by Jerry McC.
Over my 20-year
Air Force career, I worked on several Lockheed aircraft instrumentation systems—the
T-33 Thunderbird, the F-104 Starfighter, the U-2 Dragon Lady, the TR-1 and the SR-71
Blackbird. From 1986 until 1997, after my retirement from the service, I worked
at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, supporting the F-16 Fighting Falcon program.
The memories of these years are among my fondest.
Given the
timeframe in aviation history and the aircraft’s complexity, I have long
considered the Blackbird to be the greatest marvel ever built. The following is
my poem about this remarkable aircraft.
The Blackbird
In that realm
for which you are suited,
I am with
admiration,
A hostile
realm, realized by only a few,
You, a
sojourner.
Born from the
marvels of science,
And where even
the mighty eagle cannot fly,
You roar,
thunder and accelerate,
With quickened
grace.
While the world’s
greater number,
Knows not that
you exist,
But for freedom’s
interest we are the safer.
And the
increasing plights of humanity,
are far more
recognized,
Because you
exist.
You are the
Blackbird,
And for this, our history shall be better served.
