I was about the same age as student pilot Maggie Taraska when I had my first solo flight. Unlike Maggie, I didn't have to deal with a busy airspace, or air traffic control, or engines (I was in a glider), or — most significantly — one of my landing wheels falling off during the flight. But Maggie handled the entire situation much more coolly than I remember my own short, uneventual, first solo. Just listen to the radio chatter below. If you're in a rush, you can skip the period from 2:00 – 7:30 while she circles the Beverly (MA) airport waiting for a couple of other planes to land first, but the whole thing is worth a listen to hear how she successfully lands with only one wheel on the left side.
That's all from us at the blog for this week. Have a great weekend, and we'll be back next week.