Inspiration
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 untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
- Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee, No 412 squadron, RCAF
RCAF March Past
Through adversities we'll conquer
Blaze into the stars,
A trail of glory
We'll live on land and sea
'till victory is won.
Men in blue the skies are winging,
In each heart one thought is ringing.
Fight for the right,
God is our might,
We shall be free.
The R.C.A.F. March Past has been adopted as the official March for the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.
R.C.A.F. March Past is identical to the RAF March Past.
An Airman's Grace
Lord of thunderhead and sky
Who place in man the will to fly
Who taught his hand speed, skill and grace
To soar beyond man's dwelling place
You shared with him the Eagle's view
The right to soar, as Eagles do
The right to call the clouds his home
And grateful, through your heavens roam
May all assembled here tonight
And all who love the thrill of flight
Recall with twofold gratitude
Your gift of Wings, Your gift of Food.
[Amen]
- Father John MacGillivary, Royal Canadian Air Force
Quotable Quotes
Over one hundred years ago two brothers announced they could fly ... turns out they were Wright ...
“Man must rise above the Earth - to the top of the atmosphere and beyond - for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives.” - Socrates
"A hero is someone who in spite of weakness, doubt or not always knowing the answers goes ahead and overcomes anyway" - Christopher Reeve.
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - unknown.
"The truly superior pilot uses his or her superior judgement to avoid situations which require superior skills to resolve." - unknown
"I ran out of altitude, airspeed and ideas all at the same time." - When asked why he ejected. Attributed to Tony Lavier, Chuck Yeager, and just about every other well-known test pilot.
"When a flight is proceeding incredibly well, something was forgotten." - Robert Livingston, "Flying The Aeronca"
"You've never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3." - Paul F. Crickmore
"Just remember, if you crash because of weather, your funeral will be held on a sunny day." - Layton A. Bennett, "Never fly the 'A' model of anything"
"A pilot who doesn't have any fear probably isn't flying his plane to its maximum." - Jon McBride, astronaut
"If you're faced with a forced landing, fly the thing as far into the crash as possible." - Bob Hoover
"If an airplane is still in one piece, don't cheat on it; ride the bastard down." - Ernest K. Gann
"Never fly in the same cockpit with someone braver than you." - Richard Herman, Jr., "Firebreak"
"Once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." - Leonardo da Vinci, 1500
Basic Flying
Try to stay in the middle of the air.
Do not go near the edges of it.
The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there.
Everyone knows a 'good' landing is one from which you can walk away. But a 'great landing’ is one after which you can use the airplane again.
Takeoff's are optional. Landings are mandatory.
Flying is not dangerous; crashing is dangerous.
Gravity never loses! The best you can hope for is a draw!
A Landing is just controlled mid-air collision with a planet.
There are three simple rules for making a smooth landing: Unfortunately, no one knows what they are .
Try to keep the number of your landings equal to the number of your takeoffs.
No one has ever collided with the sky.
Always remember you fly an airplane with your head, not your hands.
Flying is the second greatest thrill known to man.... Landing is the first!
Fly it until the last piece stops moving.
Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
Charley Fox Sculpture
A sculpture, in memory of decorated Second World War fighter ace Charley Fox, credited with strafing and injuring German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel in his staff car in 1944, now stands at the London, Ontario, traffic roundabout named in his honour.
The sculpture, 10.7m (35 feet) high and made of stainless steel and crushed glass fused with acrylic, depicts three stylized Spitfire fighter planes soaring upward, trailed by flames. It's attached to an aluminum pole that allows it to turn in the wind.
The sculpture at Hale and Trafalgar streets was created by London artists Jaroslav (Jerry) Vrabec and Daniel Castillo.
Leadership
Remember…
If you slow down, they stop.
If you weaken, they give in.
If you sit, they lie down.
If you doubt, they lose hope.
If you criticize, they destroy.
But…
If you walk ahead,
they will pass beyond.
If you offer them your hand,
they will give you their life!
Remember…