23 Quotes by Ernest K. Gann

Flying is hypnotic and all pilots are willing victims to the spell.

Rule books are paper – they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.

I want a boat that drinks 6, eats 4, and sleeps 2.

Flying is hypnotic and all pilots are victims to the spell. Their world is like a magic island in which the factors of life and death assume their proper values. Thinking becomes clear because there are no earthly foibles or embellishments to confuse it.

It’s remarkable how quickly a good and favorable wind can sweep away the maddening frustrations of shore living.

There is no more alluring airspace in the world than the slit up a China girl’s dress.

Nobody who gets too damned relaxed builds up much flying time.

MaCleod, since you’ve flown the SeaBee a lot you’ll understand when I say it was the only airplane I ever owned that you could put in a dive, loose a cylinder and stall out!

The emergencies you train for almost never happen. It’s the one you can’t train for that kills you.