Two Stories about Flying
This lesson contains two short stories about flying — 'His First Flight' by Liam O'Flaherty and 'The Black Aeroplane' by Frederick Forsyth. Both deal with fear, courage and trust. The page summarises each and provides exam-style questions.
Learning objectives
- Recall the events of both stories.
- Understand the theme of overcoming fear.
- Explain the mystery in the second story.
- Answer comprehension and exam questions.
Key concepts
Summary — His First Flight
A young seagull is too afraid to make his first flight, even though his parents and siblings have all flown. Frightened that his wings will not support him, he stays alone on the ledge while the others coax and even threaten him. Finally, driven by intense hunger, when his mother flies near him with a piece of fish, he dives off the ledge to reach it. To his surprise, his wings spread and he is flying at last, soon skimming over the sea with confidence.
Summary — The Black Aeroplane
A pilot flying alone at night towards England runs into a huge, dark storm cloud. With his instruments failing and no way to see, he is lost and frightened. Suddenly another black aeroplane appears beside him, and its pilot signals him to follow. Guided safely through the storm, he lands and asks the control tower about the other plane — only to learn that nothing had appeared on the radar and there was no other aircraft in the sky. The identity of his mysterious helper remains unexplained.
Theme
Both stories share the theme of overcoming fear. In the first, the young seagull conquers his fear of flying through necessity and discovers his own ability. In the second, the pilot survives a terrifying ordeal with the help of a mysterious guide, raising questions of faith, mystery and the unknown.
About the authors
'His First Flight' is by the Irish writer Liam O'Flaherty, while 'The Black Aeroplane' is by Frederick Forsyth, a British author known for thrillers. Together the stories show that courage often comes when we are pushed to act, and that help can arrive in unexpected ways.
Key definitions
- Ledge
- A narrow shelf of rock on which the seagull sat.
- Plunged
- Moved suddenly and quickly downward.
- Cumulus cloud
- A large, heaped storm cloud the pilot flew into.
- Control tower
- The place that guides aircraft taking off and landing.
Solved examples
Q1. What finally made the young seagull fly?
Solution: Extreme hunger — he dived for the fish his mother held and began to fly.
Q2. What helped the lost pilot reach safety?
Solution: A mysterious black aeroplane whose pilot guided him through the storm.
Q3. What did the control tower reveal about the other plane?
Solution: Nothing had shown on the radar; there was no other plane in the sky.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up the two stories or their authors.
- Thinking the seagull flew bravely from the start (he was very afraid).
- Forgetting the unexplained mystery of the second plane.
- Believing the pilot's instruments were working.
Two Stories about Flying — MCQ Quiz
10 questions with instant feedback. Use number keys 1–4 to answer.
In the first story, the young seagull was afraid to:
Practice questions
Short answer
Who wrote 'His First Flight'?
The Irish writer Liam O'Flaherty.
How did the seagull finally fly?
Hunger made him dive for fish, and his wings carried him.
What was strange about the rescue in the second story?
The guiding plane never appeared on the radar.
Long answer
How does the young seagull overcome his fear in 'His First Flight'?
The young seagull is paralysed by the fear that his wings will not hold him in the air, so he refuses to fly even when his parents, brothers and sister all soar around him. Left alone and hungry on the ledge, he watches the others eat and grows desperate. His family tries coaxing and even threatens to let him starve, but it is hunger that finally overcomes his fear: when his mother flies close with a piece of fish, the starving seagull, forgetting everything else, dives off the ledge to seize it. In that moment his wings spread and he finds himself flying. His fall becomes flight, and soon he is gliding over the sea joyfully. The story shows that necessity can push us past our fears and reveal abilities we did not know we had.
Describe the pilot's experience in 'The Black Aeroplane' and its mysterious ending.
In 'The Black Aeroplane', a pilot flying alone at night towards England encounters a vast, dark storm cloud. As he enters it, everything goes black, his instruments stop working, and he loses all sense of direction, becoming frightened and helpless. Just then, another black aeroplane appears beside him, its pilot calmly signalling him to follow. Trusting this stranger, he follows through the storm and is led safely down to a runway, his fuel almost gone. Relieved, he asks the control tower to identify the other plane that guided him — and is told that no other aircraft had been on the radar at all. The story ends in mystery, for the identity of his rescuer is never explained, leaving readers to wonder whether it was chance, imagination or something beyond explanation.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking)
What do both stories suggest about how courage is found?
They suggest courage often emerges under pressure — through hunger or danger — rather than being present beforehand, and that acting despite fear can lead to success.
Why does the unexplained ending make the second story memorable?
Because it leaves a sense of wonder and mystery, inviting readers to reflect on faith, luck and the limits of explanation.
Quick revision
Revision notes
- Story 1 'His First Flight' (O'Flaherty): fearful seagull flies, driven by hunger.
- Story 2 'The Black Aeroplane' (Forsyth): lost pilot guided by a mystery plane.
- Radar showed no second plane — identity unexplained.
- Shared theme: overcoming fear; also faith and mystery.
Key takeaways
- Necessity can push us past our fears.
- Help can come in unexpected, even mysterious, ways.
- Both stories centre on overcoming fear.
Frequently asked questions
How many stories are in this lesson?
Two — 'His First Flight' and 'The Black Aeroplane'.
What made the seagull fly?
Hunger drove him to dive for fish, and he discovered he could fly.
Was the second plane real?
It never showed on the radar, so its identity is left a mystery.