At 08:37 PM 8/22/2006, you wrote:
>WOW........God could not make the scenery more beautiful for a KR
>sunset flight. I just watched the huge red ball in the sky melt
>below the horizon and logged .4 hours of day VFR and .6 hours of
>night VFR. Can it possibly get any better?
> Mark Jones (N886MJ)
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Mark,
You might want to check the reg's. I don't think "official" night
flight begins at
sunset but some period after, 30 minutes or so. It's been so long since I've
read the reg that I don't remember. I'm sure that alone won't
diminish the joy of
the flight you experienced. I've had similar flights the last two
evenings but
landed with the sun just on the horizon or having just set. Makes me want
to open the canopy and yell YEEEEE HAAAAAA to all the poor folks on
the ground. :-) High speed passes in the calm evening air takes all the
pain out of sanding or at least causes you to block it out.
Speaking of the beauty of night flight, I'll attach (include) a copy of a poem
I wrote after a particularly beautiful night flight several years ago in the
Tripacer. It is titled "Night Flight". I think I may have used it at one of
the Gathering banquet programs.
Larry Flesner
NIGHT FLIGHT
On a cool winter evening the sun pauses on the horizon,
its duties of the day are done.
It will soon disappear and the world will be hidden in the black of night.
The creatures of the day will have their rest and slumber.
My man-made wings lift me into a disappearing sky
as darkness swallows up the earth below.
A world of lights appear, illuminating paths for those
unwilling to surrender to the powers of the night.
I see trails that tiny creatures use to travel from place to place,
ant-like in their lighted chariots.
Trails that weave like ribbons dropped carelessly from a package to
the floor below.
I sense the presence of Gods, unseen, finding humor in their efforts.
A tiny symbol moves slowly across the screen of the
small magic box placed conveniently at my finger tips.
It records my journey through the darkness, to the destination
of my choosing, giving me direction across the featureless landscape.
Lights, everywhere there are lights, confusing my senses.
I feel as though I'm floating through the Milky Way.
The constant motion of the tiny symbol is my only
evidence of reality.
The greatest beauties in life are too often enjoyed in solitude.
My wish, to capture this moment and share it with
the world, denied.
I can only later speak, as a prophet with a vision, telling others
of the beauty that I saw.
The magic box, unhindered by the darkness, counts down the time
I have remaining in this bird-like state.
I guide my magic carpet on a slow decent through the darkness,
merging time and place into a known reality.
Then, once again, I'm bound in the microscopic world
of fences and stop signs and
I can only wonder if other earth bound souls were with me,
in their own solitude, enjoying the beauty of the night.
copyrite 2/14/2002 Larry Flesner
