High Flight 2016

2008 SR22TN-G3, 194 knots TAS, 75% power, FL 20,000 feet, photo credit wikiWings
2008 SR22TN-G3, 194 knots TAS, 75% power, FL 20,000 feet, photo credit wikiWings

Pilots have a different perspective. Flying above everything on the ground and at times soaring into the flight levels.  This year our Cirrus SR22 Turbo high flight was 20,000 feet on a short cross-country (less than 3 hours).  I’ll sign-off the year with another posting of “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.
Hovering 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 wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew;

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and [sought] the face of God.”

I trust your flying this year was memorable and hope all your dreams of flight become reality in The New Year. Merry Christmas and Shalom.

In memory of the author: John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
an American aviator with RCAF and son of Christian Missionaries

2016 Isa 58:14; 2015 PS 19:1; 2014 Ex 33:18-23; 2 Chr 7:14

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