It's been a tough couple of weeks for my airplane.

In the T-38 community, we have gone a long time without any news worthy incidents (over a year). It has been even longer since we have actually lost pilots from flight-related mishaps. Unfortunately last week and this week have shattered our sense of immunity from harm. On Wednesday 23 April, a T-38 crashed on takeoff. Neither the instructor nor the student pilot survived.

The Columbus AFB accident

The pilots killed in Mississippi

Lightning struck twice this morning just after 7am when another T-38 went down. This accident which happened in Wichita Falls, Texas, also claimed lives.

The Sheppard AFB accident

Sadly the name we will hear most today will be Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the woman who ran a Washington, D.C. prostitution ring and who allegedly committed suicide. her story will make much better news and will draw more viewers and sell more papers.

I ask you all to, in your own quiet time, remember Major Blair Faulkner; husband; father of two children; Air Force Reservist; Continental Airlines First Officer.

Please remember eager student pilot 2nd Lt. Matthew Emmons; husband with a wife 7 months pregnant.

And finally, please remember the two Air Force members in Texas we lost today, and the men and women we've lost across the seas in these past difficult weeks. The news won't bring us their stories, but their bravery and their families grief are very real. And these men and women deserve more remembrance than they will receive.

High Flight - John's Poem

Submitted by Cyclist on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 6:55pm.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter- silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds- and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind- swept heights with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle flew-
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high un-trespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God

High Flight Poem

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Hack

Submitted by wulfman on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 4:24pm.

So very sad.

We will remember these pilots and their families in our prayers.

Wulf

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Hack, thank you for the insight

Submitted by carbonunit52 on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 1:21pm.

and may God's grace be with you and your students.

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