High Flight, with FAA Supplement

[airtwardo 7]

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth(1),
And danced(2) the skies on laughter silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed(3) and joined the tumbling mirth(4)
Of sun-split clouds(5) and done a hundred things(6)
You have not dreamed of — Wheeled and soared and swung(7)
High in the sunlit silence(8). Hov'ring there(9)
I've chased the shouting wind(10) along and flung(11)
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious(12), burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights(13) with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle(14) flew;
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space(15),
Put out my hand(16), and touched the face of God.

NOTE:

1. Pilots must insure that all surly bonds have been slipped entirely before aircraft taxi or flight is attempted.
2. During periods of severe sky dancing, crew and passengers must keep seatbelts fastened. Crew should wear shoulderbelts as provided.
3. Sunward climbs must not exceed the maximum permitted aircraft ceiling.
4. Passenger aircraft are prohibited from joining the tumbling mirth.
5. Pilots flying through sun-split clouds under VFR conditions must comply with all applicable minimum clearances.
6. Do not perform these hundred things in front of Federal Aviation Administration inspectors.
7. Wheeling, soaring, and swinging will not be attempted except in aircraft rated for such activities and within utility class weight limits.
8. Be advised that sunlit silence will occur only when a major engine malfunction has occurred.
9. "Hov'ring there" will constitute a highly reliable signal that a flight emergency is imminent.
10. Forecasts of shouting winds are available from the local FSS. Encounters with unexpected shouting winds should be reported by pilots.
11. Pilots flinging eager craft through footless halls of air are reminded that they alone are responsible for maintaining separation from other eager craft.
12. Should any crewmember or passenger experience delirium while in the burning blue, submit an irregularity report upon flight termination.
13. Windswept heights will be topped by a minimum of 1,000 feet to maintain VFR minimum separations.
14. Aircraft engine ingestion of, or impact with, larks or eagles should be reported to the FAA and the appropriate aircraft maintenance facility.
15. Aircraft operating in the high untresspassed sanctity of space must remain in IFR flight regardless of meteorological conditions and visibility.
16. Pilots and passengers are reminded that opening doors or windows in order to touch the face of God may result in loss of cabin pressure.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[gary350 0]

LOW FLIGHT

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And hovered out of ground effect on semi-rigid blades;
Earthward I've auto'ed,
and met the rising brush
Of non-paved terrain - and done a thousand things
You would never care to -
skidded and drooped and flared
Low in the heat-soaked roar.
Confined there,
I've chased the earthbound traffic, and lost
The race to insignificant headwinds.
Forward, and a little up, in ground effect
I've topped the General's hedge with drooping turns
Where never Skyhawk, or even Phantom flew.
And, shaking and pulling collective, I've lumbered
The low trespassed halls of Victor Airways,
Put out my hand, and touched a tree.

[gary350 0]

Oh! I've slipped through the swirling clouds of dust, a few feet from the dirt.
I've flown the Phantom low enough to make my bottom hurt.
I've TFO'd the deserts, hills, valleys, and mountains too,
Frolicked in the trees, where only flying squirrels flew.
Chased the frightened cows along, disturbed the ram and ewe,
And done a hundred other things that you'd not care to do.
I've smacked the tiny sparrow, bluebird, robin, all the rest,
I've ingested baby eaglets, simply sucked them from their nest!

I've streaked through total darkness, just the other guy and me,
And spent the night in terror of things I could not see.
I've turned my eyes to heaven, as I sweated through the flight,
Put out my hand, and touched the master caution light.

[airtwardo 7]

Ahhhh..


If you'll check...

I posted those in the 'low pass' thread in the History
section...

IVAN!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[freeflir29 0]

Quote

Put out my hand, and touched a tree.

OK.....I LOL'd at that one.

Quote

Chased the frightened cows along, disturbed the ram and ewe

Can I get a little peace and quiet here?

[Lee03 0]

High Flight is one of my favorite poems. It says so much about the reason that I became a pilot, learned to fly, and why I fly. As a child, I first heard it as the TV station signed off for the evening. It was played right before the National Anthem. I knew, at that time that I would one day become a pilot. It is a beautiful poem. The author of "High Flight" is John G. Mcgee Jr. About him:

Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr. RCAF, Sept 3, 1941 (1922-1941). An American Citizen born in Shanghzi of missionary parents and educated at Britian's famed Rugby School, John Mcgee jr entered the United States in 1939. He had won a schlorship to Yale University, but felt he must aid the cause of freedom, and so instead enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in September 1940. He went to England to fly Spitfires. It was during a test flight at 30,000 ft that he was inspired to write "High Flight." He was killed during a dogfight on December 11, 1941, at the age of 19.

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To put your life in danger from time to time ... breeds a saneness in dealing with day-to-day trivialities.

--Nevil Shute, Slide Rule