Pietenpol-List: FW: Aviators Christmas
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2001 2:14 pm
Original Posted By: DonanClara(at)aol.com
> > Merry Christmas> > > Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp, Not an airplane> was stirring, not even a Champ. The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with> care in hopes that come morning, they all would be there. The fuel trucks> were nestled, all snug in their spots, while peak gusts from three two zero> reached 39 knots. I sank behind the fuel desk, Now finally caught up, and> settled down comfortably upon my butt. When over the radio, there arose> such a clatter, I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter. A voice> clearly heard over static and snow, asked for clearance to land at the> airport below. He barked out his transmission so lively and quick, I could> have sworn that the call sign he used was "St.Nick". Away to the window I> flew like a flash, Sure that it was only Horizon's late Dash. > > Then he called his position, and there could be no denial, "This is St.> Nicholas One and I'm turning on final." When what to my wondering eyes> should appear, A Rutan sleigh, and eight Rotax Reindeer. Cleared for the> ILS 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'? > > Those last couple of fixes left the controllers confused, they called> down to the office to give me the news. The message they left was both> urgent and dour: "When Santa lands, could he please call the tower?" > > He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking, Then I heard "Exit at> Charlie," and "Taxi to parking." He slowed to a taxi and exited Three-Two,> as he came down the taxiway the sleigh bells' jingle grew. > > He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk, I had run out to> him with my best set of chocks. He was dressed all in fur, which was> covered with frost and his beard was all blackened from Rotax Reindeer> exhaust. His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale and he> puffed on a pipe, but he didn't inhale. His cheeks were rosy and jiggled> like jelly, His boots were as black as a cropdusters belly. > > He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old fool, and he kindly informed me> that he needed some fuel. A wink of his eye and a twist of his toes, led me> to know he was desperate to powder his nose. > > 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 with a sigh> of relief, and then picked up a phone for a flight service brief. > > And I thought as he silently scribed in his log, that with Rudolph, he> could land in eighth-mile fog. Next, he completed his preflight, 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 his> clearance and squawk. "After departure fly heading three two zero," the> tower called forth, "and watch for a Luscombe inbound from the North." > > Then I heard him exclaim, 'ere he climbed in the night, Merry Christmas to> all, I have traffic in sight."> > ________________________________________________________________________________
> > Merry Christmas> > > Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp, Not an airplane> was stirring, not even a Champ. The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with> care in hopes that come morning, they all would be there. The fuel trucks> were nestled, all snug in their spots, while peak gusts from three two zero> reached 39 knots. I sank behind the fuel desk, Now finally caught up, and> settled down comfortably upon my butt. When over the radio, there arose> such a clatter, I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter. A voice> clearly heard over static and snow, asked for clearance to land at the> airport below. He barked out his transmission so lively and quick, I could> have sworn that the call sign he used was "St.Nick". Away to the window I> flew like a flash, Sure that it was only Horizon's late Dash. > > Then he called his position, and there could be no denial, "This is St.> Nicholas One and I'm turning on final." When what to my wondering eyes> should appear, A Rutan sleigh, and eight Rotax Reindeer. Cleared for the> ILS 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'? > > Those last couple of fixes left the controllers confused, they called> down to the office to give me the news. The message they left was both> urgent and dour: "When Santa lands, could he please call the tower?" > > He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking, Then I heard "Exit at> Charlie," and "Taxi to parking." He slowed to a taxi and exited Three-Two,> as he came down the taxiway the sleigh bells' jingle grew. > > He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk, I had run out to> him with my best set of chocks. He was dressed all in fur, which was> covered with frost and his beard was all blackened from Rotax Reindeer> exhaust. His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale and he> puffed on a pipe, but he didn't inhale. His cheeks were rosy and jiggled> like jelly, His boots were as black as a cropdusters belly. > > He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old fool, and he kindly informed me> that he needed some fuel. A wink of his eye and a twist of his toes, led me> to know he was desperate to powder his nose. > > 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 with a sigh> of relief, and then picked up a phone for a flight service brief. > > And I thought as he silently scribed in his log, that with Rudolph, he> could land in eighth-mile fog. Next, he completed his preflight, 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 his> clearance and squawk. "After departure fly heading three two zero," the> tower called forth, "and watch for a Luscombe inbound from the North." > > Then I heard him exclaim, 'ere he climbed in the night, Merry Christmas to> all, I have traffic in sight."> > ________________________________________________________________________________