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The winds were 100@10G13, (winds from 100 degrees @ 10 knots gusting to 13)so Runway 9 was the active for the day. Temp was around 93 at 4:00 EST in Palm Beach County, FL, so thermals were also active. The most unusual aspect was the wind coming in from the ocean would "roll" over the condos creating a type of "mountain wave" that undulated towards the airport. KLNA (Lantana) is about 2 miles E from the condo's on the ICW and 2.75 miles E of the ocean Condo's.
At around 400' on take off you would start bumping, and the plane wanted to roll right. At one point I had the yoke at the 10:00 position to maintain level flight. On another take off, the airplane rolled to a 30degree bank attitude and it took some pressure to add in left aileron. My instructor showed me how adding a little left rudder also, would kick it back level nicely. On one of the landings, as I was rounding out, (this is stopping the descent and going level) the wind gusted and lifted me about 20' or so and I did a go around, even though there was plenty of runway. I just didn't feel like trying to wrestle the plane at that moment.
After 7 landings in these conditions without any assistance, (4 more than the required 3 for solo) my instructor stated these wind levels were very borderline for his level of allowing solo's, but as I had completed 7 w/o assistance, he asked if I felt I could do this. I thought about for a few seconds, and the winds were dying down a little, so I affirmed I believed I was ready.
I stopped and let the instructor out, and he observed with a handheld radio. As I waited my turn to take off, unknown to me, the Head Flight instructor came out to watch also, My instructor is the #2 man. There are around 8 or so instructors at my school.
The traffic had started to build with around 5 fixed wing in the Left Hand traffic pattern, and 2 Helicopters in a RH traffic pattern. Some of the fixed wing would stay in the pattern, some would depart straight out, and later rejoin the pattern. The Helicopters would either come to the right side of the runway and hover over the grass, or sometimes autogyrate to the actual runway.
I had wondered how nervous I would be at this time. I was nervous in the taxi and take off at first, being alone in the plane, but as soon as I started the climb, it was all automatic, and calming, and I was "In The Zone". The first take off, pattern and landing were perfect, and probably my best landing to date.
On final approach the 2nd time, I had a really good approach and speed, was about 150' AGL, watching the numbers be stationary in my window picture, and LOW & BEHOLD a C152 from the other flight school at the airport, pulls out in front of me on the runway and starts his take off roll! My first thought was: "This can't be real or happening. YOU DON"T DO THAT, PULL OUT IN FRONT OF AN AIRPLANE LANDING!"
I quickly went into a go around mode, but this time I diverted to the right of the runway (glad there were no helicopters there at this time) and announced I was continuing my UPWIND parallel to runway 9 due to a runway incursion. I gradually overtook the 152 and was above and in front of him. I glanced over my left shoulder, and looked at him. Over the radio I said: " Cessna 152 on the upwind runway 9, state your intentions!" No answer. Then I repeated it a 2nd time probably a little more forcefully, and I imagine I was pretty loud and irritated sounding, (I forgot to ask my instuctor how I sounded)
He finally answered that He was staying in the pattern, so I announced I was executing an extended up wind, and staying in the pattern. He then stated that he was sorry and thought he could make it without interferring with me. I yelled, ummm retorted back that I was at 150', how could he not interfere. No reply. This leads me to believe he never either looked, or never saw me, or only saw the next plane in the pattern on base.
I performed a little slow flight exercise, to add distance between us, and landed after him. Again, even after all of this, it was one of my top 5 landings. When I stopped after the turn off and hold bars to "clean up" the plane, (retract flaps, check mixture etc... not because I had brown shorts now I looked over at him in front on the return taxiway, and he was looking pretty nervous as if he half expected me to jump out of my plane, drag his sorry butt out of his plane and proceed to kick it thoroughly (which did briefly cross my mind)
The third T/O and landing went fine, my landing was a little off, slight drop but no bounce, but a happy ending to a major milestone day, that could have been a disaster. Got my shirt cut, as is the usual Flying Custom, and a replacement that states: "I lost my shirt at Palm Beach Flight Training".
The instructor and Head Instructor said "Very Nice Job!", and it was just how they would have handled the situation.
Is this a tower controlled field and if so what did they have to say and what controller's azz did you kick.
Take off's are a choice BUT landing's are a must.
__________________ F350 4x4/ Dodge 2500HD 5.9L Cummins
Leaving the Picture of the Ford cuz I miss it
Pacific 2325 cc
Honda bf225
aluminumalloyboats.com
I remember my first solo like yesterday. I was 16, grandfather did what he had did a 100 times. Propped the old J 3 cub while I sat ready to go then he would cilmb in and we would fly around all Sunday afternoon. But on this Sunday he didn't get in,he walked up and closed that little door and looked at me and said time to grow up boy,be back in 45 min,I'm going to eat,don't tear up your airplane. I said my airplane. He said shut up and fly. I turned and looked down that 1800 ft grass strip and I could swear it had shrunk to 500 ft in a second.
Well I made it back.
nobody ever forgets their first solo. Aint it a hoot how light that plane feels after your instructor gets out? And that feeling once you're up.....oh boy. Now you GOTTA land it.
