This page helps students revise the chapter quickly and confidently. The Black Aeroplane summary Class 10 is explained in simple language, covering the full story, theme, and message for easy understanding. You will find clear NCERT-style question answer sections, important black aeroplane characters and their roles, and exam-focused black aeroplane extra questions with answers. The page also includes useful black aeroplane notes to support last-minute revision. All content is written for board exam preparation and follows the latest Class 10 English syllabus.

black aeroplane summary

English summary

Have you ever felt completely lost, with no way to ask for help, while danger closes in around you? Imagine flying alone at night when everything suddenly stops working. That is exactly where this story begins, high above the dark countryside.

The chapter tells how a pilot flying home safely makes a risky choice, gets trapped in a deadly storm, and loses all control of his plane. Just when hope is almost gone, a mysterious aeroplane guides him to safety and then disappears, leaving behind a shocking question.

The night sky is clear and calm as the pilot flies his Dakota aeroplane over France, heading back to England. The moon rises behind him and stars shine above. Far below, the countryside sleeps. He feels peaceful and happy, dreaming of his holiday and thinking about being with his family again. It is one thirty in the morning. He contacts Paris Control on the radio and follows their advice to turn twelve degrees west. Everything seems perfect. He even smiles, thinking, “I’ll be in time for breakfast.”

About 150 kilometres after passing Paris, the mood changes suddenly. Huge storm clouds appear ahead, looking like “black mountains” blocking his path. He knows he cannot fly over them, and he does not have enough fuel to go around them. He thinks of turning back, but his wish to reach home is stronger. Trusting his luck, he decides, “I’ll take the risk,” and flies straight into the storm. Inside the clouds, darkness swallows everything. The plane shakes wildly. He checks the compass and is shocked to see it spinning uselessly. One by one, all the instruments fail. The radio goes silent. He is completely lost, alone, and terrified in the storm.

Then something unbelievable happens. In the thick black clouds, another black aeroplane appears beside him. It has no lights, but he can clearly see the pilot’s face looking toward him. The pilot raises a hand and seems to say, “Follow me.” The narrator feels sudden relief. He believes the stranger knows he is lost and wants to help. The black aeroplane turns slowly north, and the pilot follows it like “an obedient child,” trusting it completely.

For half an hour, the strange aeroplane stays ahead of him in the storm. Meanwhile, his fuel drops dangerously low—only five or ten minutes remain. Fear returns, but just then the black aeroplane begins to descend. He follows it down through the clouds. Suddenly, he bursts out into clear air and sees two long rows of lights below. It is a runway. An airport. He is safe. When he looks back to thank his guide, the sky is empty. The black aeroplane has vanished.

After landing, he walks into the control centre and asks a woman who the other pilot was. She laughs and tells him that no other planes were flying that night. His was the only one visible on the radar. The story ends with a chilling mystery: who guided him safely through the storm when he had no radio, no compass, and no fuel left?

Pilot (Narrator) – brave but impatient – flies the Dakota and survives the storm

Mysterious Pilot – silent and guiding – leads the narrator to safety

Woman at Control Centre – practical – reveals the shocking truth

The central message reminds you that help can appear in unexpected ways when hope feels lost. Even in moments of fear and danger, trust and courage can guide you safely through the storm.

black aeroplane Hindi Summary

क्या तुमने कभी ऐसा महसूस किया है कि तुम पूरी तरह खो गए हो, और मदद माँगने का कोई रास्ता न हो, जबकि खतरा चारों ओर से पास आता जा रहा हो? कल्पना करो कि तुम रात में अकेले उड़ रहे हो और अचानक सब कुछ काम करना बंद कर दे। यही वह पल है जहाँ यह कहानी शुरू होती है, अँधेरे गाँवों के बहुत ऊपर।

यह अध्याय बताता है कि कैसे घर लौट रहा एक पायलट एक खतरनाक फैसला लेता है, एक जानलेवा तूफ़ान में फँस जाता है, और अपने विमान पर से पूरा नियंत्रण खो देता है। जब उम्मीद लगभग खत्म हो जाती है, तब एक रहस्यमयी हवाई जहाज़ उसे सुरक्षित जगह तक पहुँचाता है और फिर गायब हो जाता है, पीछे छोड़ जाता है एक चौंकाने वाला सवाल।

