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.
– Plt Off. John
Gillespie Magee, Jr.
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 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 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.
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.