Land and Hold Short

Pilots often already have their watches set to UTC, so this should be easy. At the exact minute of the winter solstice tonight, at 06:08 UTC, is the second annual Global Orgasm for Peace

To effect positive change in the energy field of the Earth through input of the largest possible instantaneous surge of human biological, mental and spiritual energy.

The web site doesn’t specify that this has to happen in pairs — presumably, it helps the Earth’s [their capitalization] energy field just as well alone or even in groups.

If you need to be behind the controls of an aircraft at 6:08 UTC, however, you might want to substitute eating chocolate.

From a news story about a new U.S.-run military flight training school in Iraq:

The mission shift is particularly acute for [Lt. Col. Mark] Bennett, who flew 15-hour combat missions over Iraq in 2003 and now finds himself forming steadfast friendships with the Iraqi pilots he trains.

“The B-1 is a symbol of air power, and of weapon strength. Now I’m flying a Cessna — a symbol of training and guidance,” said Bennett, a 39-year-old San Antonio, Texas, resident who commands the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron. “Frankly, I like this role better.”

This posting is not intended to make any moral statement, positive or negative, about the war in Iraq. I just want to share a nice perspective on flying, especially for people in small planes who fantasize about flying big military aircraft — it seems it can work both ways.

Cessna 172 photo from Wikimedia Commons.