[GreenKeys] The Gooney Bird

[Dave Horsfall]

I think some here will appreciate this; I found it years ago:

                 THE GOONEY BIRD

In 51 they tried to ground the noble DC-3
And so some lawyers brought the case before the C.A.B
So the board examined all the facts behind their great oak portal
And then pronounced these simple words "The Gooney Bird's Immortal"

The army toast their sky-train in lousy scotch and soda
The Pommies raise their glasses high and toast their olde Dakota
Some claim the C-47 is best - or the gallant R4-D
Forget that claim - they're all the same - the noble DC-3

Douglas built this ship to last but nobody expected
This crazy heap would fly and fly no matter how they wrecked it
While nations fall and men retire and jets go obsolete
The Gooney Bird flies on and on at a mere few thousand feet

No matter what they do to her the Gooney Bird still flies
One crippled plane was fitted out with one wing half the size
She hunched her shoulders then took off - I know this makes you laugh
One wing askew and yet she flew - the DC Two and a Half

She has her faults but after all who's perfect in this sphere
Her heating system is a gem and we love her for her gear
Of course the windows leak a bit when the rain comes pouring down
She'll keep you warm but in a storm it's possible you'll drown

Well now she flies the feeder routes and carries all the freight
She's just an airborne office - a flying twelve ton crate
They patch her up with masking tape with paper clips and string
And still she flies - she never dies - Methuselah with wings

(Anon.)

-- 
Dave Horsfall DTM (VK2KFU)  "Those who don't understand security will suffer."