Regardless of the speculation of the cause of this terrible event, i find myself trying to find ways of dealing with my own emotions, especialy thinking of the heartbroken people that knew this brave young fellow well.
As most of us have, and some of us still are, we put our lives on hold to venture north, to follow our hearts and learn our craft as professional aviators. From all over Aus and NZ we come, united in a common goal... to live the dream.
It is a hard road, away from our families and friends, but none the less we have never been happier than when we are sitting in the drivers chair, two throttles in the palm of our right hand. The way others perceive us has always made me laugh - we must be doing well by the look of the shiny wings and bars on the uniform (if only they took a little walk with us to the carpark!) Perhaps it is the sparkle in the eye that fools them.
I could not begin to imagine how this has affected his Mum and Dad... Perhaps he has a girlfriend. I know mine worries about me every time i kiss her goodbye as I go off to work in the dark each morning.
Either way, we aviators will continue on, as that is the only way we know how. We are used to the hard knocks, and carry the scars - physical and emotional, of every lesson we have learned, and carry the dreams of our fallen comrades strong in our hearts.
Over the years, I have found the following to help me through at times like these. Though I don't know this fellow, my prayer is for those that do:
Flyer's Prayer
When this life I'm in is done,
And at the gates I stand,
My hope is that I answer all
His questions on command.
I doubt He'll ask me of my fame,
Or all the things I knew, Instead,
He'll ask of rainbows sent
On rainy days I flew.
The hours logged, the status reached,
The ratings will not matter.
He'll ask me if I saw the rays
And how He made them scatter.
Or what about the droplets clear,
I spread across your screen?
And did you see the twinkling eyes.
If student pilots keen?
The way your heart jumped in your chest,
That special solo day-
Did you take time to thank the one
Who fell along the way?
Remember how the runway lights
Looked one night long ago
When you were lost and found your way,
And how-you still dont know?
How fast, how far, how much, how high?
He'll ask me not these things
But did I take the time to watch
The Moonbeams wash my wings?
And did you see the patchwork fields
And moutains I did mould;
The mirrored lakes and velvet hills,
Of these did I behold?
The wind he flung along my wings,
On final almost stalled.
And did I know I it was His name,
That I so fearfully called?
And when the goals are reached at last,
When all the flyings done,
I'll answer Him with no regret-
Indeed, I had some fun.
So when these things are asked of me,
And I can reach no higher,
My prayer this day - His hand extends
To welcome home a Flyer.
Blue skies and tailwinds forever, friend. May you rest in peace.
