The Black Aeroplane by Frederick Forsyth

 Class 10 First Flight – 

“The Black Aeroplane” by Frederick Forsyth 

Word Meanings 

• Aeroplane – airplane

• Midnight – 12 o’clock at night

• Dozing – half-sleeping

• Over his shoulder – looking back

• Twinkling lights – shining, blinking lights

• Fuel – petrol used in airplanes

• Storm clouds – dark, dangerous clouds full of rain and thunder

• Compass – instrument showing direction

• Dead – not working

• Radio – wireless communication device

• Disappeared – vanished, not seen

• Runway – strip of land for airplanes to land or take off

• Control tower – airport building that guides flights

 Summary (Simple English)

The narrator was flying his old Dakota aeroplane at midnight. He was going from France to England and was dreaming of a holiday with his family. The sky was clear and stars were shining. Suddenly, he saw huge black storm clouds in front of him. He knew he did not have enough fuel to fly around them.

Taking a risk, he entered the storm. Inside, everything went wrong – his compass and radio stopped working. He thought he was lost. Suddenly, he saw another aeroplane – a black aeroplane – flying close to him. The pilot of that plane signaled him to follow. Without thinking, he followed the strange plane.

After some time, the black aeroplane guided him out of the storm. He landed safely on the runway. But when he asked the control tower about the other plane, they said no other plane was flying that night. The narrator was shocked. Who was the mysterious pilot who saved his life?

 NCERT Textbook Questions & Answers

Thinking About the Text

Q1. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
Answer:
The risk was flying through the storm clouds instead of turning back. The narrator took the risk because he wanted to reach England in time for breakfast with his family. His desire for home and comfort was stronger than his fear.

Q2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Answer:
As the narrator entered the storm, everything became dark. The aeroplane jumped and twisted in the stormy air. His compass stopped working, the radio went dead, and he lost contact with the control tower. He had very little fuel left and was terrified that he would crash.

Q3. Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?
Answer:
The narrator was relieved to be alive. His plane had gone through a very dangerous situation in the storm. He was grateful that he survived and landed safely, even though the plane had many problems.

Q4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
Answer:
The woman at the control centre looked at him strangely because the narrator asked about another black aeroplane. She told him that no other aeroplane was flying that night, and his was the only one they had seen on the radar.

Q5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
The narrator believed that a black aeroplane guided him safely out of the storm. But the control tower said there was no such plane. It is a mystery. Some say it could be his own courage, inner strength, or even a guardian angel. The story leaves it unanswered, showing that some experiences cannot be explained.