[knittnmom]

This seems appropriate:

High Flight

John Gillespie Magee, Jr
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.

[Let's Roll]

Very appropriate - always loved that piece.

[sodpoodle]

highflight to ExTexasRedhead; Kathy in Alaska; SkyPilot; ConorMacNessa; vette6387; mazda77; oswegodeee; ...

Just found your post and the beautiful poem which had inspired my first FR account name. I stopped using it in deference to those it honors.

Kindest regards.

(sodpoodle)

[central_va]

High Flight, (with FAA Supplement)

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth¹, And danced² the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed³ and joined the tumbling mirth⁴ Of sun-split clouds⁵, — and done a hundred things⁶ You have not dreamed of — Wheeled and soared and swung⁷ High in the sunlit silence⁸. Hov'ring there⁹, I've chased the shouting wind¹⁰ along, and flung¹¹ My eager craft through footless halls of air...

Up, up the long, delirious¹² burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights¹³ with easy grace, Where never lark, or ever eagle¹⁴ flew — And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space¹⁵; Put out my hand¹⁶, and touched the face of God.

NOTES:

1. Pilots must ensure 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 be encountered 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.

[LouieFisk]

I remember when TV stations would sign off for the night with “High Flight” (followed by the anthem).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoL-KCFbIpA

[Jane Long]

Very nice!!

RIP John Glenn.

[EinNYC]

Great poem! Perfectly describes man finally achieving what birds have long done.

[mc5cents]

Thank you for that. It reminded me of this.

Ronald Reagan Address on the Challenger disaster.

[proud American in Canada]

“High Flight

John Gillespie Magee, Jr
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.”

_____________________________________________________

Beautiful poem. Our beloved past President Reagan quoted it.