The Black Aeroplane

NCERT Exercise

Question 1: “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?

Answer: A huge storm was between the pilot and his destination. Flying through storm can be very risky, especially for small planes like Dakota. But as the pilot was going on holiday to meet his family, so he thought of taking the risk. Even those of you living with parents must be looking ahead to meet with cousins and grandparents during holidays. And once you are in a mood for holiday then no matter if your train or flight is running behind schedule, you will suffer all hardships in the way because the happiness of holiday will numb your pain.

This short story beautifully depicts the situation. The parents and siblings of the baby seagull apply all the tricks to cajole and force it to fly. Finally, the baby seagull succeeds in overcoming its fear and learns to fly.

Especially, think about those students who are living in boarding schools and get once in a year opportunity to meet their parents. They will happily face all harsh conditions of journey to reach their home.

Question 2: Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.

Answer: The plane twisted and turned in the storm. The instrument panel was not working. Pilot was not sure about his location and direction. This must have been a fearsome experience.

Then the pilot sees a plane flying besides his plane. The pilot of another plane waves and shows him the way out of storm. It was like a godsend for him. Following the unknown person, the pilot comes out of the storm and reaches his destination.

Question 3: Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?

Answer: Dakota’s status among flying community is same as a Maruti 800 is having among cars, or an old scooter is having among two wheelers. These models are the basic means of conveyance. People don’t feel elated while commuting by them. So more often than not a pilot coming out of an old Dakota always feels sorry for having to fly such an old and rickety model.

But in this story as the pilot weathered the storm and landed safely so he was more than happy to come out from the old Dakota.

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

Answer: The woman at the control centre was sure that nobody apart from the narrator was flying at that time. So, when she heard about another pilot showing the way to the narrator, see had every reason to disbelieve.

People at airport control center get information about each and every plane flying in the vicinity. They get information through RADAR.

Question 5: Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely?

Answer: It is difficult to guess. But probably it was the narrator’s self confidence or self belief, which created the illusion of another plane flying nearby.

As other concrete evidences in the story from control centre indicate, there was no other plane flying at that time. So may be the illusion theory holds more water.