Mike's first solo at Ryan Airport
Hemet, California
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My friend Mike had been working on assembling his Quicksilver MX ultralight and also taking flight training lessons in preparation for the big day . . . . .
As luck would have it, he was ready to solo before his plane was ready to fly . . . so his first solo at Hemet was done in the same ultralight as his training.
In the photo on the right, Mike is just starting his takeoff roll down runway 23 at Ryan Airport in Hemet, California. I'm still on the taxiway that runs parallel to the runway, following in my chase ultralight, an Advanced Aviation Cobra.
Rotation and liftoff!!! Mike is gaining height rapidly as he heads for pattern altitude. I've quickly followed with my own takeoff. My Cobra climbs much faster than the Quicksilver so I quickly get above him. Here Mike is about to do his "crosswind" turn. Everything is looking good on this, his first solo in Hemet.
Hemet is a wonderful place to fly ultralights. Plenty of flat open terrain in the event of an engine failure and mild weather conditions most of the year, plus a full time ultralight training school on the field.
Mike has reached pattern altitude (600 ft. above ground level) and is now flying parallel to the runway in the opposite direction. The "downwind" leg of his flight takes him right along the South perimeter of the airport, and directly down the railroad tracks (which makes it nice for flying the pattern). The long narrow buildings are aircraft "T-hangars" on the field.
In my "chase" ultralight I'm maintaining a track slightly outside of Mike's to give him maneuvering room. All of Mike's turns will be "left handed" so it's wise for me to remain behind and slightly to his right.
Mike has now completed his "base leg" and is on "final approach". This is the most difficult part of any flight and the most nerve wracking to watch. It's been said that every landing is just a "controlled crash with planet Earth". Here he's about to cross the threshold to runway 23 and test out that saying.
An interesting note here, if you look in the lower right of the photo you'll see what looks like an old style "iron cross". That is the shadow of Mike's ultralight.
Safe and sound and on the ground. Mike slowly taxis back to the hangar where the ultralight is stored and for one final part of his "mission".
