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From:
Subject: Touch and go
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 08:14:34 EDT


It is a pilot's training term.

During WW 2, pilots practiced landing and take off on airstrips by touching
down and then going up again without really landing. These became Touch and
Goes.

Vance Air Force Base in Enid, OK was famous for touch and goes. They painted
the shape of an aircraft carrier deck on the runway and pilots used to
practice landings. (Yes a few times the Army Air Corp pilots flew off of Navy
ships).

The term crossed over and became to mean anything that was a bit "dicey" to
do.

As in:

"I climbed up on the old windmill and fixed the gear box. The wind was
blowing and it was touch and go for awhile."

Fred Barber
In warm Las Vegas
===========================


> Anyone out there have a clue as to the history/origin of the phrase 'touch
> and go' - "Dangerous and uncertain in nature or outcome; precarious;
> delicate". It would seem, by just the words in the phrase, to imply
> somewhat
> the opposite meaning of the one it currently has.
>
> Just curious.
> dayle
>


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