Aviation Christmas

[george kennie]

Thanks, I sure did!

"Thomas C. Weedon" wrote:

> Just got this from a friend. Thought the rest of you would enjoy it!
> Tom W.
>
> ===============================================
> The Night Before Christmas - Aviation Style
> ===============================================
>
>  '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 CHRISTMAS TO ALL
>
> =====================================
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