[simpits-tech] High Flight for F-15E aircrews...

[Gene Buckle]

HIGH FLIGHT
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds (1) of Earth

and danced the skies (2) on laughter-silvered wings;


sunward I've climbed (3), and joined the tumbling mirth (4)

of sun-split clouds (5) - and done a hundred things

you have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung (6)

high in the sunlit silence (7).  Hov'ring there

I've chased the shouting wind along (8), and flung

my eager craft through the footless halls of air (9).


Up, up the long delirious burning blue (10)

I've topped the windswept heights (11) with easy grace

where never lark, or even eagle flew (12).


And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

the high untrespassed sanctity of space,

put out my hand (13), and touched the face of God.


NOTAM

SUBJECT: F-15E HIGH FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS

TO: ALL USAF F-15E AIRCREW MEMBERS


1.  SURLY BOND SLIPPING IS TO BE PERFORMED BY MISSION READY CREWS ONLY.
THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE UPGRADING PILOTS FROM CRABBING ON FINAL.

2.  DANCING THE SKIES ON THE WING WILL ONLY BE PERFORMED WITH AN
INSTRUCTOR PILOT IN THE AIRCRAFT.  LAUGHTER WILL BE KEPT TO AN ABSOLUTE
MINIMUM.

3.  AIRCRAFT CLEARED SUNWARD WILL CLIMB WITHIN THE HORIZONTAL LIMITS OF
THEIR ASSIGNED AIRSPACE.

4.  WHEN JOINING THE TUMBLING MIRTH, APPLY THE STANDARD REJOIN TECHNIQUE
WITH NUMBER TWO JOINING ON THE LEFT.

5.  F-15E AIRCRAFT MAY DISREGARD THE USE OF POSITION LIGHTS WHEN ENTERING
CLOUDS FORECAST TO BE SUNSPLIT.

6.  WHEN WHEELING AND SWINGING ARE COMBINED IN ONE MANEUVER, F-15E
AIRCRAFT ARE LIMITED TO 30 UNITS ANGLE-OF-ATTACK.

7.  "HIGH IN THE SUNLIT SILENCE" IS DEFINED AS THAT AIRSPACE ABOVE FL250
FROM ONE HOUR BEFORE OFFICIAL SUNRISE TO ONE HOUR AFTER OFFICIAL SUNSET.

8.  CHASING THE SHOUTING WINDS ALONG IS RESTRICTED TO SINGLE-SHIP FLIGHTS
WITH PRIOR SQUADRON COMMANDER APPROVAL.

9.  AIRCRAFT ON AN EXCEPTIONAL RELEASE FOLLOWING FLIGHT CONTROL
MAINTENANCE WILL BE FLUNG SUBSONIC ONLY.

10.  SHOULD EITHER AIRCREW MEMBER EXPERIENCE DELIRIUM WHILE IN THE BURNING
BLUE, REFER TO T.O. 1F-15E-1CL, OXYGEN SYSTEM  EMERGENCY OPERATION.

11.  AT HIGH GROSS WEIGHTS, AFTERBURNER USE MAY BE REQUIRED TO TOP THE
WINDSWEPT HEIGHTS.

12.  WHEN LARKS AND EAGLES ARE FLYING, THE SUPERVISOR OF FLYING WILL
COORDINATE WITH ATC TO INSURE ADEQUATE SEPARATION IS ESTABLISHED AND
MAINTAINED.

13. WHEN TREADING ON HIGH, UNTRESPASSED SANCTITY PROPER ATC CLEARANCE MUST
BE RECEIVED.  PILOTS WILL NOT SACRIFICE AIRCRAFT CONTROL OR
EXCEED CANOPY OPERATING LIMITATIONS TO TOUCH THE FACE OF GOD.