--- title: "8 Flight Quotes By Ernest K. Gann" description: "8 Flight quotes by Ernest K. Gann. Plus more from Ernest K. Gann and more Flight sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b93/ernest-k-gann-22818_alluring_there-is-no-more-alluring-airspace-in-th_448978.jpg" --- > [There is no more alluring airspace in the world than the slit up a China girl's dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/there-is-no-more-alluring-airspace-in-the-world-than-the-slit-up-a/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b93/ernest-k-gann-22818_alluring_there-is-no-more-alluring-airspace-in-th_448978.jpg) > [As the years go by, he returns to this invisible world rather than to earth for peace and solace. There also he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/as-the-years-go-by-he-returns-to-this-invisible-world-rather-than-to/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/ernest-k-gann-22818_aviation_as-the-years-go-by-he-returns-to-this-in_548948.jpg) > [The men in this book are fictitious characters but their counterparts can be found in cockpits all over the world. Now they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/the-men-in-this-book-are-fictitious-characters-but-their-counterparts/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/ernest-k-gann-22818_aviation_the-men-in-this-book-are-fictitious-char_1244071.jpg) > [It doesn't look nearly as big as it did the first time I saw one. Mickey McGuire and I used to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/it-doesn-t-look-nearly-as-big-as-it-did-the-first-time-i-saw-one/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/ernest-k-gann-22818_after-hours_it-doesn-t-look-nearly-as-big-as-it-did_1406081.jpg) > [There are airmen and there are pilots: the first being part bird whose view from aloft is normal and comfortable, a creature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/there-are-airmen-and-there-are-pilots-the-first-being-part-bird-whose/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2e/ernest-k-gann-22818_airborne_there-are-airmen-and-there-are-pilots-th_2210016.jpg) > [I am drawn to the new chart with all of its colorful intricacies as a gourmet must anticipate the details of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/i-am-drawn-to-the-new-chart-with-all-of-its-colorful-intricacies-as-a/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/ernest-k-gann-22818_anticipate_i-am-drawn-to-the-new-chart-with-all-of_2487578.jpg) > [He knew that we gave constant lip service to the dictates of safety and howled like Christians condemned to the arena if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/he-knew-that-we-gave-constant-lip-service-to-the-dictates-of-safety/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/ernest-k-gann-22818_arena_he-knew-that-we-gave-constant-lip-servic_2494200.jpg) > [Are we lost, or are we found at last? On earth we strive for our various needs, because so goes the fundamental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/are-we-lost-or-are-we-found-at-last-on-earth-we-strive-for-our/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/ernest-k-gann-22818_ancient_are-we-lost-or-are-we-found-at-last-on-e_2697766.jpg) ## Other authors on Flight ## More by Ernest K. Gann > [Flying is hypnotic and all pilots are willing victims to the spell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/flying-is-hypnotic-and-all-pilots-are-willing-victims-to-the-spell/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Fear breeds upon itself because it is a hermaphrodite capable of endless reproduction. Fear is a contagious disease, spreading from its first victim to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/fear-breeds-upon-itself-because-it-is-a-hermaphrodite-capable-of/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/macleod-since-you-ve-flown-the-seabee-a-lot-you-ll-understand-when-i/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [There is no more alluring airspace in the world than the slit up a China girl's dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/there-is-no-more-alluring-airspace-in-the-world-than-the-slit-up-a/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [As the years go by, he returns to this invisible world rather than to earth for peace and solace. There also he finds a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/as-the-years-go-by-he-returns-to-this-invisible-world-rather-than-to/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [“Those ever more frequent nights when his loneliness became unbearable and he took solace in wine he would sometimes stand outside his tent holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his-loneliness-became-unbearable/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Flying is hypnotic and all pilots are victims to the spell. Their world is like a magic island in which the factors of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/flying-is-hypnotic-and-all-pilots-are-victims-to-the-spell-their/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Anyone can do the job when things are going right. In this business we play for keeps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/anyone-can-do-the-job-when-things-are-going-right-in-this-business-we/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [The emergencies you train for almost never happen. It's the one you can't train for that kills you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/the-emergencies-you-train-for-almost-never-happen-it-s-the-one-you/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [The men in this book are fictitious characters but their counterparts can be found in cockpits all over the world. Now they are flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/the-men-in-this-book-are-fictitious-characters-but-their-counterparts/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Rule books are paper - they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/rule-books-are-paper-they-will-not-cushion-a-sudden-meeting-of-stone/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [It doesn't look nearly as big as it did the first time I saw one. Mickey McGuire and I used to sit hour after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/it-doesn-t-look-nearly-as-big-as-it-did-the-first-time-i-saw-one/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [During this period Steen and Fox were killed trying a single-engine instrument approach at Moline. Then Campbell and Leatherman hit a ridge near Elko,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/during-this-period-steen-and-fox-were-killed-trying-a-single-engine/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [The air is annoyingly potted with a multitude of minor vertical disturbances which sicken the passengers and keep us captives of our seat belts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/the-air-is-annoyingly-potted-with-a-multitude-of-minor-vertical/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [It's when things are going just right that you'd better be suspicious. There you are, fat as can be. The whole world is yours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/it-s-when-things-are-going-just-right-that-you-d-better-be-suspicious/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flight/ernest-k-gann/#itemlist", "name": "8 Flight Quotes By Ernest K. Gann", "numberOfItems": 8, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no more alluring airspace in the world than the slit up a China girl's dress.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest K. 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There also he finds a profound enchantment, although he can seldom describe it. He can discuss it with others of his kind, and because they too know and feel its power they understand. But his attempts to communicate his feelings to his wife or other earthly confidants invariable end in failure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest K. 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Mickey McGuire and I used to sit hour after hour in the cockpit of the one that American used for training, at the company school in Chicago, saying to each other, 'My God, do you think we'll ever learn to fly anything this big?'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest K. Gann" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/it-doesn-t-look-nearly-as-big-as-it-did-the-first-time-i-saw-one/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/ernest-k-gann-22818_after-hours_it-doesn-t-look-nearly-as-big-as-it-did_1406081.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/ernest-k-gann-22818_after-hours_it-doesn-t-look-nearly-as-big-as-it-did_1406081.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/ernest-k-gann-22818_after-hours_it-doesn-t-look-nearly-as-big-as-it-did_1406081.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It doesn't look nearly as big as it did the first time I saw one. 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Gann", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am drawn to the new chart with all of its colorful intricacies as a gourmet must anticipate the details of a feast ... I shall keep them forever. As stunning exciting proof that a proper mixture of science and art is not only possible but a blessed union.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest K. 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Gann", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He knew that we gave constant lip service to the dictates of safety and howled like Christians condemned to the arena if any compromise were made of it. He knew we were seekers after ease, suspicious, egotistic, and stubborn to a fault. He also knew that none of us would have continued our careers unless we had always been, and still were, helpless before this opportunity to take a chance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest K. 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On earth we strive for our various needs, because so goes the fundamental law of man. Aloft, at least for a little while, the needs disappear. Likewise the striving. In the thoughts of man aloft, food and evil become mixed and sometimes reversed. This is the open door to wisdom. Aloft, the earth is ancient and man is young, regardless of his numbers, for there, aloft he may reaffirm his suspicions that he may not be so very much. This is the gateway to humility.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest K. 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