Black Aeroplane: Mystery, Hope, and the Unknown

The Black Aeroplane by Frederick Forsyth is a gripping story that blends mystery with human emotion. It explores courage, risk, hope, and the unexplained. The story leaves readers thinking about an important question: Are there moments in life that cannot be logically explained?

By the end of this article, you will be able to:

• understand the story in detail
• analyse characters and themes
• interpret the mystery in the story
• answer exam-based questions confidently

Table of Contents

• About the Author
• Summary of the Story
• Characters
• Themes of Black Aeroplane
• Important Concepts
• Key Takeaways
• Practice Zone

About the Author

Frederick Forsyth is a British author known for writing suspenseful and thrilling stories. His writing often:

• involves mystery and tension
• focuses on realistic situations with unexpected twists
• keeps readers engaged till the end

Summary of the Story

The story Black Aeroplane illustrates how preoccupying thoughts can influence one's decisions, leading to problematic situations. The narrator, Frederick Forsyth, is a pilot who, driven by his eagerness to meet his family and enjoy a delicious breakfast, makes the wrong decision to confront the storm. His courage and perseverance helped him miraculously escape the wrath of nature.

In the story, the narrator is flying his Dakota aeroplane from France to England. Lost in dreams, the narrator headed right into the storm. Suddenly, everything got dark, and his instruments stopped functioning. He lost control of the plane and was in utter despair. Just then, he saw another plane whose pilot was disposed to rescue him. With very little fuel in the aircraft, he flew for half an hour, and when he had enough to last five or ten minutes, he started to descend. Finally, he saw the runway. He wished to thank the pilot of the black airplane. However, when he turned to look at him, he could see no one. He went to the control tower and asked a woman about the other aeroplane. She laughed and said that there was no other aeroplane except his. The narrator was surprised to hear that he kept wondering who had helped him and saved his life.

Characters

The Narrator (Pilot)

• Confident but takes unnecessary risks
• Faces fear and uncertainty
• Shows courage in a dangerous situation

The Mysterious Pilot

• Unknown identity
• Appears at the right moment
• Guides the narrator to safety
• Represents hope or a higher power

Air Traffic Control Staff

• Provide factual information
• Confirm that no other plane was present
• Add to the mystery of the story

Themes of Black Aeroplane

1. Mystery and the Unknown: The story leaves an unanswered question about the black aeroplane, creating suspense and curiosity.
2. Hope in Difficult Situations: Even in the most dangerous situations, help can appear unexpectedly.
3. Risk and Consequences: The pilot’s decision to fly into the storm shows how risky choices can lead to danger.
4. Trust: The narrator trusts the unknown pilot without hesitation, which ultimately saves him.

Important Concepts

1. Supernatural vs Reality

The story raises a question:

• Was the black aeroplane real?
• Or was it an illusion or imagination?

This uncertainty is central to the story.

2. Human Limitation

Not everything can be explained logically. Some experiences remain mysterious.

3. Importance of Judgement

The pilot’s initial decision shows how poor judgement can create life-threatening situations.

Key Takeaways

• Not everything can be logically explained
• Hope can appear in unexpected ways
• Risky decisions can lead to danger
• Trust can sometimes save lives

Practice Zone

A. Very Short Answer-type Questions

1. Where was the narrator going?

Answer: The narrator was going to England in his old Dakota.

2. What happened to the aeroplane when the narrator entered the storm clouds?

Answer: The aeroplane started twisting and turning as the narrator entered the storm clouds.

3. What stopped the narrator from flying over the other side of the clouds?

Answer: The narrator could not fly over the other side of the clouds because he had limited fuel, which was just enough to reach England.

B. Short Answer-type Questions

1. How did the narrator feel when he started flying?

Answer: The narrator was thrilled and eager to be with his family in England. He was flying from Paris to England. The sky was clear and the stars were shining in it.

2. What happened when the narrator turned his aeroplane twelve degrees west?

Answer: The narrator saw huge storm clouds that looked like black mountains standing in front of him across the sky when he turned his aeroplane twelve degrees west.

3. What did the narrator notice when he was lost in the storm?

Answer: The narrator noticed another aeroplane in the storm clouds. It did not have lights on its wings, but surprisingly, he was able to see the face of the pilot.

