Chapter 3 – Part II: The Black Aeroplane
by Frederick Forsyth
📖 Textual Questions (Page No. 40)
Q1. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
Ans. The risk was flying his old Dakota straight into huge storm clouds. The narrator took this risk because he was eager to reach England in time for breakfast and meet his family, despite knowing the danger.
Q2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Ans. As soon as he entered the clouds, everything turned black. The plane twisted and jumped. His compass stopped working, other instruments failed, and the radio went dead. He was completely lost, unable to see or communicate, and running out of fuel.
Q3. Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?
Ans. Because he had narrowly escaped a dangerous situation. His plane had no compass, no radio, and very little fuel left. Landing safely gave him relief, and he did not regret leaving the plane after such a terrifying experience.
Q4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
Ans. She looked at him strangely because, according to radar records, no other aircraft was flying that night. Yet, the narrator insisted that another plane had guided him through the storm.
Q5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely?
Ans. The story leaves the question open. It might have been a phantom plane, his imagination, or divine intervention. Symbolically, the “black aeroplane” could represent hope, courage, or unseen help that guides us through dark times.
Extra Questions & Answers
Short Answer Type
-
What was the narrator’s dream while flying at night?
He dreamed of reaching England in time for breakfast with his family. -
Why couldn’t the narrator fly around the storm clouds?
Because his plane had limited fuel, not enough to go north or south. -
What went wrong with the Dakota inside the storm?
The compass spun, other instruments stopped working, the radio went dead, and he lost his way. -
Why did the narrator follow the black aeroplane?
Because he was lost and frightened, and the mysterious pilot seemed to guide him safely through the storm. -
What mystery remained unsolved at the end?
The identity of the black aeroplane and its pilot, since radar showed no such plane existed.
Long Answer Type
Q1. How did the narrator escape from the storm?
Ans. The narrator escaped from the storm with the unexpected help of a mysterious black aeroplane. When his Dakota’s instruments and radio failed, he was lost and terrified. At that moment, he saw another plane flying close by, with a pilot who gestured for him to follow. Trusting him, the narrator obediently followed the black aeroplane like a child. For half an hour, it guided him through the dark storm until he suddenly saw runway lights below. He landed safely, relieved and grateful. However, when he turned to thank his mysterious saviour, the black aeroplane had vanished. The control centre confirmed that no other planes were flying that night. This left the narrator puzzled but alive. His escape remains a mystery, suggesting unseen forces of hope or divine help in times of crisis.
Q2. “The Black Aeroplane” is a story of mystery and faith. Discuss.
Ans. The story blends adventure with mystery. The narrator risked flying into a storm out of desire to reach home. When his plane failed and he was lost, a black aeroplane appeared to guide him. Yet, no record of that plane existed. The mystery lies in whether the plane was real, imagined, or supernatural. Readers are left to decide whether it was divine intervention, a guardian spirit, or the narrator’s imagination born out of desperation. The story symbolises faith—sometimes unseen forces guide us through life’s storms. It teaches that in difficult times, courage and hope can create miraculous escapes. The mystery of the black aeroplane makes the story unforgettable and thought-provoking.
Summary of the Story
The Black Aeroplane by Frederick Forsyth is a thrilling and mysterious story about a pilot’s narrow escape while flying at night. It combines suspense, adventure, and mystery, leaving readers to ponder the strange events that saved the narrator’s life.
The story begins with the pilot flying his old Dakota aeroplane from France to England. It was one thirty in the morning, and the night sky was clear with the moon shining and stars twinkling. The narrator was happy and looked forward to enjoying an English breakfast with his family. He was confident, with Paris Control guiding him on the route.
After passing Paris, he noticed huge black storm clouds ahead, like dark mountains across his path. He knew he did not have enough fuel to fly around them or go back to Paris. Still, driven by his desire to reach home, he decided, “I’ll take the risk,” and flew into the storm.
Inside, everything turned pitch dark. The plane tossed violently, making it difficult to control. To his horror, the compass spun uselessly, the instruments failed, and the radio went silent. He was completely lost, unable to see or contact anyone, and his fuel was almost gone. Fear gripped him as he realised the danger of crashing.
Then, in the midst of the storm, he spotted another aeroplane flying alongside him. It was black, had no lights, but he could clearly see the pilot’s face. The other pilot gestured to him to follow. Relieved, the narrator obediently followed the mysterious plane like a child, believing it would lead him to safety.
For about half an hour, he followed the black aeroplane through the storm, until suddenly he saw runway lights below. He landed his Dakota safely, his heart filled with gratitude. But when he turned to look for his guide, the mysterious plane had vanished.
After landing, the narrator rushed to the control centre and asked about the other pilot. The woman in charge looked surprised and told him that no other planes were in the sky that night. His Dakota was the only one on the radar.
The story ends with a haunting question: Who was the pilot of the black aeroplane? Was it a real person, a phantom, or a creation of the narrator’s imagination? Forsyth leaves it unanswered, intensifying the mystery.
Thematically, the story reflects human vulnerability, courage, and the mysterious forces that sometimes guide us in life. The “black aeroplane” may symbolise hope, divine intervention, or inner strength that appears during crises. The story is also a reminder of how survival often depends not only on skill but also on faith in the unknown.
With its suspenseful narration and unresolved ending, The Black Aeroplane remains a fascinating tale that stirs both curiosity and imagination.
✒️ Biography of Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth (1938–2022) was a celebrated British author and journalist, best known for his gripping thrillers and adventure stories. He was born on 25 August 1938 in Ashford, Kent, England. From an early age, he showed a keen interest in languages and adventure.
Forsyth began his career as a journalist. He worked for Reuters and later as a BBC correspondent, covering international events. His assignments took him across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, giving him firsthand experience of global politics and conflicts. This background gave authenticity and realism to his novels.
His breakthrough came with The Day of the Jackal (1971), a political thriller about an assassination attempt on French President Charles de Gaulle. The book was an instant bestseller and established him as a master of the thriller genre. It was later adapted into a successful film.
Forsyth’s writing was marked by detailed research, journalistic precision, and suspenseful storytelling. His novels, including The Odessa File (1972), The Dogs of War (1974), The Devil’s Alternative (1979), and The Fourth Protocol(1984), combined fact with fiction so seamlessly that they felt both believable and thrilling.
Though The Black Aeroplane is a simple short story included in school texts, it reflects Forsyth’s ability to create suspense and mystery within a concise framework. It departs from his usual political thrillers but still carries his hallmark of tension and unanswered questions.
Apart from writing, Forsyth led an adventurous life. He served briefly in the Royal Air Force as a pilot, an experience that influenced many of his aviation-themed stories. He also worked as a war correspondent during conflicts such as the Biafran War in Nigeria, which shaped his understanding of human struggle and survival.
Forsyth received numerous awards for his literary contributions, including the Edgar Award and the Crime Writers’ Association’s Cartier Diamond Dagger. In 1997, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to literature.
He passed away on 2 August 2022 at the age of 83. Frederick Forsyth is remembered as one of the greatest thriller writers of the twentieth century, whose works combined suspense, politics, and adventure. His stories, including The Black Aeroplane, continue to captivate readers with their mix of realism and mystery.