First Solo Cross Country: Dundee - Edinburgh - Fife
First Solo Cross Country: Done ✈️
So this is the big one. Not just flying solo, but navigating my own way across the country with it. No instructor, no second pair of hands, just me, a Piper Warrior, and a route from Dundee down to Fife.
The highlight has to be transiting through Edinburgh's controlled airspace and tracking past the Forth bridges. Three bridges, three completely different eras of engineering, and I got to see all of it from the cockpit of an aircraft I was flying on my own. I came into aviation from years as an offshore engineer, so structures like that hit a little different for me.
Then Fife decided to make me work for it. An offset approach for noise abatement, wind spilling off the golf course, thermals coming up off the town. A properly sporty landing to round it off.
And because I'd rather be honest than look slick: I fluffed a radio call on the way in. Gave my position, completely forgot my intentions. I left it in the video. That's the whole point of documenting this stuff, the real version, mistakes and all.
If you're a student pilot staring down your own first solo cross country, you've got this. Plan it well, talk early, stay ahead of the aeroplane, and don't chase perfection.
The full flight is on the channel now.
Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.
Jayviating
