Sailplanes in Ireland

Silent Flight in Ireland click here


Retroplane photo album: here

Merry Christmas

Twas The Night Before Christmas -- Aviation Style

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,
With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.
I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up,
And settled down comfortably, resting my butt.
When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter,
I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter.
A voice clearly heard over static and snow,
Called for clearance to land at the airport below.
He barked his transmission so lively and quick,
I'd have sworn that the call sign he used was "St. Nick".
I ran to the panel to turn up the lights,
The better to welcome this magical flight.
He called his position, no room for denial,
"St. Nicholas One, turnin' left onto final."
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer!
With vectors to final, 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'?
While controllers were sittin', and scratchin' their head,
They phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,
The message they left was both urgent and dour:
"When Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower."
He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking,
Then I heard "Left at Charlie," and "Taxi to parking."
He slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-oh
And stopped on the ramp with a "Ho, ho-ho-ho..."
He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk,
I ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks.
His red helmet and goggles were covered with frost
And his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust.
His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale,
And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn't inhale.
His cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly,
His boots were as black as a cropduster's belly.
He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red,
And he asked me to "fill it, with hundred low-lead."
He came dashing in from the snow-covered pump,
I knew he was anxious for drainin' the sump.
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, and sighed in relief,
Then he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief.
And I thought as he silently scribed in his log,
These reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog.
He completed his pre-flight, 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 clearance and squawk.
"Take taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction,
Turn right three-two-zero at pilot's discretion"
He sped down the runway, the best of the best,
"Your traffic's a Grumman, inbound from the west."
Then I heard him proclaim, as he climbed through the night,
"Merry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight."

Author unknown

Merry Christmas

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More videos from Italian modelers

For those who couldn't get enough of the inimitable Ninetto, this is some of what google brought up.

Rock-it from GeKo on Vimeo.

Rock-It trailer 3 from GeKo on Vimeo.

Looking for more? Try this link

from Dave Acton- Brooklyn Skyscrapers

Tom,

Nice site! In my quest for unusual planes, I came across Carlo Minotti's website on The Building Board. I emailed him 3 days ago but as yet no reply. I would like to get plans for
an airplane pictured on his website called the M-32 Dindi 1949. Check it out, It's cool.

I've attached some photos of my latest creations. First is the Cloud Elf, a 1938 English design
made for a Cloud 3 ignition engine. The plans say it was designed in 1938 by the Cloud Model Aeroplane Co. and was redrawn by Tony Penhall in 1986. Mine is powered with a Boddo Mills Twin. The next is a
Bambino that was kitted by California Models in the 50s and is designed for the K&B Infant.

Building season is upon us so I need something new for the 2010 SAM Champs. I may try
some Spirit of SAM stuff.

Merry Christmas

Dave Acton