h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Now going solo is quite a big deal. If it was my first time it would be a very big deal. Out gets your flying instructor, who has been babysitting you for the last 20 odd hours in the air, and suddenly you're all alone taking off towards the cloudy, in my case stormy sky. And when you've made it round the circuit and landed safely for the first time all by yourself you feel you've conquered the world.

There'll be hours and hours of flying to come when the reality of how much there is to learn will dawn, but for now (even though I did it first 30 years back) I feel as free as a baby bird that has just flown the nest.