Introduction: Two Stories about Flying - 2 - Class 10 PDF Download

About the Author- Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth – A Short Biography

Frederick Forsyth was born on 25 August 1938, in Ashford, Kent, England. He was educated at Tonbridge School and later joined the University of Granada in Spain. He joined the RAF and became a jet fighter pilot. He became a journalist and joined the BBC in 1965, where he served as an assistant diplomatic correspondent.

INTRODUCTION .

(This is a mysterious story. The writer was flying his Dakota aeroplane. Suddenly he was caught in a big cloud. His compass, radio and other instruments failed. There was not much fuel in the plane. Suddenly he saw a black aeroplane near him. The pilot of the black aeroplane guided the writer and he was able to land his plane safely. But he was greatly surprised when the woman at the control centre told him that there had been no other plane except the writer’s Dakota on the sky that night.

THEME OF THE STORY

Frederick Forsyth describes quite a unique but mysterious experience during his flight from Paris to London. During the flight, he was lost amid mountains of dark clouds. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The compass was dead. It would not work. He received no answer from Paris Control either. He could see another aeroplane flying next to him through the storm. He followed the strange aeroplane until he could see the runway and was safe. When asked from the control centre, he was told that no plane except his own was flying in the storm. Where did the aeroplane come from? Who was the man who asked him to follow him? Where did he disappear after leaving him in safety? These are the questions which are still surrounded in mystery.

Word-Meanings

Looking forward to = waiting eagerly (उत्सुकता से इंतजार करना); immediately = at once (एकदम); compass = Instrument for telling direction (दिशा –सूचक यंत्र); huge = big (बड़े); risk = danger (खतरा); twisted = shook (हिला); Instruments = machines (यंत्र ); waved = shook (हिलाया); follow = come after (पीछे-पीछे);obedient = one who obeys the orders (आज्ञाकारी); Fuel = petrol, diesel etc. (ईधन); frightened = terrified (भयभीत); runway = the narrow strip the plane lands on or takes off from (हवाई अड्डे की पट्टी); strangely = in a strange manner (अजीब ढ़ंग से);arrive = reach (पहुँचना) ।