whole 'ready' thing is a bit strange.
 
I took 67 hours to be ready for the PPL after waiting 17 hours for my solo. Then I jumped in a Luscombe and ground looped it whilst taxying (no damage just embarrassing as it was in front of the tower).  
 
Took 3 hours to do my tailwheel conversion and then I went off solo - I think that I was ready, but maybe luck helped... Many hours later when it came to fly the RV6, I had flown in the test phase (as a passenger of course and we did the testing all in one day) and then I just went for it and felt not too bad. However on a subcesquent flight I then forgot the flaps (exceeding flap speed slightly) and still keep forgetting the fuel pump - so perhaps I was not ready.
 
The thing that always worries me is how much is luck and how much is planning. I have had a couple of issues with the RV so far which have given me an uneasy feeling (fluff in fuel filter etc), however I do feel comfortable flying her. One thing is for sure though, don't fly before you are happy as it just adds another tier of pressure that is unhelpful. I have been up there wishing I were down here a couple of times and maybe it was okay and just nerves - but hard to know.
 
Of course the whole hours thing is dodgy anyway as I have flown the RV a couple of times round the IOW and back and it counts as an hour, but I did not learn much other than I miss my MP3 player (fixed that at last a few nights ago). So quality is more important than quantity (I got a lot of hours taxying at Oxford during the PPL...).

Pete,
 
It did me as well... I'm just wondering if there was any implication that a few bouncers were inacted as part of the conversion training..
 
I'm sure Mark 'greased' them everytime.

Whats that Skip ? tut tut tut  Mike' s freezing in the hanger fixing his plane and Marks enjoying hims self ....  
struth mate thats a bummer ...
 
What was that again Skip ?  ttut ttut  Marks been flying been flying again Tuesday and again  today !  Blimey he must have nailed the landings by now !