Well there I was on some fine Sunday afternoon

just me and my airplane

on a little airport we’ve never been to before.

We’re on short final and nothing was looking right.
I was seeing red over red, white over white
and I couldn’t seem to remember how that saying went anyway but
I was staring straight down at the runway
and all I could think of was about setting myself up
to ungraciously dismantle this perfectly good little airplane.
And, and then off in the distance, I heard a voice
and I think it was that of my flight instructor saying

“You can always go around”.

You can always go around
if it don’t look right coming down.
Don’t wait until your sideways, maybe sliding on the ground.
You can always go around.

I know that when, when I learned to fly
my instructor was yelling in my ear
how we’re in carb’ heat cold, climb out, pitch, flaps to go
take it ’round the patch, one more time again

But I know now, he was showing me
that’s just because the nose is pointing down.
If it doesn’t look right,
give it one more try.
You can always go around.

You can always go around
if it don’t look right coming down.
Don’t wait until your sideways, maybe sliding upside down.
You can always go around.

You’re coming in,
you see you’re high and fast,
but your mind is set on somehow getting down.
The runway leads to grass that leads into trees.
Little beads of sweat are dripping from your brow.

You still got time.
Simply change your mind.
It would sure be nice to fly this plane again.
With the wings still straight
this ain’t no place to hesitate.
Pitch and power, gear and flaps.
Hey, “Go around”!

You can always go around
if it don’t look right coming down.
Don’t wait until your sideways maybe sliding upside down.
You can always …
You can always go around!

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John
John
4 years ago

Not if you are flying a glider!

John H Williams
John H Williams
2 years ago

My dad (WWII P-38 jock) used to tell me: “There is nothing more useless than runway BEHIND you.” A couple of other sayings: “Never leave a plane that is under control.” Another: “Forcing a touch-down you eat grass.”

Steve
Steve
4 months ago

The three most useless things in aviation:
The altitude above you.
The runway behind you.
And the fuel you didn’t load. (Unless you are on fire!)