The day has come, I know I’m ready,
Practice done, my hands are steady,
Preflight done, the engine turning,
Flight test started, stomach burning.

Questions, questions, all seem new,
Feels a year since last I flew,
Taxi slowly, ease the brakes,
Examiner watching for mistakes.

Run up done, I call the tower,
Cleared to roll I add the power,
Seems the takeoff took a mile,
I wonder if he’ll ever smile.

Diversion next, he asks of me,
To the South and out to sea,
The terror hits me in my chest,
All I’ve flown is North and West.

My route, my plan, I knew it well,
Times and distance gone to hell,
And as we go, my best I’m trying,
I know inside there’s more than flying.

Now turns, now stalls, now climbs and spins,
Down flaps, slow flight, not once he grins,
This day it seems, the longest ever,
I’ve learned at last I’m not so clever.

Forced approach he calls for now,
Trim for glide as I know how,
No fields I practiced, freshly mowed,
My God! He wants me on the road.

Cause check over, mayday called,
Watch the speed, I’m almost stalled,
Ease her down, no time to cower,
Don’t forget to add the power.

Take us home, he calls to me,
Speed one hundred, hold at three,
Trim her straight, with wings at level,
Home to safety, time to revel.

We speed along, my muscles eased,
My eyes dart right, I think he’s pleased,
A perfect touchdown, my desire,
Dear Lord, he’s called an engine fire.

Fuel to off and down we go,
Find a speed to snuff the glow,
And now it’s done, it seemed so fast,
The test is over, down at last.

Well done he cries, that lovely man,
Now fly your ship where e’er you can,
Besides the wings today you earn,
A greater gift, a chance to learn.

by Patrick J. Phillips