So You Want To Fly?

So you want to fly?

First we learn to walk
By walking over to the stockroom
Fetching loads of parts
Carrying buckets of cleaner
Scrubbing dirty aircraft till they gleam
All of the things get to the plane with your feet

So you want to fly?

First we learn to lube
With the green standard grease
That comes in the black standard tube
Lock on with a nipple fitting
Or precisely meter it in with a needle
From body  joints to wheel bearings
All the moving things need their lube

So you want to fly?

First we learn to torque
Whether precision bolts or common screws
Everything has to be the right amount of tight
With shank length and proper nuts
Holding everything together for a safe flight
All the fasteners need to be torqued

So you want to fly?

First we learn to work the metal
On the shears and the bench
To the english wheel for some compound curves
Smoothing the airflow
Easing the aerodynamic urge
Fastening it all together with rivets
An art unto themselves
To learn the manufactured and working end
Shit from shinola
All metal must bend

So you want to fly?

First we learn to chase the sparks
With voltmeters and jumper wires
Dizzying schematics no walk in the park
Inspecting wiring bundles as thick as your arm
There's a break in the wire somewhere
Only five hundred feet more to check
All the avionics must be learned

So you want to fly?

Maybe now you are ready to step into the flight mechanic's shoes
You've gathered your knowledge
You might just know what to do
So keep maintenance control on speed dial
And may the gods watch over you
For you haven't really been tested yet
And by tested I mean by the best of times
Though at the time they feel as bad as it can get
All your seat miles must be earned