रात का आसमान साफ़ और शांत है, जब पायलट अपना डकोटा हवाई जहाज़ लेकर फ्रांस के ऊपर से उड़ता हुआ इंग्लैंड की ओर जा रहा है। उसके पीछे चाँद उग रहा है और ऊपर तारे चमक रहे हैं। बहुत नीचे धरती गहरी नींद में सो रही है। वह खुद को शांत और खुश महसूस करता है। वह अपनी छुट्टियों के बारे में सोच रहा है और अपने परिवार से मिलने की खुशी महसूस कर रहा है। समय है डेढ़ बजे रात। वह रेडियो पर पेरिस कंट्रोल से संपर्क करता है और उनकी सलाह पर बारह डिग्री पश्चिम की ओर मुड़ जाता है। सब कुछ बिल्कुल सही लग रहा है। वह मुस्कराता है और सोचता है, “मैं नाश्ते के समय पहुँच जाऊँगा।”

पेरिस से लगभग 150 किलोमीटर आगे बढ़ने के बाद अचानक माहौल बदल जाता है। सामने विशाल तूफ़ानी बादल दिखाई देते हैं, जो रास्ता रोकती हुई “काली पहाड़ियों” जैसे लगते हैं। वह जानता है कि वह उनके ऊपर से उड़ नहीं सकता, और उसके पास इतना ईंधन भी नहीं है कि वह उनके चारों ओर घूम सके। वह वापस पेरिस लौटने के बारे में सोचता है, लेकिन घर पहुँचने की इच्छा ज़्यादा मजबूत होती है। अपनी किस्मत पर भरोसा करके वह फैसला करता है, “मैं जोखिम उठाऊँगा,” और सीधे तूफ़ान में घुस जाता है। बादलों के अंदर सब कुछ अचानक काला हो जाता है। विमान ज़ोर-ज़ोर से हिलने लगता है। वह कम्पास देखता है और हैरान रह जाता है जब वह बेकार घूमता रहता है। एक-एक करके सारे यंत्र बंद हो जाते हैं। रेडियो भी चुप हो जाता है। वह पूरी तरह खो चुका है, अकेला है, और तूफ़ान में डरा हुआ है।

तभी कुछ अविश्वसनीय होता है। घने काले बादलों में उसके पास ही एक और काला हवाई जहाज़ दिखाई देता है। उसके पंखों पर कोई लाइट नहीं है, लेकिन वह साफ़ तौर पर पायलट का चेहरा देख सकता है, जो उसकी ओर देख रहा है। वह पायलट हाथ उठाता है और मानो कहता है, “मेरे पीछे आओ।” कथावाचक को अचानक राहत महसूस होती है। उसे लगता है कि वह अजनबी जानता है कि वह खो गया है और उसकी मदद करना चाहता है। काला हवाई जहाज़ धीरे-धीरे उत्तर दिशा की ओर मुड़ जाता है, और पायलट उसके पीछे “एक आज्ञाकारी बच्चे” की तरह चलने लगता है, उस पर पूरा भरोसा करते हुए।

करीब आधे घंटे तक वह अजीब हवाई जहाज़ तूफ़ान में उसके आगे-आगे उड़ता रहता है। इस बीच उसका ईंधन खतरनाक रूप से कम हो जाता है—सिर्फ पाँच या दस मिनट का ईंधन बचता है। डर फिर लौट आता है, लेकिन तभी काला हवाई जहाज़ नीचे उतरने लगता है। वह बादलों के बीच से उसके पीछे उतरता है। अचानक वह साफ़ हवा में निकल आता है और नीचे दो लंबी सीधी रोशनी की लाइनें देखता है। वह एक रनवे है। एक हवाई अड्डा। वह सुरक्षित है। जब वह अपने मार्गदर्शक को धन्यवाद देने के लिए पीछे देखता है, तो आसमान खाली होता है। काला हवाई जहाज़ गायब हो चुका होता है।

उतरने के बाद वह कंट्रोल सेंटर में जाता है और वहाँ एक महिला से पूछता है कि दूसरा पायलट कौन था। वह हँसती है और बताती है कि उस रात कोई और विमान उड़ नहीं रहा था। रडार पर सिर्फ उसी का हवाई जहाज़ दिखाई दे रहा था। कहानी एक सिहरन भरे रहस्य पर खत्म होती है: जब उसके पास न रेडियो था, न कम्पास, और न ही ईंधन बचा था, तब उसे सुरक्षित कैसे पहुँचाया गया?

पायलट (कथावाचक) – साहसी लेकिन जल्दबाज़ – डकोटा उड़ाता है और तूफ़ान से बच जाता है

रहस्यमयी पायलट – शांत और मार्गदर्शक – कथावाचक को सुरक्षित रास्ता दिखाता है

कंट्रोल सेंटर की महिला – व्यवहारिक – चौंकाने वाली सच्चाई बताती है

इस कहानी का संदेश तुम्हें याद दिलाता है कि जब उम्मीद खोती हुई लगती है, तब मदद अनपेक्षित तरीकों से आ सकती है। डर और खतरे के समय में भी भरोसा और हिम्मत तुम्हें सुरक्षित रास्ते तक पहुँचा सकती है।

black aeroplane Keywords with meanings:

