I don't need too much detail. Just the basics of the controls. Actually, I've written the scene, now. The plane is attacked, the pilot shot up, and my hero has to land the plane - that was the original idea. That's not how it turned out.
The pilot is blinded, so he can still operate the controls. My hero just has to read out the altitude and airspeed, keep an eye on the artificial horizon and make sure the plane's nose stays up, oh and tell the pilot how far he is from the runway. And help him to line up the plane on the approach.
Here's what I have. Comments and suggestions welcome.
“What do I do?” said Kurt.
“You’re doing fine. Just watch our altitude. Make sure I keep her level and make sure our air speed doesn’t drop below 100.”
Felix described the landing procedure in detail. Felix would execute the landing; Kurt would be his eyes. At the end of the lesson, Kurt was less than confident that they would make it down safely. He told Felix how he was feeling.
“It’s a doddle. Don’t worry about it,” said Felix.
They had flown across the water for close to two hours before Kurt saw land ahead and Ashford airfield established contact.
“This is RAF Ashford. Come in Alfa Victor Oscar.”
“This is Alfa Victor Oscar,” Felix replied. “Has Squadron Leader Hazelwood informed you of our situation?”
“Roger. You have lost an engine and are injured. We will be ready for you here. Please adjust your heading to 035. Wind speed on the ground is five to seven. We have a slight haze. The field is clear for you.”
With Kurt reading out their headings, Felix executed a reasonable turn to the right and placed the plane on the required heading.
“Altitude?”
“900 metres.”
“Air speed?”
“100.”
“Are we level?”
“Yes.”
“We should be reducing altitude.”
“We are. We’re at 850 and dropping.”
“Keep an eye on that. Let me know if it drops too quickly.”
“How quickly is too quickly?”
“50 meters every 3 minutes should be about right.”
Kurt said, “Air speed’s dropping. It’s at 90.”
Felix increased power. “Can you see the airfield yet?”
“Air speed 95. And no. I see land, but no airfield.”
Soon they were flying over land and Kurt could see that the plane was descending steadily. He broke out in a sweat as he relayed the instrument readings to Felix.
“I see the airfield!” said Kurt.
“Are we lined up on a runway?”
“Nearly. We need to move a smidgen to the right.”
“A smidgen.” Felix made a slight adjustment.
“That’s perfect,” said Kurt.
“Altitude and air speed?”
“300 metres and 70.”
Felix increased power.
“Tell me if the nose dips. We need to keep the nose up.”
“Right. Altitude 260 metres, air speed 80.”
“How far to the runway?”
“About another runway.”
“Speed looks good, but you’re coming in a little high,” said the man on the ground.
Felix, used the flaps. Kurt felt the plane braking in mid air.
Felix said, “Tell me when we’re over the start of the runway, and tell me when we’re at the level of the tops of the buildings.”
“We’ve just passed the start of the runway,” Kurt shouted.
“How high are we?”
“50 metres.”
“Ignore the altimeter. Look out the window.”
“Tops of the buildings,” said Kurt, gripping the edge of his seat.
“What about now?”
Tops of telegraph poles. Nose dipping.”
Felix lifted the nose and cut the two engines completely. A klaxon sounded.
“What’s that noise?” Kurt shouted.
“Don’t worry about it,” said Felix. “Hold on to your seat.”
The landing was a rough one, but they made it in one piece. Felix applied the brakes, and they came to a halt 20 metres before the end of the runway.
“Good luck,” said the Hurricane Squadron Leader. He made a pass overhead, waggled his wings at them.
“Congratulations!” said the air traffic controller. “Welcome home.”
