hihosland Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 "High Flight" Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God. John Gillespie Magee, Jr. High Flight was composed by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr., an American serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was born in Shanghai, China in 1922, the son of missionary parents, Reverend and Mrs. John Gillespie Magee; his father was an American and his mother was originally a British citizen. He came to the U.S. in 1939 and earned a scholarship to Yale, but in September 1940 he enlisted in the RCAF and was graduated as a pilot. He was sent to England for combat duty in July 1941. In August or September 1941, Pilot Officer Magee composed High Flight and sent a copy to his parents. Several months later, on December 11, 1941 his Spitfire collided with another plane over England and Magee, only 19 years of age, crashed to his death. His remains are buried in the churchyard cemetery at Scopwick, Lincolnshire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hihosland Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 Can the magic of flight ever be carried by words? I think not. — Michael Parfit, 'Smithsonian' magazine, May 2000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest watto Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Can the magic of flight ever be carried by words? I think not.— Michael Parfit, 'Smithsonian' magazine, May 2000 Because it means so many different things each one of us, but I am sure that once we all depart the bonds of mother earth we share a common sense of freedom. A very graceful poem though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hihosland Posted September 29, 2009 Author Share Posted September 29, 2009 The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be? -- it is the same the angels breathe. — Mark Twain, ‘Roughing It,’ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hihosland Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 The natural function of the wing is to soar upwards and carry that which is heavy up to the place where dwells the race of gods. More than any other thing that pertains to the body it partakes of the nature of the divine. * * * * * — Plato, 'Phaedrus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkSarcasm Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 "I have often said that the lure of flying is the lure of beauty. That the reason flyers fly, whether they know it or not, is the aesthetic appeal of flying." - Amelia Earhart. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - Leonardo da Vinci "We who fly do so for the love of flying. We are alive in the air with this miracle that lies in our hands and beneath our feet." - Cecil Day Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 These are great - Why aren't you guys putting them in the "Quotes" section? :big_grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hihosland Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hihosland Posted October 2, 2009 Author Share Posted October 2, 2009 ‘Yer know mate, can’t be much to this flying business, if a woman can do it.’ Comment by bushy when Lores Bonney landed at outback station seeking fuel in 1932 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hihosland Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 Truly superior pilots are those who use their superior judgment to avoid those situations where they might have to use their superior skills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hihosland Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 Man must rise above the Earth -- to the top of the atmosphere and beyond -- for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives. — Socrates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkSarcasm Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 I've never known an industry that can get into people's blood the way aviation does. — Robert Six, founder of Continental Airlines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hihosland Posted October 5, 2009 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 Rule one: No matter what else happens, fly the airplane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkSarcasm Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Aviation is not so much a profession as it is a disease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ozzie Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 "No s@@t, there i was with nothing on the dials but the makers name!" "hey, hold my beer, i want to try something." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkSarcasm Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 The three most common expressions in aviation are, "Why is it doing that?", "Where are we?" and "Oh Sh*t". At 9.3 hours I've said two of them....most often the third one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hihosland Posted October 6, 2009 Author Share Posted October 6, 2009 The most beautiful dream that has haunted the heart of man since Icarus is today reality. — Louis Bleriot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hihosland Posted October 7, 2009 Author Share Posted October 7, 2009 Fly it until the last piece stops moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkSarcasm Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Some pilots will make an emergency out of a bad magneto check. Others, upon losing a wing, will ask for a lower altitude Darky wants to be the second type Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Maj Millard Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 "Flying is the best way to fly !?!#%".................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ozzie Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Does your woman sleep in peace at night and never stir in startled fright from nightmare dreams of your demise the pain of terror in her eyes. A.Keech Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Flying. " Flying makes my arms tired". A. Bird..... N. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKW Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Crikey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Maj Millard Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Ozzie, That's deep stuff from Andy ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ozzie Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 yeah it's from" Skies Call" he not only took some brilliant photos but is pretty good with the pen as well. looking forward to finally meeting him next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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