“Do You Think That’s Funny, Son?”

Eastern Airlines, 1987, Atlanta, Georgia

Captain Johnny Gillespie sat down in the left seat of our Boeing 727, shook his head, and started laughing. After a few moments he turned to me and First Officer Larry LaVern, and said: "The Chief Pilot just gave me two free positive space passes." I said: "That's great, Boss! What did you do to earn those?" Still chuckling, he said: "I got an attaboy letter! Some old lady sent a note to Eastern. She wrote that Captain John Gillespie recited a poem about High Flight over the PA, and it was wonderful! Apparently I'm the only Captain Gillespie at Eastern Airlines. The higher-ups loved the old lady's letter—now I have two free positive space passes." Larry asked: "What poem did you recite?" With a giant grin, Johnny replied: "Never in my life have I recited a poem over the PA. All I can think is someone must have recited the poem, High Flight, over the PA, said it was by John Gillespie Magee; and all the lady heard was John Gillespie. But it was wonderful!"

Eastern Airlines, January 1989, Atlanta, Georgia

Our flight to LAX has just lifted off from Runway 26 Left. After observing a positive rate of climb on his VSI, the first officer states: "Positive rate." The (very senior) Airbus A300 captain replies: "Gear up." After the first officer places the landing gear switch to the up position, I check my flight engineer panel to make sure all is well with the green hydraulic system as the landing gear retracts. Out of the corner of my eye I see the captain grasp the PA microphone that is mounted on the aft left corner of the pedestal. It was a well rehearsed move—decisive. At 400 feet AGL he keys the mic: "Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds." "John Gillespie Magee." I couldn't help myself; I started laughing. . . He gave me the stare—the blood chilling; you've really stepped in it this time; good luck in your next career stare. (The old timers know what I'm talking about.) After a moment he said: "Do you think that's funny, Son?" After composing myself, I replied: "I'm not laughing at you personally, Boss, but I flew with a 727 captain a couple of years ago that I'm pretty sure got your free positive space passes!"