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Merry Christmas

AlaskaAV

GONE WEST
Mission, TX
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my aviation friends. May the new year bring you health, happiness and prosperity......


'Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp,
Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.
The aircraft were fastened to tie downs 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 the controller was sittin', and scratchin' his head,
He phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,
The message he 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 crop duster'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."
(author unknown)
 
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Ernie.

I hope that your health is regained for the holiday season and that you will be contributing to Supercub.org again soon. I have REALLY enjoyed your posts and have lived vicariously through them.

Thanks for sharing with all of us and God bless,

John Scott
 
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS to everyone at supercub.org
from John, Tom and Mike at Cubs Unlimited.

Enjoyed all the posts and discussions with all of you and hope to meet some of you soon at the events.

If any of you get the chance, come visit us anytime. I guarantee we'll have a good time.

Visit our website (under construction) cubsunlimited.com
 
Take care, Ernie!

Thanks for the Christmas greetings and I hope you get to feeling better soon!

sj
 
Mike Charlie and a Hotel November Yankee!

Merry Christmas, Ernie! God bless!

Mike, Kerry and all our mutts.
 
:x-mas: SEASON's GREEINGS ERNIE! Keep those Tales of the Far North coming! We miss them!

Doug
 
Merry Christmas from SD. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday with your family and friends.
 
At least we had a white Christmas 2 days before Christmas. Then the wind blew 45 mph last night and blew it all away. Merry Christmas!

 
Ernie - get well soon and come back to posting. Miss the stories. Best wishes for a great holiday season and a bright New Year.

Merry Christmas to everybody - sure has been a great year - lots of new acquaintances - lots of good fun - safe flying and Happy New Year! :x-mas:
 
Ernie,

I saw a picture of my sister's place down in Mission near you, looks like you had some snow!

Hang in there!

sj
 
steve said:
Ernie,

I saw a picture of my sister's place down in Mission near you, looks like you had some snow!

Hang in there!

sj

Almost a record 2" at 29 degrees F Steve. I didn't even poke my head out the door but people say it was beautiful. I did see the snow on my Pineapple plant though.

Ernie
 
Happy New Year

Ernie,

I am watching a show "Jeep, Gateway to Adventure, The Dalton Highway" tonight on the OLN Network. Some real interesting characters out there! I sure would love to drive to Deadhorse. They are showing the famous "Deadhorse Sign". The gas station at Deadhorse is a one pump barrel operation. I know you have some MEMORIES of that Highway and town! :D

Some great pictures of the Northern Lights. So far they have stopped in Jay(?), Coldfoot and Wiseman. Beautiful Country! :tup: I'm sorry I never made it that far North when we lived there! Seems to me it was "off limits" at that time anyway!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Doug & Becky Ewen
 
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