Return-path: From: Wacobob@aol.com Full-name: Wacobob Message-ID: <12c.1e9bcafc.2b39fe17@aol.com> Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 13:14:47 EST Subject: The Night Before Christmas - Aviation Style To: JTBARTLETT@aol.com, ggbart@msn.com, GCBWACO@aol.com, frank.benton@cox.net, barnstormer6@hotmail.com, bradford@vallnet.com, StanBru@aol.com, jjbuehrig@juno.com, cooperdale@mchsi.com, TCWACO@aol.com, DPetta@D1.USCG.mil, RDiGennaro@msn.com, Lesdupuy@aol.com, RDotyHall@aol.com, kkhankin@hotmail.com, jkelly@gullindustries.com, cjohnson@nevrodie.com, LinDJones@aol.com, NKSpud45@worldnet.att.net, ryland@gnt.net, nmodrall@hot.rr.com, redeye0@charter.net, KenPeekJr@aol.com, hrafuse@act-i.com, robertsa@rucker.army.mil, mikeseely@att.net (mike), sthacker@movingtorucker.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="part2_f7.262a9fae.2b39fe17_boundary" X-Mailer: AOL 8.0 for Windows US sub 234 --part2_f7.262a9fae.2b39fe17_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > >=A0 =A0=A0 'Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp, > >=A0 =A0=A0 Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ. > >=A0 =A0=A0 The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care, > >=A0 =A0=A0 In hopes that come morning, they all would be there. > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots, > >=A0 =A0=A0 With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots. > >=A0 =A0=A0 I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up, > >=A0 =A0=A0 And settled down comfortably, resting my butt. > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter, > >=A0 =A0=A0 I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter. > >=A0 =A0=A0 A voice clearly heard over static and snow, > >=A0 =A0=A0 Called for clearance to land at the airport below. > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 He barked his transmission so lively and quick, > >=A0 =A0=A0 I'd have sworn that the call sign he used was "St. Nick". > >=A0 =A0=A0 I ran to the panel to turn up the lights, > >=A0 =A0=A0 The better to welcome this magical flight. > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 He called his position, no room for denial, > >=A0 =A0=A0 "St. Nicholas One, turnin' left onto final." > >=A0 =A0=A0 And what to my wondering eyes should appear, > >=A0 =A0=A0 But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer! > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 With vectors to final, down the glideslope he came, > >=A0 =A0=A0 As he passed all fixes, he called them by name: > >=A0 =A0=A0 "Now Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun! > >=A0 =A0=A0 On Comet! On Cupid!" What pills was he takin'? > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 While controllers were sittin', and scratchin' their head, > >=A0 =A0=A0 They phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread, > >=A0 =A0=A0 The message they left was both urgent and dour: > >=A0 =A0=A0 "When Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower." > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking, > >=A0 =A0=A0 Then I heard "Left at Charlie," and "Taxi to parking." > >=A0 =A0=A0 He slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-oh > >=A0 =A0=A0 And stopped on the ramp with a "Ho, ho-ho-ho..." > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk, > >=A0 =A0=A0 I ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks. > >=A0 =A0=A0 His red helmet and goggles were covered with frost > >=A0 =A0=A0 And his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust. > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale, > >=A0 =A0=A0 And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn't inhale. > >=A0 =A0=A0 His cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly, > >=A0 =A0=A0 His boots were as black as a cropduster's belly. > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red, > >=A0 =A0=A0 And he asked me to "fill it, with hundred low-lead." > >=A0 =A0=A0 He came dashing in from the snow-covered pump, > >=A0 =A0=A0 I knew he was anxious for drainin' the sump. > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work, > >=A0 =A0=A0 And I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk. > >=A0 =A0=A0 He came out of the restroom, and sighed in relief, > >=A0 =A0=A0 Then he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief. > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 And I thought as he silently scribed in his log, > >=A0 =A0=A0 These reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog. > >=A0 =A0=A0 He completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear, > >=A0 =A0=A0 Then he put on his headset, and I heard him yell, "Clear!" > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 And laying a finger on his push-to-talk, > >=A0 =A0=A0 He called up the tower for clearance and squawk. > >=A0 =A0=A0 "Take taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction, > >=A0 =A0=A0 Turn right three-two-zero at pilot's discretion" > > > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 He sped down the runway, the best of the best, > >=A0 =A0=A0 "Your traffic's a Grumman, inbound from the west." > >=A0 =A0=A0 Then I heard him proclaim, as he climbed thru the night, > >=A0 =A0=A0 "Merry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight." > > > >=A0 =A0=A0 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D > >=A0 =A0=A0 Original by anonymous --part2_f7.262a9fae.2b39fe17_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

> >=A0 =A0=A0 'Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp, > >=A0 =A0=A0 Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.
> >=A0 =A0=A0 The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 In hopes that come morning, they all would be there.
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots, > >=A0 =A0=A0 With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.
> >=A0 =A0=A0 I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 And settled down comfortably, resting my butt.
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter.
> >=A0 =A0=A0 A voice clearly heard over static and snow,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 Called for clearance to land at the airport below.
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 He barked his transmission so lively and quick,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 I'd have sworn that the call sign he used was "St. Nick"= .
> >=A0 =A0=A0 I ran to the panel to turn up the lights,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 The better to welcome this magical flight.
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 He called his position, no room for denial,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 "St. Nicholas One, turnin' left onto final."
> >=A0 =A0=A0 And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer!
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 With vectors to final, down the glideslope he came,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 As he passed all fixes, he called them by name:
> >=A0 =A0=A0 "Now Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun!
> >=A0 =A0=A0 On Comet! On Cupid!" What pills was he takin'?
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 While controllers were sittin', and scratchin' their hea= d,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 They phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 The message they left was both urgent and dour:
> >=A0 =A0=A0 "When Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower." > >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 Then I heard "Left at Charlie," and "Taxi to parking." > >=A0 =A0=A0 He slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-oh
> >=A0 =A0=A0 And stopped on the ramp with a "Ho, ho-ho-ho..."
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk,<= BR> > >=A0 =A0=A0 I ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks.
> >=A0 =A0=A0 His red helmet and goggles were covered with frost
> >=A0 =A0=A0 And his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust. > >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale,=
> >=A0 =A0=A0 And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn't inhale.
> >=A0 =A0=A0 His cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 His boots were as black as a cropduster's belly.
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 And he asked me to "fill it, with hundred low-lead."
> >=A0 =A0=A0 He came dashing in from the snow-covered pump,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 I knew he was anxious for drainin' the sump.
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 And I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk. > >=A0 =A0=A0 He came out of the restroom, and sighed in relief,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 Then he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief. > >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 And I thought as he silently scribed in his log,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 These reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog.
> >=A0 =A0=A0 He completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear,=
> >=A0 =A0=A0 Then he put on his headset, and I heard him yell, "Clear= !"
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 And laying a finger on his push-to-talk,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 He called up the tower for clearance and squawk.
> >=A0 =A0=A0 "Take taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 Turn right three-two-zero at pilot's discretion"
> >
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 He sped down the runway, the best of the best,
> >=A0 =A0=A0 "Your traffic's a Grumman, inbound from the west."
> >=A0 =A0=A0 Then I heard him proclaim, as he climbed thru the night,=
> >=A0 =A0=A0 "Merry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight."
> >
> >=A0 =A0=A0 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> >=A0 =A0=A0 Original by anonymous

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