Stand by for take-off

{{ Jet-powered. Swept wings. Mach numbers. Century-series fighters. Guided missiles. Time over target. Congress. Rocket-launch tests. Telemetry. Research and development budgets. Fire-control radar. Computers. Transistors. Bell Labs. Air-defence systems. House Defense Appropriations Committee. RAND Corporation.

All systems go! 

{{  This, ladies and gentlemen, is the future speaking. And I am receiving it loud and clear.

{{ Black midwinter sky, Greenland. “When will we be ready? Will we ever be ready?” New equipment's coming into service, we're constantly unpacking huge wooden crates. Sleds. Canvas covers and steel drums, handling them in the biting cold. Breath freezing in the air.

Then the warmth of the officers' mess, and a beer. Esquire magazines lying around on the coffee tables. Advertisements for viscose rayon threads. New fabrics. new cars, new appliances. A continuous pipeline of innovation. All over the place, everywhere you look! Defending the free world, shopping at Macy's. Best standard of living in the world. Buick or Olds? Few years ago, it was easy. Now – there's so much choice. 

{{ That sky. Soon the sun will rise to shine so briefly, no clouds. Dawn and dusk – almost touching. Beautiful. Kodachrome. “Built-in light-meter?”  “Uh-huh. Bought it in the PX in Yokota. Another beer, buddy?” “Sure thing. Saratoga Springs. Ever been?” “Nope – but I'd like to go.” “Hey! Haiti! Been to Port-au-Prince? I have!” “Show-off. Newfoundland, man, yeah, and a trip to Europe. Squeeze in some business. Defense procurement. Show off some new gadgets to the budget-holders. We have the edge. Europe's all bomb-damaged, from England to the Iron Curtain. They'll buy from us. Malenkov and Khrushchev are the threat. And now Communist China. Vast armies.” “Technology. Thermal imaging. Transistors. That's the future. Russia's way behind”. “There's a whole world out there – and who better to see it with than the U.S.A.F.”! “Drink to that, bud!”

We stood outside in awe of the Northern Lights.

Something streaked across the sky, faster than a missile.

“Was that a...?”

“That, sir, was a meteor. Seen 'em before.”

“Russia wouldn't dare, would they?”

“Well. They have the bomb.”

“They have the bombers.”

“We have radar-guided supersonic interceptors. They'd stand no chance of getting through.”

“Chicago's safe. My baby's safe.”

“Kentucky's safer.”

“Damn, that's another beer.”

“Nope. Some still left in the bottle.”

Rolling Rock.

“Reminds me of home – Ohio.”

Bowl of potato chips and peanuts.

“Remember those Japanese snacks?”

“Yup.”

“Kinda miss them.”

“Good with a beer.”

“Seen the Republic XF-103?”

“They say it'll fly at Mach 3.”

“And fire nuclear guided missiles.”

“Nah. It's political.”

“Convair will get it.”

Somewhere outside, beyond the double glazing, the warmth, the beer and the cigarette smoke, the aurora moved across the Arctic sky. Something flashed by.

This time last year:
Touched by Boris

This time two years ago
Clinging on and letting go

This time five years ago:
Out in the mid-September heat

This time six years ago:
Poland's ugliest building?

This time 11 years ago:
Weekend cookery - prawns in couscous

This time 13 years ago:
Draining Jeziorki

This time 13 years ago:
Early autumn moods

This time 15 years ago:
The Battle of Britain, 70 years on

This time 16 years ago:
Thoughts about TV, Polish and British

This time 17 years ago:
Time to abandon driving to work!

This time 18 years ago:
Crappy roads take their toll