Lesson 55 – First Solo Cross Country

After weather, aircraft maintenance and scheduling delays, I finally flew my first solo cross country yesterday. I went from Waukegan to Janesville, Wisconsin and back. Only 53 miles each way, but a big step in my training. I ventured away from the familiar training area and navigated to a planned destination all by my self.

By the time I did my briefing with Sandy and preflighted the airplane, it was about 2:45. Sunset was 4:27 in this area so I didn’t have much time to spare. I taxied to a corner of the ramp, did my run-up and called ground for taxi to the runway. It took longer than normal for the controller to clear me to taxi because he was moving landing traffic down the taxiway I would be using. By the time I actually got airborne, it was after 3:00pm. I would have to make it a quick stop at Janesville. Tower cleared me for a frequency change shortly after takeoff and I opened my VFR flight plan with Kankakee radio.

I had planned to cruise at 4500 feet but clouds kept me down to 3300. That made my ground speed a little lower than I planned. Still, I crossed my check points no more than a couple minutes later than expected. My only problem came when I got to JVL. As seems usual for me, I didn’t see the airport until I was almost on top of it. I let the tower controller know that I didn’t have the runway in sight. He said he could see me and that I was on a good base for runway 32. That gave me the clue I needed and the runway popped into view like magic. I had low sun right in my eyes as I headed west and that didn’t help. Still, I should have seen the runway sooner.

My landing was uneventful, which is good, and I taxied to the terminal building to park. It was now about 3:45 and the terminal was closed so I had the parking area all to myself. I shut down, locked the plane and went inside a small vestibule that was unlocked. I called Flight Service to close my flight plan then called my wife to let her know I was running a little late and then Sandy to let her know that I was on the ground but would be heading back very soon and should be back before dark. I did a quick preflight and checked the fuel tanks then started up, swung around for my run-up and called ground for taxi clearance.

All the taxiing, preflights, run-up’s, taxiing again, holding for landing traffic etc. take time so, it was just almost exactly 4:00pm by the time I took off for the return flight. The clouds had disappeared by now so; I climbed up to 5500 feet. I had a bit of a tailwind up there and my ground speed was about 20 knots faster than before. Again, I hit my checkpoints without any problem. As I got closer to Waukegan, I started seeing lights coming on on the ground. It was still bright up where I was but it was obviously getting darker down below. I called the tower 10 miles out and entered the downwind for runway 32 at UGN just as the runway lights came on. There was still plenty of light when I touched down but, I had to hold short of runway 5 for several minutes before I could taxi to parking and it was quickly getting darker. By the time I parked, I had to use my flashlight to read the Hobbs time and to make sure I had all my stuff.

I admit I had been a little nervous about this flight. My main concern was that I wouldn’t be able to find the airport at Janesville. In fact, that did happen but, I learned that it isn’t that big a problem. I let the controller know and he was more than willing to help. This flight was an excellent confidence builder. Now, I have to start planning my long solo cross country.