BENJAMIN SOLO

We went for a nice flight to Hawthorne airport early in the morning to do some pattern work. It was a pretty good lesson and after 1 hour we flew back to Torrance and were joking around as usual. Reza told me that Chris will be at Torrance and that he wants to discuss the pre-Solo test I did a couple of days before After landing and taxing to the terminal I was looking for Chris, but he didn't show up as he was supposed to. Instead Reza told me that he thinks I'm ready for a solo flight in the pattern at Torrance. I thought he was joking, but he just grabbed my logbook and endorsed me for solo flight around Torrance.
What a surprise!!!! Naturally I had to take that chance right away I was pretty nervous before take-off and on my first landing attempt and focused on what I was taught before (I swear that all the way on final I had Reza's voice in my ear and he said: "center line, center line, CENTER LINE"). Everything went pretty smooth. It was for sure not the best landing ever done in a Cessna 172, but good enough for me to get some confidence J. I did a couple more landings and then taxied back to the terminal where Reza and Chris waited to congratulate.
I was glad I didn't wear an expensive shirt on that day since Reza (following the old tradition) decided to cut out a nice big piece of it on my back. The piece and the handwritten dedication are already framed and decorate my office. It was truly an unforgettable day.

Thanks a lot to the whole Pacific Skies Aviation Team for this milestone on my way to the private pilot license.