You'll probably never forget your first cross country solo, either. Mine was from Hyannis, up to Keen NH, then down to Connecticut and back to Hyannis in a 152. In Connecticut, on takeoff roll, some yahoo in a Piper pulled out onto the active in front of me, and I had maybe one second ( or about 6,458 heartbeats) to decide whether to try to pull it off and fly over him or clamp the brakes. Glancing down at the speedo I saw 40, and decided to stop it. The tower instructed the piper pilot to return to the ramp and report to the FAA guy there, and asked me if I wanted to park it and take a breather. ( They knew I was a student pilot). I taxiied back to the end and took off and flew on up to Hyannis along the coast, getting bumped and shaken so bad I could barely read the chart strapped to my thigh.
It was the day of the "Figawi" sailboat race. I found out later that the winds were so strong that three boats had mast damage. I flew short final looking at the runway out of my right window because of the extreme crab angle. The whole flight school, instructors and all, were standing outside the East ramp watching. You're gonna ask if I survived it, right?
some yahoo in a Piper pulled out onto the active in front of me, and I had maybe one second ( or about 6,458 heartbeats) to decide whether to try to pull it off and fly over him or clamp the brakes.
I wasn't me!!!
The only thing ever pulled in front of me was a bunch of cows on the air strip. Had to buzz them to clear the runway.
I fly a J3 , 1/5 th scale with a 4stk motor [ radio contolled ]
__________________ F350 4x4/ Dodge 2500HD 5.9L Cummins
Leaving the Picture of the Ford cuz I miss it
Pacific 2325 cc
Honda bf225
aluminumalloyboats.com
I've had three INITIAL solos in my flying career.... one civilian..not unlike your experience except the idiot on the runway....nice job by the way, but no need to berate the guy over the radio. And two military jet solo's..... all red letter days... but I would have to say the day my T-37 instructor Ed Cazalori ( ex marine guy ) told me to stop on the taxi way and informed tower he was getting out... wow... I will remember that day the rest of my life.....
Congrats and good luck....After 21 years of flying I can say I am still excited to go to work.
Actually about the radio, I needed to establish his intentions as this group/school had been alternately leaving the pattern straight out, or staying in the left hand traffic all day. I was on his right, slightly above and in front of him, so I had to know what his route would be before I could reenter the LH pattern.
I fly a J3 , 1/5 th scale with a 4stk motor [ radio contolled ]
I no longer have it. I flew her down to the Sun N Fun fly in at Lakeland FL. I had two guys come up and try and buy it. I said no and they started bidding against each other. When they got to about three times what we had in her I said sold!!!!! Our intention was come back and build another one after we completed the 3 ultra light kits we had in the barn. (Ritz Standard One kits) Now that I'm older I see selling that old girl at any price was a mistake. I cherish the memory's of the hours in the shop building her from the ground up. (YOU AND DUMB)
As to the my age.
Been flying from the time I was crapping in cloth dippers.
I'm 41 now. Solo at 16,I guess that was around 1983. 11 th grade. I had around 200 hrs before I got my licence. Times have changed,I don't think you could get away with that now days. But I learned more from my grandfather than my flight instructor that's for sure. He put me in situations that the instructor would never have dreamed of. I still keep the old air strip/hay field up. on the R/C flying. We have a good crowd sometime an the weekends.
Congrats on the solo. Make sure you follow it through. I had an overwhelming sensation of "I've accomplished what I set out for" and almost quit after my solo.
Who mentioned solo cross country to Keene? My PP check ride in Manchester NH took me from my upstate NY uncontrolled airport over Albany, flight following handed to Boston Center, crossed the mountains and poof, a stiff prop! By myself, on my way to checkride, and my engine is silent.
I'm looking right down the runway of Keene NH and BC wants me to go into Jaffrey, although I can't find jaffrey in the 5 seconds that I gave that task, so Keene it is. Problem? Runways under construction with heavy equipment on the pavement. Good news? They are on break and rules dictate all equipment comes off the runway during breaks, lunch and quitting time.
I excercise the paniced student pilots rights of "I'm going where I want to go"!
Worst landing my 150 ever saw in its career, bouncing down the runway. Get out of the plane and all of a sudden I'm shaking like a cold, wet puppy.
Fixed plane, moved on to Manchester and passed my checkride with flying colors, go figure.
There is my solo story, and the Keene remark sparked my memory. Thanks for that!
My instructor taught me to anounce over unicom that I was proceeding onto the active. Our field was uncontrolled then. I also learned to monitor that freq so I could hear somone calling in 'base,' 'final' and 'short-final.' I'd never get on the active if someone had called short final or i couldnt see them on final.
Glad you made it ok. Are you going to frame your shirt-tail?
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Marlin, I still remember my first T-37 ride alone. Got to watch another T-37 come in hot and on fire. I never seen two guys get out so fast and run.? By chance did you fly at Randolph?
Wild and Crazy Solo Flight, But Successful! 
My first thought was: "This can't be real or happening. YOU DON"T DO THAT, PULL OUT IN FRONT OF AN AIRPLANE LANDING!" 
I looked over at him in front on the return taxiway, and he was looking pretty nervous as if he half expected me to jump out of my plane, drag his sorry butt out of his plane and proceed to kick it thoroughly (which did briefly cross my mind)
I turned and looked down that 1800 ft grass strip and I could swear it had shrunk to 500 ft in a second. 
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