3.2. Two Stories about flying -The Black Aeroplane - Part 2 - Class 10- First Flight

Chapter: The Black Aeroplane 

Author: Frederick Forsyth

Textbook: First Flight

Genre: Fiction (Mystery/Adventure)

📝 Summary

The story is about a pilot who is flying his old Dakota plane from France to England. It is a clear night and he looks forward to reaching home in time for breakfast with his family. However, he soon encounters dark storm clouds which block his path. With limited fuel and no other route, he takes the risky decision to fly into the storm. Inside, he loses visibility and all his instruments—radio, compass, and more—stop working. Just when he feels completely lost and helpless, he sees another black aeroplane flying near him. The pilot of the mysterious plane gestures for him to follow. With relief, he follows the black aeroplane, which safely guides him out of the storm and to an airport runway. But as he lands and asks about the other plane, he is shocked to learn that no other aircraft had been flying that night and only his plane appeared on the radar. The story ends with a mysterious question: who was the unknown pilot that saved him?

👤 Character Sketch:

The Narrator (Pilot)

The narrator is a confident and optimistic pilot who dreams of a comfortable breakfast at home. However, he is also impulsive and risk-taking, shown when he flies into the storm despite poor conditions. He becomes anxious and fearful when his instruments fail but remains alert. His relief and gratitude toward the mysterious black aeroplane show his humility. He is thoughtful and curious, wanting to thank the unknown pilot. His experience makes him realize the limits of human control and the possible presence of unexplainable forces.

📚 Themes

✨ Literary Devices

📖 Title Justification

The title “The Black Aeroplane” is central to the story’s mystery and plot. The black aeroplane appears during the pilot’s most critical moment, guiding him out of the deadly storm. It represents a turning point between danger and safety, and yet it vanishes without a trace. The identity of the black plane and its pilot remain unknown, which creates a lingering mystery. Hence, the title captures the core suspense and emotional weight of the narrative.

✅ One-Mark Questions

1. Where was the narrator flying to?

   → The narrator was flying from France to England, specifically from Paris to London, in his old Dakota aeroplane.
   

2. What problem did the narrator face mid-air?

   → The narrator flew into storm clouds and lost control over his instruments, including the compass and radio, which stopped working completely.

   
   

3. What did the narrator see in the storm?

   → In the middle of the storm, the narrator saw another aeroplane—a mysterious black aeroplane—flying near him, which seemed to appear out of nowhere.

   
   

4. Why was the narrator happy to see the black aeroplane?

   → The narrator was happy to see the black aeroplane because he was lost in the storm without direction, and the mysterious pilot appeared to guide him to safety.
   

5. What surprised the narrator after landing?

   → After landing, the narrator was surprised to learn from the airport authorities that there was no other aeroplane flying that night and nothing was seen on the radar.

   
   

✅ Three-Mark Questions

1. Describe what happened to the narrator's instruments inside the storm. → When the narrator entered the dark storm clouds, he quickly lost visibility. His compass needle began spinning erratically, and the rest of the instruments, including the radio, failed to function. This left him completely disoriented and unable to contact air traffic control or find his position in the sky, putting his safety at great risk.
   

2. How did the black aeroplane help the narrator? → The black aeroplane appeared suddenly in the storm and flew ahead of the narrator’s Dakota. The pilot in the black aeroplane signalled him to follow and guided him safely out of the storm. The narrator followed obediently until he saw the runway lights and managed to land his plane safely, saving his life.
   

3. Why is the story considered mysterious? → The story is considered mysterious because after safely landing, the narrator discovered that the radar had not detected any other plane in the sky. The air traffic controller insisted that there had been no black aeroplane, which raises the question—who was the pilot who guided him? This unexplained encounter gives the story a suspenseful and supernatural tone.
   

🧠 Value-Based Question

Q: What lesson does the story “The Black Aeroplane” teach us about trust and faith?→ The story teaches that sometimes, in moments of complete despair, help may arrive from unknown sources. The pilot’s faith in the black aeroplane, though mysterious, saved his life. It reminds us that courage, trust, and hope can lead us through the darkest storms—literally and metaphorically.

End

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