I love all things aviation and I read a lot of aviation books, mostly historical works of non-fiction, and a few of fiction. Often I come across a passage of literary prose that poetically captures our love of flying. I recently began reading "West of the Night" by Beryl Markham which was written and first published in the 40's and takes place in Africa. What made me think of this topic is the paragraph I have included below. This is just one of many many passages that have inspired me in the books that I have read.

I was just wondering if there were enough of you dreamers out there who get inspired as I do when I come across a piece of literature that seems to hit the mark. I would enjoy hearing of others experiences in this category. Thoughts? Possibly a new category? Anyway, below is just one example. It takes place while this particular pilot, Beryl Markman, is completing a night flight in her Avian open cockpit Bi-plane to deliver a bottle of oxygen to someone in need in the outback of Africa.

...."There is a feeling of absolute finality about the end of a flight through darkness. The whole scheme of things with which you have lived acutely, during hours of roaring sound in an element altogether detached from the world, ceases abruptly. The plane noses ground-ward, the wings strain to the firmer cushion of earthbound air, wheels touch, and the engine sighs into silence. The dream of flight is suddenly gone before the mundane realities of growing grass and swirling dust, the plow of plodding men and the enduring patience of rooted trees. Freedom escapes you again, and wings that were a moment ago no less than an eagle's and swifter, are metal and wood once more, inert and heavy."

If this violates violates copyright laws, my apologies. I or someone else can delete it.

I didn't have a particular quote to share when I started to respond, but the works of Antoine de St. Exupery contain many similar comments. A quick Google search turned up these, all from Wind, Sand, and Stars, reflective of aviation:

“The first stars tremble as if shimmering in green water. Hours must pass before their glimmer hardens into the frozen glitter of diamonds. I shall have a long wait before I witness the soundless frolic of the shooting stars. In the profound darkness of certain nights I have seen the sky streaked with so many trailing sparks that it seemed to me a great gale must be blowing through the outer heavens. ”

“It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and in creative action, that man finds his supreme joys.”

“You’ll be bothered from time to time by storms, fog, snow. When you are, think to yourself, ‘What they could do, I can do.”

“But you want to remember that below the sea of clouds lies eternity.”

“Alone within the vast tribunal that is the stormy sky, the pilot is in contention for his mailbags with three elemental divinities: mountain, sea and storm.”

This one especially speaks to me, as I think it would speak to most aviators:

“I am not talking about living dangerously. Such words are meaningless to me. The toreador does not stir me to enthusiasm. It is not danger I love. I know what I love. It is life.”

Cary

Excellent! Absolutely beautiful. I love to read. Going to have to research both authors and their works that were quoted from. Thanks for sharing!