Short Summary: Two Stories about Flying - 2 - English Class 10

Summary in English- Two Stories About Flying Part-II

The writer of this story is a pilot. One night he was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France. It was a starry night. He was going to England. He hoped to spend his holiday with his family. It was an easy journey and he was in a joyful mood. He looked at his watch. It was one-thirty in the morning. Through his wireless, he contacted the Paris control. They told him to turn twelve degrees west. He did as he was advised to do. He was 150 kilometres from Paris.
Suddenly the writer saw huge black clouds before him. It was not possible to fly up and over the clouds. He had not much fuel with him. So it was not possible to fly around the big mountains of clouds to the right or left. He decided to take the risk and flew his aeroplane straight into the Clouds. As he entered the clouds, everything suddenly went black. He found that his compass had ceased to work. He tried to contact the Paris Control for directions. But he was shocked to find that his radio had also stopped working.
Suddenly, the writer saw a black aeroplane near him. He could also see the pilot in it. The pilot waved the writer to follow him. He followed the black aeroplane like an obedient child. Now it was half an hour since the writer had been following the black aeroplane. He was worried because the fuel in his plane could last only five or ten minutes. But just then the black aeroplane started to go down and the writer followed it. Suddenly, the writer was out of the clouds. He could see the lights of the runway of the airport. He turned to look at the black aeroplane. But he could not find it anywhere. The sky was empty. The writer landed his Dakota aeroplane. He went to the control centre and asked a woman there who that other pilot was? The woman looked at the writer strangely. Then she laughed and said that no other planes were flying in such a stormy night. She told him and his plane was the only one that she could see on the radar.

SHORT SUMMARY

1. On his Way to England: The moon was coming in the clear sky. The narrator was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England. He contacted Paris Control for instructions. He was asked to turn twelve degrees west. He thought that he would be in time for English breakfast.
2. Storm Clouds: Paris was 150 kilometres behind him. He saw the clouds in the sky. They were storm clouds. They looked like black mountains standing in front of him. He couldn’t avoid by flying up and over them. He didn’t have enough petrol (fuel) to fly around the north and south. He thought of going back to Paris. But he wanted to go home for breakfast.
3. Instruments Dead: The narrator took the risk. He flew that old Dakota straight into the storm. Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. He couldn’t see anything outside. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. He looked at the compass. It was dead. The other instruments were suddenly dead too. He tried the radio to contact Paris control. There was no answer. He didn’t know where he was. He was in a very hopeless situation.
4. Black Plane for Help: He was lost in the storm. Suddenly, he saw another aeroplane. The black aeroplane was flying next to him. He could see the pilot’s face. He was glad to see another person. “Follow me”, he said, waving his one hand. The narrator followed him like an obedient child.
5. Landed Safely: He followed the black aeroplane for half an hour. Now there was only enough fuel in the old Dakota’s last tank to fly for five or ten minutes. Then he started going down. He saw two straight lines of lights before him. It was a runway. “An airport,” he cried in joy. He turned to look for his friend in the black aeroplane, but the sky was empty. He wanted to say 'Thank you' to his rescuer.
6. The mystery about the Black Aeroplane: After landing, he went to the control tower. He asked the lady there where he was. He also asked who the other pilot was. She looked at him strangely and then laughed. She replied that no other aeroplane was flying that night. She could only see his aeroplane on the radar. Who helped the narrator to arrive there safely without a compass or a radio, and without any more fuel in his tanks? It remained an unsolved mystery.

Main Points of the Story

1. The narrator was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England.
2. He called Paris to control and was asked to turn 12 degrees west.
3. He thought he would be with his family and be in time for breakfast.
4. Everything was going well and it was an easy flight.
5. Suddenly he saw dark black storm clouds.
6. He took the risk and the plane went straight into the storm.
7. Everything looked black inside the mountains of clouds.
8. The old plane jumped and twisted in the air.
9. He couldn’t believe when he found his compass and other instruments totally dead.
10. Suddenly, another aeroplane appeared and he could see the face of the pilot.
11. The pilot of the black plane asked the narrator to follow him.
12. The narrator was frightened as there was fuel enough that could last only five to ten minutes.
13. Suddenly he came out of the clouds and saw two long straight lines in front of him.
14. It was a runway where he could land safely.
15. On landing, he asked the lady in the control room where he was and who the other pilot was.
16. The lady replied that no other aeroplane except his Dakota flew that night.
17. The pilot of the black aeroplane remained an unsolved mystery for the narrator.