C. Long Answer-type Questions

1. Give an account of the narrator’s experience as he flew his old Dakota.

Answer: The narrator was delighted when he started flying his old Dakota because he was about to meet his family and spend his holiday with them. About 150 kilometres from Paris, he saw dark storm clouds approaching. His eagerness to meet his family led him to decide to fly through the storm. The clouds were as huge as mountains. He could neither fly above the clouds nor fly around the aircraft, and soon all his instruments stopped working. He was lost, and he could not see anything outside.

Just then, he saw a black aeroplane by his side, which had no lights, on its wings.

The pilot of the aeroplane instructed him to follow, as he had lost his way. He obeyed him and, after some time, came out of the clouds. He saw the runway lights and landed safely.

2. Do you think the black aeroplane is a mystery? Why?

Answer: Yes, I think that the black aeroplane was a mystery because when the narrator was lost amidst the black clouds and unable to see anything, the black aeroplane appeared. The narrator noticed that there were no lights on the wings of the aeroplane. It was strange that amid such dark storm clouds an aeroplane flew without lights. The pilot of the black aeroplane guided the narrator to land, but when the narrator turned to thank him, he could not see him again. The mystery deepened when the narrator asked the woman in the control tower, who confirmed that there was no aeroplane in the sky that night, apart from the narrator’s Dakota. 

Thus, the story ended with the mystery of the black aircraft and its pilot.

3. Give a brief character sketch of the narrator.

Answer: The narrator decided to fly through the black storm clouds to meet his family and spend his holiday. He was brave and determined to land his old Dakota safely on time. When he entered the clouds, his aeroplane began to jump and twist; he remained calm. All his instruments stopped working, and he could not see anything outside; still, he faced the situation courageously. A mysterious plane arrived to rescue him, and apparently, he emerged from the black clouds and landed safely. After his safe landing, he wanted to thank the pilot of the black plane.

This shows his gratitude towards the pilot of the black plane. He was thankful to him for saving his life. It shows that the pilot of Dakota had a value of gratefulness in his character.

D. Extract-based Questions

1. The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England.

I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family. I looked at my watch: one thirty in the morning. 

‘I should call Paris Control soon,’ I thought. As I looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big city in front of me. I switched on the radio and said, “Paris Control, Dakota DS 088 here. Can you hear me? I’m on my way to England. Over.”

A. How was the weather when the narrator started flying?

1. It was cloudy.
2. It was raining.
3. The moon was up and the stars were shining.
4. There was a thunderstorm accompanied by rain.

Answer: 3. The moon was up and the stars were shining.

B. How did the narrator describe the countryside?

1. sleeping countryside 
2. abandoned countryside
3. busy countryside 
4. none of the above

Answer: 1. sleeping countryside

C. The narrator was happy to be _____________________________.

1. with other passengers
2. with his co-pilot
3. with his family
4. alone, high up in the sky

Answer: 4. alone, high up in the sky

D. The narrator was flying his Dakota over ______________________________.

1. Paris
2. France
3. Holland
4. England

Answer: 2. France

E. The front tip of the aeroplane is known as ___________________.

1. nose 
2. limbs
3. eyes 
4. face

Answer: 1. nose

2. ‘He knows that I am lost,’ I thought. ‘He’s trying to help me.’ He turned his aeroplane slowly to the north, in front of my Dakota, so that it would be easier for me to follow him. I was very happy to go behind the strange aeroplane like an obedient child. After half an hour the strange black aeroplane was still there in front of me in the clouds. Now there was only enough fuel in the old Dakota’s last tank to fly for five or ten minutes more. I was starting to feel frightened again. But then he started to go down and I followed through the storm.

A. What did the pilot of the black plane know?

1. that the narrator was lost
2. that the narrator has recognised him
3. that the narrator can rescue himself
4. none of the above

Answer: 1. that the narrator was lost

B. According to the narrator, the Dakota had enough fuel to fly for __________________.

1. one hour 
2. five or ten minutes more
3. fifteen minutes
4. half an hour

Answer: 2. five or ten minutes more

C. What did the narrator do when he saw the other plane going down?

1. He stalled his Dakota. 
2. He did not follow it.
3. He flew over it. 
4. He followed the black aeroplane.

Answer: 4. He followed the black aeroplane.

D. Find a word opposite to the word ‘finished’ from the extract above.

1. followed 
2. lost
3. started 
4. frightened

Answer: 3. started

E. Find a word from the extract above that means the same as ‘weird’.

1. strange 
2. happy
3. obedient 
4. lost

Answer: 1. strange