Oh, I’m a co-pilot, I sit on the right
I’m quick & courageous, I’m wonderf’ly bright
my job is rememb’ring what the captain forgets
& I never talk back, so I have no regrets
I’m a lousy co-pilot & a long way from home
I make out the flight-plan & study the weather
pull up the gear, drop it & stand by to feather
I make out his mail-forms, I hire his wh***s
& I fly his old crate to the tune of his snores
I’m a lousy co-pilot & a long way from home
I make out the flight-plan according to Hoyle
I take all the readings, I check on the oil
I hustle him out for the midnight alarm
I fly through the fog while he sleeps on my arm
I’m a lousy co-pilot & a long way from home
I treat him to coffee I keep him in Cokes
I laugh at his corn & his horrible jokes
& once in a while when his landings are rusty
I come through with “yesiree Captain, it’s gusty”
I’m a lousy co-pilot & a long way from home
All in all I’m commissioned a general stooge
I sit on the right of this high flying scrooge
someday I’ll make Captain & then I’ll be blessed
I’ll give my poor tongue one long hell of a rest
I’m a lousy co-pilot & a long way from home
This is actually a song by Dick Jonas, he flew F-4s in vietnam and has countless hilarious songs
Long time since I heard ‘feather’. Probably wouldn’t understand if I hadn’t visited the air museums while serving at RAFs Upper Heyford and Alconbury. The F-4 proved that a rock can aviate with jet engines of the proper size. Bought my house near the airport to help me sleep.
Only an aviator could pen such a novelty. Every line takes me back to the cockpit with such nostalgia that a tears comes to my eyes. Most of my 4000 hours in the air was on single seaters but I do have limited experience as a co-pilot. And I must confess, I flew the F-4c/d in combat. A magnificent brute of an airplane.