NZFF

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 6:25 pm**

Im not usually one to blow my own trumpet, however yesterday I achieved something that I have been wanting to do for years by flying R22 ZK-INA solo.
The photos were taken today after a couple of solo consolidation flights as I didnt have my camera with me yesterday.
All I can say is that this means more to me than ANY fixed wing flying that I will ever do.

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 7:49 pm**

chopper_nut wrote:
QUOTE (chopper_nut @ May 18 2008, 06:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Im not usually one to blow my own trumpet, however yesterday I achieved something that I have been wanting to do for years by flying R22 ZK-INA solo.
The photos were taken today after a couple of solo consolidation flights as I didnt have my camera with me yesterday.
All I can say is that this means more to me than ANY fixed wing flying that I will ever do.

Congratulations mate! That's really an awesome effort.

I know how much training is involved in rotary vs fixed wing to get to the solo stage. Plus, I'm also a heli nut so just have a soft spot for them.

Good on ya. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.

Richard

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 8:06 pm**

Congrats mate !! (although stupid helos) Are you living down there now ? moved from the big smoke ?

BTW those are some massive flys eyes

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 8:17 pm**

Congrats man, nice glasses too B-)

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 8:19 pm**

Congrats

Had my second first solo last week too after a year off flying

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 8:35 pm**

Cheers guys, yeah massive feeling of accomplishment. Yeah the glasses.... haha I actually find that they are really good for flying, have tried other ones but I keep comming back to the aviators.

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 8:45 pm**

Congratulations chopper_nut :thumbup:

Look at the big grin on your face

Where to now? Are you going on to finish a PPL or CPL?
Keep up the flying mate. Nice glasses bye the way

Cheers
Daniel

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 9:05 pm**

Congrats Nick- if you ever fly up to Ardmore, be sure to save the spare seat of your chopper for me! :clap:

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 9:20 pm**

Good on you mate, well done.
I did a bit of flying with Doug just before your solo as we went and got a few air 2 air photos of the R44 and I asked him how you were going and he said,
"After we land we are going flying and he will be going solo but he doesnt know it yet"
Nice guy Don and a great set of hands.

Once again good on you.

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 9:31 pm**

Well done chopper nut. Guess I'm gonna have to keep an eye out for white R22's beaming around Blenheim......................duck!!

Deane

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 9:36 pm**

Congrats CN - what next Commercial?

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 9:43 pm**

That's why they're called Aviators

Congrats man, bet you're pretty stoked!

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 9:50 pm**

Congratulations chopper_nut! :groupwave:

Good on you.
Lots of NZFF people going for their PPLs and stuff.

Cheers
Anthony

Posted: **Sun May 18, 2008 10:39 pm**

Congrads , Good luck Nick on next helo , Well Done ! :thumbup:

Posted: **Mon May 19, 2008 10:06 am**

Nice work Nick! *hands over a beer* Well done that man! And what weather for it too, superb! As one of the other blokes said above, where to from here?

Also, nice to see the air park development coming along

Posted: **Mon May 19, 2008 6:02 pm**

Congrates Choppernut. :clap:

Awesome, Best feeling ever aye.

First Solo rates with watching your baby born.

Enjoy the moment for years to come and Take care.

Cheers
Derek

Posted: **Mon May 19, 2008 6:29 pm**

Congratulations.

Posted: **Mon May 19, 2008 8:01 pm**

Thanks everyone, I cant stop looking at those photos!!! Sad bugger I am!! Next on the plan is to finish the PPL, mayby just a restricted to start with to get the vital piece of paper then work on the x-countries. If I do that then I might jump back in the PA38 to do them as it is a whole lot cheaper and you can x-credit. Planning on doing CPL afterwards, Its a toss up between Motueka or CHC with Helipro or Garden City. I need to go somewhere with the student loan scheme. I dont think anybody could afford a CPL off their own back! I would love to stay in this part of the world (Blenheim, yeah Im living here now) Great weather, great people etc but until Marlborough Flight Training gets NZQA accreditation, it just isnt going to happen. The next best thing is Motueka but I have heard some shocking stories about that place, having to file flight plans to go up and just do circuits or autos etc.

Posted: **Mon May 19, 2008 10:39 pm**

Helipro at CHC are pretty good :wink2:

Posted: **Tue May 20, 2008 5:36 pm**

Good on ya mate.

Good plan, stick by it!

Personally I'd go Ian Wakeling at Wanganui. (my old instructor and has trained many top pilots (Ken Walker, Guy Beange to name a couple)
If you want the best, your choice. Give him a call.

All the best

Derek

NZFF

First Solo ..... Again