Dakota – old aeroplane model the pilot flies​

Paris Control – radio contact giving flight directions​

Storm clouds – huge dark clouds blocking the way​

Compass – instrument that spins and fails in storm​

Black aeroplane – mysterious plane that guides pilot​

Runway – long lights marking safe landing spot​

Radar – screen showing only one plane that night​

Risk – chance pilot takes flying into storm​

Fuel tank – last one with little fuel left​

black aeroplane Important Phrases  

“I’ll take the risk”​

“They looked like black mountains”​

“Everything was suddenly black”​

“Follow me”​

“Yours was the only one I could see on the radar”​

“Who was the pilot on the strange black aeroplane”​

“turning round and round and round”​

“two long straight lines of lights”​

“like an obedient child”​

“No other aeroplanes were flying tonight”​

Text based questions and answers

Q1. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?​

Answer:The risk is flying the old Dakota straight into huge storm clouds that look like black mountains.

He cannot fly over them or detour due to low fuel, but he wants to reach home for breakfast with family.

“I’ll take the risk,” he thinks, instead of returning to Paris.This shows how strong desires can push us to face dangers bravely.​

Q2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.​

Answer:Inside the clouds, everything turned suddenly black, making it impossible to see outside.

The plane jumped and twisted wildly, the compass spun round and round, dead, and other instruments failed too.

Radio calls to Paris Control got no answer, leaving him lost with no fuel soon.

Such terror teaches us how quickly calm flights can turn scary, building real courage.​

Q3. Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?​

Answer:He felt relieved after the terrifying storm where instruments failed and he nearly crashed.

The old Dakota had caused him huge fear with its jumps, twists, and low fuel panic.

Walking away meant safety after danger.

This line shows gratitude for surviving tough times on shaky ground.​

Q4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?​

Answer:He asked about the other pilot who guided him through the storm in the black aeroplane.

She laughed, saying no other planes flew that night; his was the only one on radar.

“Another aeroplane? Up there in this storm?” she replied.

Her reaction highlights the story’s mystery, sparking our wonder too.​

Q5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.​

Answer:The black aeroplane pilot seems like a guardian angel or ghost who appeared in the storm without lights.

He waved “Follow me,” led through clouds to the runway when fuel was almost gone, then vanished.

No radar saw him, yet he saved the lost pilot.

This open mystery encourages us to believe help comes from unseen forces in need.​

Thinking about Language I. Guess the meanings of “black” in these sentences:​

Answer:Dirty (hands and face covered in dirt).

Angry glare (taxi-driver’s disapproving stare).

Worst (most evil crime ever).

Dark humour (comedy with serious, gloomy topics).

Black market (illegal selling at high prices).

Badly bruised (beaten all over, purple marks).

These show how one word changes meaning by context, sharpening our language skills.​

II. Match the phrases (A) with meanings (B):​

Answer:Fly a flag – Display a flag on a long pole.

Fly into rage – Become suddenly very angry.

Fly along – Move quickly/suddenly.

Fly high – Be successful.

Fly the coop – Escape from a place.

Matching builds vocabulary confidence for exams.​

III. Tick words with same/nearly same meaning as “fly” (birds/insects):​

Answer:

✓ swoop, ✓ flit, ✓ ascend, ✓ float, ✓ dart, ✓ hover, ✓ soar, ✓ flutter, ✓ glide.

These words paint clear pictures of wing movement, aiding descriptive writing.​

Writing: Have you ever been alone or away from home during a thunderstorm? Narrate your experience in a paragraph.​

Answer (Sample):One rainy evening, I was alone at my grandparents’ village home when a huge thunderstorm hit. Lightning flashed like angry fireworks, thunder boomed shaking the windows, and heavy rain lashed the roof. Power went out, leaving me in dark fear, heart pounding as wind howled outside. I huddled under a blanket, thinking of family far away, until dawn broke calm. That night taught me storms pass, building inner strength just like the pilot’s tale.​

Grammar : “The Black Aeroplane”

Do as directed. (Use the correct tense)

I _____ (fly) my old Dakota aeroplane over France.

Do as directed. . (Change to Passive Voice)

The storm clouds looked like black mountains

Do as directed. (Change to Reported Speech)

“Paris Control, Dakota DS 088 here. Can you hear me?” said the pilot.

Do as directed. (Use the correct article)

He _____ enough fuel to fly around the storm.

Do as directed. (Use the correct modal)

I _____ take the risk, thought the pilot.

Do as directed. (Combine into one sentence using ‘and’)

The compass was turning round and round. It was dead.

Do as directed. (Change to affirmative)

No other aeroplanes were flying that night.

Do as directed. (Change to superlative degree)

The black aeroplane guided him better than any other plane.

