The old ones are the best.(Sorry,could not resist it!)

[Ginger.]

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 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 touched the face of God.

[Richard_Schrader]

Ginger;
That's Okay, it's always a good one!
Richard

[mike_baram]

It was written by John Gillespie Magee,Jr. Reagan rekindled an interest in it when he mentioned it in his tribute to the crew of the "Challenger".

Ginger: Dead right, and for the right reasons!

Sadly enough, within a year of writing 'High Flight', P/O Magee was killed in a mid-air collision with his close friend and Squadronmate during a training flight. His mate survived; his poem endures for all time.

Yours aye,
Bill Suggs

Yes, "High Flight" is really the magical - difficult to describe the feel of flying any better.

Actually, the author, John Gillespie Maggee, an American (with an English mother), born June 9, 1922 in Shanghai/China, was killed in a freak flying accident only weeks after writing "High Flight". On December 11, 1941, flying Spitfire VB AD 291 of No 412 Sq, RCAF, he collided with an Airspeed Oxford flown by LAC Ernest A. Griffin, when breaking through low cloud cover. BOTH pilots were actually killed in the ensueing crash - what a waste...

Volker

[Michael]

Agree with all that's been said, but can't resist passing this on:

O I have slipped the surly bonds of earth(1)
And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings(2)
Sunward I've climbed(3) and joined the tumbling mirth(4)
Of sunsplit 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 along(10)
and flung my craft through footless halls of air(11)
Up, up the long delerious burning blue(12)
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace(13)
Where never lark or even eagle flew(14)
And while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space(15)
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God(16)


HIGH FLIGHT
As annotated by the Federal Aviation Administration

1. Flight crews must ensure that all surly bonds have been entirely slipped
before aircraft taxi is attempted.

2. During periods of severe sky dancing, the 'Fasten Seat Belt' sign must
remain illuminated.

3. Sunward climbs must not exceed maximum permitted aircraft ceiling.

4. Passenger aircraft are prohibited from joining tumbling mirth.

5. Pilots flying through sun-split clouds must comply with all applicable
visual flight rules.

6. Said hundred things must be listed on FAA flight plan and approved prior
to execution.

7. Wheeling, soaring and swinging must not be executed simultaneously.

8. Sunlit silence is permitted only during major engine failure.

9. "Hov'ring" shall constitute a bona-fide in-flight emergency.

10. Encounters with shouting winds must be reported by pilots.

11. Craft flinging by pilots is inconsiderate and should be reported to
authorities.

12. Any crew member suffering delerium while in burning blue must complete
irregularity report.

13. Windswept heights must be topped by a minimum of 1,000 feet.

14. Engine ingestion of larks or eagles must be reported immediately.

15. Treading of any high untrespassed sanctity of space must have air
traffic control clearance.

16. To preserve safe aircraft cabin pressure, opening of doors or windows
while aloft to touch God's face is strictly prohibited.