MERRY XMAS to all
Thread Starter
MERRY XMAS to all
Dear All,
Have a very happy xmas and a very happy new year to all and safe flying and maintaining of all the toys over this festive season.
Take care
best
Chopper 2004
Have a very happy xmas and a very happy new year to all and safe flying and maintaining of all the toys over this festive season.
Take care
best
Chopper 2004
Join Date: Apr 2007
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The Night Before Christmas
'Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp,
Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.
The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care,
In hopes that come morning, they all would be there.
The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots,
With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.
I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up,
And settled down comfortably, resting my butt.
When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter,
I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter.
A voice clearly heard over static and snow,
Called for clearance to land at the airport below.
He barked his transmission so lively and quick,
I'd have sworn that the call sign he used was "St. Nick".
I ran to the panel to turn up the lights,
The better to welcome this magical flight.
He called his position, no room for denial,
"St. Nicholas One, turnin' left onto final."
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer!
With vectors to final, down the glideslope he came,
As he passed all fixes, he called them by name:
"Now Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun!
On Comet! On Cupid!" What pills was he takin'?
While controllers were sittin', and scratchin' their head,
They phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,
The message they left was both urgent and dour:
"When Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower."
He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking,
Then I heard "Left at Charlie," and "Taxi to parking."
He slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-oh
And stopped on the ramp with a "Ho, ho-ho-ho..."
He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk,
I ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks.
His red helmet and goggles were covered with frost
And his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust.
His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale,
And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn't inhale.
His cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly,
His boots were as black as a cropduster's belly.
He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red,
And he asked me to "fill it, with hundred low-lead."
He came dashing in from the snow-covered pump,
I knew he was anxious for drainin' the sump.
I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,
And I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk.
He came out of the restroom, and sighed in relief,
Then he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief.
And I thought as he silently scribed in his log,
These reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog.
He completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear,
Then he put on his headset, and I heard him yell, "Clear!"
And laying a finger on his push-to-talk,
He called up the tower for clearance and squawk.
"Take taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction,
Turn right three-two-zero at pilot's discretion"
He sped down the runway, the best of the best, "
Your traffic's a Grumman, inbound from the west."
Then I heard him proclaim, as he climbed thru the night,
"Merry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight."
Merry Xmas to all,
EN48
Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.
The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care,
In hopes that come morning, they all would be there.
The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots,
With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.
I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up,
And settled down comfortably, resting my butt.
When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter,
I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter.
A voice clearly heard over static and snow,
Called for clearance to land at the airport below.
He barked his transmission so lively and quick,
I'd have sworn that the call sign he used was "St. Nick".
I ran to the panel to turn up the lights,
The better to welcome this magical flight.
He called his position, no room for denial,
"St. Nicholas One, turnin' left onto final."
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer!
With vectors to final, down the glideslope he came,
As he passed all fixes, he called them by name:
"Now Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun!
On Comet! On Cupid!" What pills was he takin'?
While controllers were sittin', and scratchin' their head,
They phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,
The message they left was both urgent and dour:
"When Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower."
He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking,
Then I heard "Left at Charlie," and "Taxi to parking."
He slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-oh
And stopped on the ramp with a "Ho, ho-ho-ho..."
He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk,
I ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks.
His red helmet and goggles were covered with frost
And his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust.
His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale,
And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn't inhale.
His cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly,
His boots were as black as a cropduster's belly.
He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red,
And he asked me to "fill it, with hundred low-lead."
He came dashing in from the snow-covered pump,
I knew he was anxious for drainin' the sump.
I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,
And I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk.
He came out of the restroom, and sighed in relief,
Then he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief.
And I thought as he silently scribed in his log,
These reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog.
He completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear,
Then he put on his headset, and I heard him yell, "Clear!"
And laying a finger on his push-to-talk,
He called up the tower for clearance and squawk.
"Take taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction,
Turn right three-two-zero at pilot's discretion"
He sped down the runway, the best of the best, "
Your traffic's a Grumman, inbound from the west."
Then I heard him proclaim, as he climbed thru the night,
"Merry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight."
Merry Xmas to all,
EN48
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: London
Posts: 2,916
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Happy Christmas to all Rotorheads.
And if you're working over Christmas, fly safe.
Link to probably the most amazing Christmas broadcast since the angels broadcast news of Christ's birth to the shepherds -
Christmas Eve 1968
FL
And if you're working over Christmas, fly safe.
Link to probably the most amazing Christmas broadcast since the angels broadcast news of Christ's birth to the shepherds -
Christmas Eve 1968
FL
FL,
As you picked 1968 for a reference for Christmas past.....I recall my Christmas of 1968 very clearly. I was in a place of great turmoil and danger...it was Monsoon Season and the rain was pelting down. We gathered out of doors....ponchos draped over our shoulders....took a seat on top of our Steel Helmets with the camo covers....and the Padre spoke very briefly. As the rain fell, voices came together to sing the traditional hymns.
As on many battlefields before.....the refrains of "Silent Night" reminded us of the contradiction between the song and the reality of our presence in a combat zone. We as so many of those that preceeeded us....prayed for Peace and offered our praises to the Saviour for which the season is named.
Christmas 1968 remains with me till today.
Let's not forget all of our countrymen who are in Harm's Way this Christmas and also remember the family members they leave behind while serving in those far off lands.
When you enjoy that holiday meal and open those gifts.....take a moment to think of those who serve. Say a prayer for them and their families.
Merry Christmas to all.
As you picked 1968 for a reference for Christmas past.....I recall my Christmas of 1968 very clearly. I was in a place of great turmoil and danger...it was Monsoon Season and the rain was pelting down. We gathered out of doors....ponchos draped over our shoulders....took a seat on top of our Steel Helmets with the camo covers....and the Padre spoke very briefly. As the rain fell, voices came together to sing the traditional hymns.
As on many battlefields before.....the refrains of "Silent Night" reminded us of the contradiction between the song and the reality of our presence in a combat zone. We as so many of those that preceeeded us....prayed for Peace and offered our praises to the Saviour for which the season is named.
Christmas 1968 remains with me till today.
Let's not forget all of our countrymen who are in Harm's Way this Christmas and also remember the family members they leave behind while serving in those far off lands.
When you enjoy that holiday meal and open those gifts.....take a moment to think of those who serve. Say a prayer for them and their families.
Merry Christmas to all.
