High Flight.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth (1),
And danced the skies (2) 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 sun-lit silence (8). Hovering there (9)
I've chased the shouting wind (10) along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air (11),
Up, up the long, delirious (12), burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights (13) with easy grace,
Where never lark, nor 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.
John Gillespie Magee.
Notes:
1. Pilots must ensure that all surly bonds have been slipped entirely before attempting flight. Ref: ANO, article 35, Pre-flight actions by commander of aircraft refers.
2. During sky dancing, crew and passengers must keep seat belts fastened. Crew should wear shoulder belts if provided, or a full safety harness if the aircraft weight exceeds 2730kg.
3. Sunward climbs must not exceed the absolute ceiling as stated in the aircraft flight manual.
4. Under JAR's, aircraft with more than two seats are prohibited from joining the tumbling mirth.
5. Pilots flying through sun-split clouds under VFR must comply with the applicable VMC minima.
6. Do not perform these hundred things in front of Civil Aviation Authority staff.
7. Wheeling, soaring and swinging must not be attempted except in accordance with the Pilots Operating Handbook or Flight Manual (as appropriate) and within the utility category weight and balance limits.
8. Sunlit silence will signify that a major engine malfunction has occurred
9. "Hovering there" may constitute a highly reliable symptom of an imminent stall.
10. Forecasts of shouting winds are available in SIGMET messages. Unexpected encounters with shouting winds should be reported in accordance with the Rules of the Air rule 4.
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 crew member of passenger experience delirium while in the burning blue, suspect hypoxia and descend as soon as possible.
13.Windswept heights must be topped by a minimum of 1,000 feet if flying in accordance with VFR.
14. Airframe impact with, or engine ingestion or larks or eagles should be reported using form CA1282 (see AIC Pink 75, 20/1993).
15. Aircraft operating in the high untresspassed sanctity of space must carry a transponder.
16. Pilots and passengers are reminded that opening doors and windows in order to touch the face of God may result in a loss of cabin pressure.
Last updated: 16 February, 2003 20:03