Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Flying XIV. A Spray Application Demo. This is probably my last thought on my flying career. I remember these demonstrations because of their forcefulness. And also that spray planes are used to fertilize fields all around me. Out of the blue one day with my instructor, he remarked on his 'spray' days'. He asked if I would like to see (and feel!) just how applications were done. Of course I answered affirmatively, so off we went. He chose a field with telegraph lines on one edge And an array of rather high trees on the further side. We lined up--north to south-- barely clearing the lines, Then abruptly dropped down to a 20 foot altitude, Swept across the field, trees loomed ahead, And shot straight up over the tree line. With no flaggers to indicate our next pass to the north, We made a broad circle to get us in line for the next pass, Dropped abruptly again over the trees, Swept once again across the field, aiming for the telegraph lines ahead And miraculously shot upwards--just missing the lines! It was a wonderful demonstration of how many pilots Earn their daily bread and survive such a lifetime of risk, Fertilizing our crops quickly and efficiently to feed a hungry world. Frank Maurer 8 July 2024 0520 Hours.