Over the Hedge by T Lewis and Michael Fry for April 30, 2013

Almost been there, done that. Got to watch four Eagles Refuel from the boom position on a KC-135. That seen the Snowfall inside a C-141 Starlifter from being so high up.

High Flight

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earthAnd danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds — and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flungMy eager craft through footless halls of air.Up, up the long, delirious, burning blueI’ve topped the windswept heights with easy graceWhere never lark, or even eagle flew,And while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trodThe high untrespassed sanctity of space,Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Saw a show called “Steambath” on PBS ages ago in which God was a Puerto Rican steambath attendant. Can’t remember who played the part now.

God is going to sound like HAL. “Good morning Dave.”

And of course, I totally read that last panel in William Daniel’s voice.

I thought that God always sounded like Morgan Freeman.

I had a relative back when I was 17 who was a pilot in the Marines. He flew the F4 Phantom. He was assigned to the Marine Joint Chief of Staff at the Pentagon. He still flew to keep up his hours.I got invited to go on a RIDE.I met him and we went to the pilot suit up room. He found gear that would fit. When we walked across the tarmac he told me to salute who ever saluted you. That gear is heavier than you think.We got to the fighter. The smells still linger in my thoughts. The kerosene odor, the oils, smell of the aluminum. Climbed up to the rear seat and carefully got in with the help of his ground chief. He smiled saying I know who you are. You are going to enjoy this. Oh by the way you have not ate anything? I said yes as I was informed not to eat before the flight. He pointed out the things to touch. The things not to touch. And the thing to make me leave the aircraft in a big hurry.He said the pilot will go “Eject, Eject, Eject”. The last two will be echoes so if he says go you go.The fire up was really amazing. The sound was a lot less than I expected but there was a power back there just waiting to be unleashed. My uncle rolled the plane to the end of the runway and stopped. He called on the radio to tower for an HATO. (High Angle Take Off). The control went Wait One.Tower Now Clear to 40 angels. (40,000 feet).He pushed the throttle forward and held the brakes. I though it was going to flip the plane. He let the brakes go and on we went. I was pinned to the seat and vertical he went. Literally straight up slow rolling as he went. About 2 seconds into it he turned in the seat looking back at me pinned to the seat barely able to move and said “Like that!!!!! Now watch this”At about 40,000 feet he rolled the aircraft over upside down and head back down leveling off at 15,000. That was a feeling to be described. We flew for about an hour out over the Naval Gunnery Range just off the east coast. He buzzed old relics at Mach II just to show the effects of sonic booms on things. He said that what they would do in Haiphong Harbor in Viet Nam to tear up the wooden boats they used. Save bombs and rockets.I never got to fly that way again. But when I hear the Song by Pink Floyd: Learning to Fly.I still tear up.God said nothing. I think he/she was teared up too.

Jose Perez