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The Black Aeroplane

- Frederick Forsyth

25 August 1938

Q1. Which plane was Frederick Forsyth flying? Where was he going?

Ans. He was flying an old Dakota.He was going to England to spend his holiday with his family.

Q2. Describe the black clouds from the point of view of the pilot.

Ans. They were storm clouds. They were very huge. They looked like black mountains. They
stood in the sky in front of the pilot. It was not possible for the pilot to go higher and fly over
them.

Q3. A pilot is lost in clouds. Does he arrive safe? Who helps him? What is the experience of the
pilot inside the black clouds?

Ans. A pilot in the black plane helps the first pilot in coming out of the storm clouds. He
waves to the first pilot. He asks the first pilot to follow him. He takes him safely out of the
storm clouds. Thus, he rescues the first pilot.

When the pilot was in the clouds,it was suddenly dark. The pilot could see nothing outside his
plane.His aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. His compass, radio and all other
instruments were dead.

Q4. Why did the writer feel frightened once again?

Ans. Frederick Forsyth had been following the black aeroplane for half an hour. But still they
hadn't reached any place. Forsyth became frightened because his aeroplane was left with
very little fuel. It could last only five or ten minutes.

Q5. Was the pilot of the Dakota able to meet the pilot of the black aeroplane?

Ans. No, the pilot of the Dakota was not able to meet the other pilot. The black aeroplane had
suddenly disappeared. Even the control room people knew nothing about him.

Q6. Justify the title of the story 'The Black Aeroplane'.

Ans: The title of the story is apt and suggestive. The whole story .centres around the black
aeroplane that saves the narrator's aeroplane from a certain crash and disaster. This plane,
the black aeroplane, arouses the curiosity of the readers and they remain in suspense about
it. However, it is only at the end of the story that the reader comes to know the fact. There
was no other plane flying at that time on account of the storm. The narrator's plane was the
only one that come on the radar.
Q7. Describe the pilot's flight in his old Dakota before he entered the dark clouds.

Ans. It was a clear starry night. The pilot was flying his old Dakota aeroplane. He was going to
England. It was one thirty in the morning. He talked to the Paris Control over his radio. They
advised him to turn twelve degrees west. The pilot did accordingly. He had left Paris 150
kilometres behind him. Suddenly, he saw huge storm clouds in front of him. The pilot had not
enough fuel to take a longer route. So he flew his Dakota straight into the black clouds.

Q8. How far is 'The Black Aeroplane' an interesting story? Or

How is this a msterious story?

Ans. From the very beginning to the end, this story is full of mystery. It grips the reader's
interest the very moment when the narrator is caught in dark stormy clouds during his flight
to England. Nothing is visible outside the plane. The compass, radio and other instruments in
his aeroplane all fail. The worst thing is he has not much fuel with him.Suddenly, he sees a
black aeroplane quite near him. Its pilot waves to the narrator to follow him. The narrator
follows the black aeroplane and soon finds himself out of the dark clouds. He sees an airport
before him. He lands his plane safely near the control tower. He goes in and asks a woman
there who that pilot was. The woman tells him that there was no other plane, except his, flying
in such a stormy weather. The story is interesting so far as it leaves the reader thinking about
the mysterious black aeroplane and its pilot.

Q9. Describe the narrator's experiences as he flew the aeroplane into the storm. How did the
black aeroplane help a pilot of the old Dakota? How was Frederick Forsyth rescued?

Ans. The narrator was going to England by plane. Suddenly,his plane entered dark clouds. It
was impossible to see anything outside the plane. His aeroplane jumped and twisted in the
air. The compass, the radio and the other instruments of the plane were dead. He could not
locate his location. He was lost in the storm. His plane was also about to run out of fuel.

Suddenly,he saw another aeroplane next to him. It was black. Its pilot waved to the narrator.
He asked him to follow him. The narrator followed him like an obedient child. Soon, the black
aeroplane started going down. The narrator was out of the black clouds. He saw an airport in
front of him. He landed his plane. His life was saved. But the black aeroplane had gone. The
pilot was surprised to know that there was no black aeroplane flying that night.

Vocabulary

Dakota aeroplane = Model of aircraft, old plane (डकोटा विमान), Holiday = Vacation, break from
work (अवकाश), Paris Control = Air traffic authority, flight guidance in Paris (पैरिस नियंत्रण),
Compass = Navigation instrument, direction tool (दिशा सूचक), Fuel tank = Plane’s energy
storage, container for fuel (ईंधन टैंक), Storm clouds = Heavy, rain-bearing clouds, ominous
clouds (तूफानी बादल),Risk = Hazardous decision, danger possibility (जोखिम), Twisted = Changed
direction suddenly, turned sharply (अचानक मोड़ना), Clouds = Fluffy sky masses, weather
formations (बादल), Breakfast = First meal of the day, morning food (नाश्ता), Storm = Severe
weather condition, turbulent atmosphere (तूफान),Compass = Navigation instrument, direction
tool (दिशा सूचक), Dead = Not working, non-functional (बंद), Radio = Electronic communication,
wireless communication device (रेडियो), Answer = Response, reply (जवाब),Lost = Unable to find
way, misplaced (खो गया), Storm = Severe weather condition, turbulent atmosphere
(तूफान),Aeroplane = Flying vehicle, aircraft (विमान), Lights = Luminous devices, sources of
illumination (रोशनी), Pilot’s face = Aviator’s countenance, person controlling plane (पायलट का
चेहरा), Waved = Raised hand in greeting, signalled (हाथ हिलाना),North = Direction, opposite of
south (उत्तर), Dakota = Model of aircraft, old plane (डकोटा विमान), Obedient child = Following
instructions, dutiful offspring (आज्ञाकारी बच्चा),Strange = Unfamiliar, not known (अजनबी), Black
aeroplane = Dark-colored aircraft, mysterious plane (काला विमान), Clouds = Fluffy sky masses,
weather formations (बादल),Fuel = Substance for energy, power source (ईंधन), Dakota = Model of
aircraft, old plane (डकोटा विमान), Frightened = Scared, alarmed (डरा हुआ), Runway = Paved strip
for takeoff & landing, aircraft track (रनवे), Airport = Place for aircraft operations, flight hub (हवाई
अड्डा),Empty = Vacant, devoid of (खाली), Control tower = Building for air traffic management,
flight control center (नियंत्रण मिनार),Control centre = Operational hub, management area (नियंत्रण
कें द्र), Strangely = In an unusual way, oddly (अजीब तरीके से), Laughed = Expressed joy, chuckled
(हंसना), Radar = Electronic system to detect objects, tracking device (राडार), Compass =
Navigation instrument, direction tool (दिशा सूचक),Tanks = Storage containers, reservoirs (टैंक),
Strange black aeroplane = Mysterious dark-colored aircraft (अजीब काला विमान), Storm = Severe
weather condition, turbulent atmosphere (तूफान), Lights = Luminous devices, sources of
illumination (रोशनी)