At eighteen years old

I first clambered aboard

What I came to know as

My beloved Sword

With twirling of finger

And a flick of the switch

Around the horn and

She began to twitch

He had a big grin

And with a pat on my hat

The old man leapt off

And left me to chat

“Chatham Tower it’s me

I want to go flyin’

This nose wheel steering

I wanna be tryin’ “       

So I run through the Checklist

A time or two or three

And crane back and wonder

Who in Tac is lookin’ at me

“OK, there, Tyro,

You’re cleared to commit

There’s real pilots behind you

Who’er ready to split”

The runway looks short

Hey, I can’t see the nose

Well, like Jackie would say

“And away we goes”

The numbers rotate

On the little black drum

I’ve got enough, so

Sky here I come

Gear and flaps up

Try to keep steady

But the nose keeps bobbing

Like a Nodding Neddy

Set on three fifty

[With tanks that’s the speed]

Man, I’m already

Lovin’ this steed

Angels forty the old man said but

Watch the temp in the climb.

And much before I wanted

I was out of time

Now to get her

Back on the ground

And then off to the bar

To buy all a round

First there’s the circuit

I’ll make it real wide

The old pros behind me

Will just have to bide

Final is easy

Just like the ‘Bird

I’m OK to land

They gave me the word

Touch down and rollout

Gave me a scare

The doggone nose wheel

Seems not to be there

Clearing the runway

Somewhere near Newcastle

I start to grin and

Forget all the hassle

- Tex Gehman