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The poem High Flight was written by a young fighter pilot during World War II. Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr., was an American citizen who was born of missionary parents in Shanghai and educated in Britain's famed Rugby School. He went to the United Stated in 1939, and at the age of 18, won a scholarship to Yale. Like other Americans of the time who wished to aid in the cause of freedom, he decided to enlist in the services of a nation actively engaged in war. Magee enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in September 1940. He served overseas with an RCAF Spitfire Squadron until his death on active service in December, 1941. His poem, composed in September 1941, was scribbled on the back of a letter which he mailed to his mother in Washington. Pilot Officer Magee was killed a few months later when his Spitfire plane collided with a bomber-pilot trainer on approach to the airport over Lincolnshire, England. He was 19 years old. -----Original Message----- From: Ercoupe Hangar Flying [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 3:00 AM To: Ercoupe Hangar Flying Subject: Digest list: Ercoupe Hangar Flying ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Message list: 1. [COUPERS-FLYIN] HIGH FLIGHT (with footnotes) 2. Re: [COUPERS-FLYIN] HIGH FLIGHT (with footnotes) Messages: From: DONALD BOWEN <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: FLYIN <[email protected]> Reply-To: DONALD BOWEN <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [COUPERS-FLYIN] HIGH FLIGHT (with footnotes) I hope this isn't too long, but the footnotes (author unknown) to our beloved poem are pertinent to our own flights. Don HIGH FLIGHT (with footnotes) 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 shoulder-belts as provided. 3. Su! nward 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 Squadron Standards. 7. Wheeling, soaring, and swinging will not be attempted except in aircraft rated for such activities and within 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, unless operating a CH124, 139, 146 or 149. 10 Forecasts of shouting winds are available from the local flight briefing unit. 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 whil e in the burning blue, report to your SAMEO upon flight termination. 13. Windswept heights will be topped by a minimum of 1,000 feet (1,500 or 2,000 as appropriate in Designated Mountainous Areas) to maintain minimum obstacle clearance. 14. Aircraft engine ingestion of, or impact with, larks or eagles should be reported to Wing Flight Safety, 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. ---------------------------- From: Sydney Cohen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Reply-To: Sydney Cohen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [COUPERS-FLYIN] HIGH FLIGHT (with footnotes) Good one, Don. The flight instructors at our FBO will get a kick out of it. Syd DONALD BOWEN wrote: >----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- > > > > > I hope this isn't too long, but the footnotes (author unknown) to our > beloved poem are pertinent to our own flights. Don > > > HIGH FLIGHT (with footnotes) > > > 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 shoulder-belts 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 Squadron Standards. > > 7. Wheeling, soaring, and swinging will not be attempted except in > aircraft > rated for such activities and within 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, unless operating a CH124, 139, 146 or 149. > > 10 Forecasts of shouting winds are available from the local flight > briefing > unit. 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, report to your SAMEO upon flight termination. > > 13. Windswept heights will be topped by a minimum of 1,000 feet (1,500 or > 2,000 as appropriate in Designated Mountainous Areas) to maintain minimum > obstacle clearance. > > 14. Aircraft engine ingestion of, or impact with, larks or eagles > should be > reported to Wing Flight Safety, 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. > > > > > > > >====================================================================== ======== >To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm > > ---------------------------- ======================================================================= ======= To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm ============================================================================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
