The poem that has accompanied me since day one

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 windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941

Back in the saddle

It seems like the past few weeks have been the longest of my life.  My aviator friends failed to warn me how addictive flying is. Well I am glad to count myself as a member of the addicts in this case.  Yesterday was my first flight after the summer break and I got to enjoy the company of a new instructor while working out the rust. Actually I was pretty happy with my flight, I guess once it is in your blood, it is like riding a bike.  This phase of training will probably be very intense as all the new challenges of cross-country flight planning are added to flying the machine. My first stage check (stage 2) will be in just a couple of weeks followed by a solo cross-country flight.  Stage 3 will be close behind were we fly with the chief pilot and pretend we are with the FAA examiner.  The FAA check ride for private pilot will be towards the end of the short semester - once passed I will be a certificated pilot!  The thought makes me smile!