Into the wake of Hinkler, Lindbergh et al/. ( Neither of whom, by the way, ever said or probably thought 'God speed'.) May some guardian angel though, be on your wing. May 'The Luck of the Draw' be yours in abundance too.
Just as David Attenborough, on the doco of his life, 'Living on Air', said, he chooses to never respond to correspondence from creationists who want to engage him in religious debate. In other words, he distances himself by never mentioning God, or any god or gods.
Bear in mind the well known injunction posted in the ward rooms of Royal Navy warships . . . .. .. "Abstain herein from three contentious subjects - religion, politics and sex."
Unless Ryan happens to subscribe to a particular denominational creed, it may be just a bit presumptuous to ask him or expect him to -
take in the beauty of gods hands along the way
p.s. Other more latter day forerunners to Ryan come to mind too, who have tackled the big one, all all alone. Gabby Kennard. Jon Johannsen. Clive Canning . "The Electronic Appendage". And Bill from Boonah, shoe-horned into his V-tail Bonanza, (VH-TYE)
Bill's survival gear was one of his paramount concerns -
OurSafaris
p.p.s. Just remembered a little detail of CAL's departure from New York in -27. A woman thrust a paper bag into his hands as he sat in his cockpit about to start. It contained two sandwiches and one Saint Christopher. So there you go.
And just remembered the young boy going to his first fight at the Sydney Stadium with his fight-game loving dad.
As one of the boxers is warming up , the lad asks -
"Dad, why is he rubbing his feet in that white stuff?"
"So his shoes won't slip on the canvas son"
"Dad, what's that he's putting in his mouth?"
"It's a mouth guard son. So his teeth won't get broken."
"Dad, why is he crossing himself like that?"
'Well son, he's praying to the Lord that he will win the fight.
But you know what? If he can't box it counts for nothing."