Brave Early Pilots

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Inspired by novel Terre des Hommes - english title is "Wind, Sand and Stars" written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry who also wrote his better known “The Little Prince”.

Back in the times When airplanes were new And small engines unreliable Circa 1930’s Pilots took their lives in their hands Their sense of adventure was keen Risking life for duty Delivering precious mail across continents Linking cultures faraway and exotic Flying over oceans, mountains and deserts Vast stretches of land as far as the eye could see Totally uninhabited, not ideal for engine trouble Not a single soul in sight Every flight a gamble Literally flying on a prayer Life hanging in the balance In exchange for the sublime sensation of freedom Over, in and out of cloud formations The purr of the engine as only semblance of a mate Looking in awe at the planet from way up high Masters of the vast blue skies Alone up there with God AP: Honorable Mention 2020, Honorable Mention 2020 Submitted on October 10, 2017 for contest MID OCTOBER PREMIERE sponsored by BRIAN STRAND

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Gregory Richard Barden

Date: 10/10/2017 11:43:00 PM

Wonderful write! I have always dreamed of being a fighter pilot, and even took flight lessons at one point ... my uncle was an ace in the Korean War. Loved this one!

Line Gauthier
Date: 10/11/2017 7:16:00 AM

I'm so happy this one resonated with you. You would absolutely love to read the novel I was referring to: WIND, SAND AND STARS. You would fall in love and want to read every one of his novels. I'd love to hear back from you on that. Thank you so much for your visit and comments.

Arthur Vaso

Date: 10/10/2017 10:59:00 PM

Oh I loved this, some say he died doing what he loved, others more poetic say, he flew away to the heavens!

Line Gauthier
Date: 10/11/2017 7:17:00 AM

Died too young. He was a poet at heart. Thanks for your heart-warming comment.