Short Final

Editorial Staff

Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An anecdote from 1970 helicopter primary flight training at Fort Wolters, TX.
A student pilot, Osage 1234, attempted to enter the traffic pattern from the wrong direction.
When corrected by the tower, the student humorously responded, "Thats OK tower, I solo," implying a misunderstanding of air traffic rules despite solo flight status.

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During helicopter primary flight training at Fort Wolters, TX in 1970 a long, loose line of TH-55 helicopters, some with solo students, some with instructors, were returning from afternoon training.

Student: (In broken Vietnamese) Wolthers Tower,Osage 1234 entering extended down wind for landing.

Wolthers Tower: Osage 1234, negative entry, you are entering traffic from wrong direction.

Student : Thats OK tower, I solo.

Bob Page