Here is a picture of me after my very first lesson, on July 9, 1997
(the plane is N5550L):
I first flew solo on September 5, 1997, in N747ZP. Here I am right after
that session:
Below is me right after getting my private pilot's license, on December
20, 1997 in N4781B. Click here for some
thoughts on this milestone:
After getting my private pilot's license I started training for my instrument
rating. I switched to Cessna 172's and then (after I decided the radios
in the 172's were hopeless) to Piper Warriors. While Kathy was still my
primary instructor, I also flew regularly with Liz Daffin. My experience
with the instrument practical test is detailed
here,
and here is a picture of me right after passing (the plane is N8171V):
On October 24, 1998 I first flew in instrument conditions (in the clouds)
without an instructor, in N8312H. Taking pictures with nothing to see isn't
very interesting, but I did take this one (there are many more pictures
of the trip to San Diego and Palm Springs - see the link from here):