Chapter 3


Two Stories about Flying

Thinking about the Text

1. "I'll take the risk. What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?

Ans:

  1. "I'll take the risk." – The risk here refers to the narrator's decision to fly his old Dakota aeroplane straight into the storm clouds, despite knowing the dangers.

  • Why is it a risk?
  • Because flying into storm clouds without clear visibility is dangerous. The narrator's plane had limited fuel, and he could neither fly over nor around the storm. Flying into it could result in losing control, getting lost, or even crashing.
  • Why does the narrator take it?
  • He wanted to get home to England and have a warm breakfast with his family. His longing for comfort and home overpowered his caution, so he chose to risk flying through the storm rather than turn back to Paris.

In short, he took the risk out of hope, urgency, and emotional desire — not logic or safety.


2. Describe the narrator's experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.

Ans: The narrator’s experience inside the storm was terrifying and disorienting:

  • As he entered the storm clouds, everything went dark and he could not see anything.
  • His compass started spinning wildly and stopped working. All the other instruments also failed, and the radio went dead.
  • He was completely lost in the black clouds, with no idea where he was or how to get out.
  • He started to feel frightened and helpless, as he had no direction, no communication, and very little fuel left.
  • Just then, he saw a strange black aeroplane with no lights, flying close to him.
  • The mystery pilot waved at him and signaled him to follow. The narrator followed the black plane like an obedient child, feeling relieved and hopeful.
  • After half an hour, the black aeroplane guided him out of the storm and led him to a runway, where he landed safely.

His experience went from fear and confusion to relief and wonder — especially when he realized no other plane had been in the sky that night.


3. Why does the narrator say, "I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota..."?

Ans:  The narrator says this because he had just gone through a very frightening and life-threatening experience flying the old Dakota aeroplane through a violent storm.

  • His instruments had failed, he had no radio, no compass, and very little fuel left.
  • He was lost in the dark clouds, surrounded by danger, and didn’t know if he would survive.
  • After being miraculously guided to safety by a mysterious black aeroplane, he finally landed safely at an airport.

So, he felt relieved and grateful to be alive. Walking away from the old Dakota meant he was finally safe, and the worst was behind him. That’s why he says he was “not sorry” to leave the plane — it symbolized the fear and danger he had just escaped.


4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?

Ans:  The woman in the control centre looked at the narrator strangely because he asked her about another aeroplane — the mysterious black aeroplane that had helped him land safely.

  • She was surprised because, according to radar records, there had been no other aircraft flying that night in the stormy sky.
  • The narrator’s Dakota was the only plane visible on the radar.
  • So when he asked, "Who was the other pilot?" she found it strange and laughed in disbelief.

Her reaction shows that no one else had seen or recorded the black aeroplane, making its appearance mysterious and unexplainable, which confused her.

5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.

Ans: 

This question is open to interpretation. Here are a few possible answers with reasons:

A. A Mysterious Real Pilot

Some might believe that a real but unregistered pilot was flying another plane and chose to help the narrator.

  • Reason: The narrator clearly saw the plane and the pilot waving to him.
  • But this is unlikely, as the control tower confirmed no other plane was in the sky, and the radar didn’t show it.

B. A Supernatural Force or Guardian Angel

Many believe the black aeroplane was a supernatural presence — like a guardian angel or some divine intervention.

  • Reason: The plane appeared when the narrator was lost and hopeless.
  • It had no lights, flew safely through a dangerous storm, and vanished without a trace after helping.
  • The timing, guidance, and disappearance make it seem mysterious and magical.

C. The Narrator's Imagination or Hallucination

Some may think the black aeroplane was just a figment of the narrator’s imagination caused by fear, stress, and fatigue.

  • Reason: He was exhausted, under pressure, and had limited visibility — it’s possible he imagined help as a way to calm himself.

✅ Conclusion (Balanced View):

While it’s unclear who exactly helped him, it seems most likely that the black aeroplane was a mysterious, possibly supernatural force that appeared just in time to save him. It added a sense of mystery and wonder to the story, leaving readers to decide what they believe.