Do as directed.Find the error in the sentence and correct it: The pilot fly into the storm clouds.​

Do as directed. (Change to question form)

The pilot will land safely.

Do as directed. (Join using ‘so that’)

He waved his hand. The pilot followed him.

Do as directed. (Fill in the preposition)

The old Dakota jumped and twisted _____ the air.

Do as directed. . (Change to indirect speech)

“Follow me,” he was saying.

Do as directed. (Use the past continuous tense)

Stars _____ shining in the clear sky.

Do as directed. (Change to passive voice)

The runway has two long straight lines of lights.

Do as directed.  Cloze Test (Gap Filling):

The moon _____ (come) up behind me. I _____ (dream) of my holiday when suddenly storm clouds _____ (appear). Everything _____ (become) black inside the clouds.​

Do as directed.

Editing (Spot the errors):

Sentence: I was flying to England when Paris was 150 kilometre behind me.

Error 1: ________________ Correction: ________________

Error 2: ________________ Correction: ________________​

Here are grammar questions answers:

was flying

Black mountains were looked like by the storm clouds.

The pilot told Paris Control that Dakota DS 088 was there and asked if they could hear him.

did not have

would

The compass was turning round and round and it was dead.

Some aeroplanes were flying that night.

The black aeroplane guided him the best.

fly → flew

Will the pilot land safely?

He waved his hand so that the pilot followed him.

in

He asked to follow him.

were shining

Two long straight lines of lights are had by the runway.

Cloze Test: was coming, was dreaming, appeared, became

Editing: kilometre → kilometres, was → were​

Extra Questions and Answers: “The Black Aeroplane”​

Short type of questions answer

Q1. What time was it when the pilot contacted Paris Control?

Answer: It was one thirty in the morning (1:30 a.m.).

He looked at his watch before calling on the radio.

This shows he was flying alone at night over France.​

Q2. Why did the pilot turn twelve degrees west?

Answer: Paris Control instructed him to turn twelve degrees west.

He checked his map and compass before turning towards England.

He switched to his second and last fuel tank at that moment.​

Q3. Describe the storm clouds using the author’s words.

Answer: The storm clouds were huge and looked like black mountains.

They stood in front of him across the sky.

He could not fly up and over them due to their size.​

Q4. What happened to all the instruments inside the storm?

Answer:The compass turned round and round and was dead.

Other instruments suddenly failed too.

The radio also went dead with no answer from Paris Control.​

Q5. How much fuel was left after half an hour of following the black aeroplane?

Answer: Only enough fuel for five or ten minutes more.

This was in the old Dakota’s last tank.

The pilot started feeling frightened again at that point.​

Long type of questions answer

Q1. Write a character sketch of the pilot.

Answer: The pilot flies his old Dakota aeroplane alone from France to England at night.

He dreams of holiday fun and a big English breakfast with family, showing his love for home.

When storm clouds block his path, he thinks “I ought to go back to Paris” but chooses risk instead.

Inside the storm, he stays calm despite failing compass, radio, and low fuel, following the black aeroplane like an obedient child.

After safe landing, he feels glad to walk away from the Dakota, revealing his relief from terror.

His bravery and family drive make him relatable and strong.​

Q2. What is the significance of the black aeroplane in the story?

Answer: The black aeroplane appears suddenly in black clouds with no lights on wings.

Its pilot waves “Follow me” and leads the lost Dakota through the storm to a runway.

It turns north, dives down, and helps when fuel is almost gone, then vanishes completely.

The control woman says no other plane showed on radar that stormy night.

This creates mystery—guardian angel, ghost, or imagination? —leaving readers wondering about unseen help.

It symbolizes hope appearing in darkest moments.​

Extract Based Question:

Read the extract and answer the questions:

“I had no radio, no compass, and I could not see where I was. I was lost in the storm. Then, in the black clouds quite near me, I saw another aeroplane.”​

(a) Why was the pilot lost? (Short Answer)

Answer: His compass, radio, and other instruments were dead.

Thick black clouds made it impossible to see outside.

He had flown straight into the huge storm clouds.​

(b) What did the pilot feel when he saw the other aeroplane? (Short Answer)

Answer:He was very glad to see another person and the pilot’s face.

Relief came as the stranger waved to follow him.

He thought the pilot knew he was lost and wanted to help.​

Q8. Explain the phrase “like an obedient child” with reference to the context. (Short Answer)

Answer:The pilot happily followed the black aeroplane north through clouds.

He went behind it just like an obedient child follows instructions.

This shows his complete trust in the stranger during danger.​

Q9. What did the lights on the runway look like? (Short Answer)

Answer: Two long straight lines of lights appeared in front of him.

He saw them suddenly after bursting out of the clouds.

This marked the safe airport where he landed.​

FAQs