After the checkride: Alone time

There’s a sense of discovery about the airplane in flight—how it performs, and the nuances of the way it handles—and a feeling of accomplishment at a successful conclusion.

There are lots of compelling reasons to fly single-seat airplanes. Aesthetically, these single-purpose airplanes tend to look better. (A Pitts S–1S, Van’s RV–3, Sukhoi 26, and Extra 330SC are just more visually appealing than their larger brethren.) Because of their lighter weight, they also tend to have superior performance. And since they’re in less demand, single-seat airplanes generally cost less—often selling for about half the price of comparable two-seaters.

If the prospect of making your first flight in a new type of airplane fills you with dread, take heart from aviation history. Military pilots who flew Mustangs, Thunderbolts, Hellcats, and Lightnings all made their first flights in those demanding airplanes by themselves since two-seaters simply didn’t exist.

The best preparation is getting some experience in airplanes that are as similar as possible to the single-seat model you aspire to fly. If you plan to fly an RV–3, get proficient in an RV–4, –6, –7, –8, or –9 because there’s such a strong family resemblance that each one has similar handling qualities. If you’re going to fly a single-seat Pitts, most insurance companies require a checkout in a two-seat Pitts. Such checkouts typically last between five and 10 hours depending on your flying background.

When pilots prepare to fly a new-to-them airplane, they tend to see them in terms of similarities and differences. Are fuel, electrical, and hydraulic systems like those they’ve become accustomed to in other airplanes? How about avionics? Emergency procedures? The more different the airplane is, the greater the pilot’s challenge.

An often overlooked but invaluable learning tool is quiet time. Sit in the single-seat airplane by yourself, uninterrupted, and go through the checklists. Touch every instrument and lever as you simulate starting, taxiing, taking off, maneuvering, emergencies, and landings. Make a list of questions and ask pilots who have flown this type of airplane before about the things they learned. Then stack the deck in your favor by making your first flight on a good-visibility day with light winds at an airport where the runway isn’t just adequate but ample.

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