Capturing a Pilot's First Solo

One of the first accomplishments for any pilot is something called a 'solo'. For those of you who are not familiar with aviation terms, a solo flight is one where a person flies an aircraft unaccompanied by anyone else. Pilots go on to log solo time throughout their flying careers when they are the only person on board an aircraft, however the first time someone takes to the skies by themselves it becomes a memory that will last for the rest of their life. For instance, I remember my first solo, taking off and landing three times on Runway 27 at Lewis University Airport (KLOT) on April 29, 2011, in N2166E (a Cessna 172N). 

I remember this without referring to my logbook because it was a defining moment for me as it was the first time I considered myself a real pilot. Below is a video that captures a woman who is flying her first solo. Notice the smile that creeps across her face as she climbs to pattern altitude and realizes that she is truly flying an airplane.

"Can the magic of flight ever be carried by words? I think not." - Michael Parfit