299: Chapter Two Hundred and Ninety-Seven: Flying a Plane 299: Chapter Two Hundred and Ninety-Seven: Flying a Plane Infrastructure in Africa is generally poor, and it’s hard to find even a handful of decent roads, especially in South Sudan, where even a smooth dirt road is a rarity.
Thus, small aircraft have become the most common mode of transportation.
In most African countries, if you’re taking a plane, delays aren’t a big deal, nor is the age or condition of the plane.
As for expecting any sort of humanitarian service, you can forget about that altogether.
Regular flights can’t be counted on for much, and as for those small planes that operate on short routes, it’s even less of a concern.
The fact that they can take off and land safely is already a successful flight.
Gao Yang was fortunate to have a chartered plane at his disposal, and he was the only passenger, so there was no need to fight for a seat when boarding.
Moreover, Kolm swore up and down that the pilot he found was the best in Malakal, and the plane was the newest and best one in all of Malakal.
Having already experienced a plane crash, Gao Yang really didn’t want to fly on a small plane again, if he had a choice.
But to search for the Akuri tribe, it was most convenient to look from the air.
So, in the end, Gao Yang chose to take a plane to search the area first.
After seeing the plane, Gao Yang felt somewhat relieved.
Although the plane, including the pilot, could only seat two people and was small to the extreme, it did look quite new.
And while the so-called airport had only a dirt runway, it was still quite smooth.
The plane looked pretty new, the runway looked pretty new, and Gao Yang felt he couldn’t ask for much more.
All he hoped for now was that the pilot would show up quickly.
Gao Yang checked his watch; it was already a quarter after nine.
He shrugged helplessly at Kolm and said in a deep voice, “The pilot, I mean, are you sure he’s punctual?”
Kolm nodded, saying, “He’s always on time.
We agreed on eight o’clock, and he should show up by nine-thirty.”
Gao Yang had been to Africa before and was all too familiar with lateness.
He wouldn’t be surprised if the pilot, in a bad mood, decided not to show up at all.
Kolm was right.
At nine twenty-five, a black man leisurely strolled over from the road, only an hour and a half late.
This pilot was indeed punctual.
The pilot, who appeared to be in his forties, waved at Kolm but didn’t really greet him.
He simply opened one of the plane’s doors and climbed aboard.
Kolm spread his hands, opened the cabin door on the right side of the nose, and waited for Gao Yang to get seated with his hunting rifle to the right of the pilot.
He then shouted, “Good luck, call me if anything happens.”
After waiting for Kolm to close the cabin door, the pilot took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one for himself, and said casually in heavily accented English, “Where to?”
Gao Yang took out his GPS, pulled up the coordinates Morgan had given him, and pointed to the spot, saying, “Here.”
To his surprise, the plane had a GPS.
After the pilot entered the coordinates, he started the plane, shouted a few times at an old man who was guarding the airport, and steered it onto the runway.
After a few bounces, Gao Yang realized he hadn’t fastened his seat belt.
In a fluster, Gao Yang managed to secure his H-shaped harness, and then he noticed that the pilot hadn’t even fastened his.
Although the plane was no longer bouncing and had taken off, Gao Yang decided, after some hesitation, that he wouldn’t unfasten his seat belt.
The plane was an ultra-small cargo aircraft; the back of the cabin was an empty storeroom, and Gao Yang’s seat was supposed to be the co-pilot’s.
In front of him was a swath of instruments, all the necessary controls were there.
It was Gao Yang’s first time sitting in the cockpit, and his curiosity got the better of him as he started to examine the instruments, figuring out what each one was for.
While Gao Yang was curiously looking around, the pilot beside him suddenly asked, “Curious?”
Gao Yang nodded, responding, “A bit curious.”
The pilot nodded and explained, “Good, look here, this is the airspeed indicator, but oh, it’s not very useful.
You don’t need to look at it.
Just keep an eye on this, the artificial horizon.
Maintain level flight, and if you notice we’re descending, pull the yoke back.
If we’re ascending, push it forward.
The throttle’s already been set, so just make sure to watch the altitude and heading.
Look here, the GPS.
Just follow the indicated line, and you won’t go wrong.
If it drifts left, push the yoke to the right, and vice versa.
Got it now?”
Gao Yang nodded, “I got it.”
The pilot nodded and said, “Good, now you take over.
I didn’t get much sleep last night and got up too early today.
I need to take a nap.”
“What?
No way, you must be joking, right?”
The pilot, looking impatiently at the stunned Gao Yang, said, “Who’s joking with you?
This stuff is simple, just keep an eye on it for a bit.
What’s there to joke about?
We need to fly for two and a half hours to get there.
Just wake me up in two hours, and we’re good.”
Gao Yang deeply understood the profound meaning of the acronym TIA – that no matter how unbelievable things may seem, it was best to learn to adapt here and not react dramatically so as not to look like the fool.
If it were something else, Gao Yang might have let it slide, but concerning his own life, he decided to stand firm and firmly refused, “No, no way.
You’re the one to pilot this plane.
I’m paying you, so you’d better fulfill your duty.
F**k, I’ve never touched any of these things.
Aren’t you afraid we might both end up dead?
Now, pilot this plane properly!”
After being rejected, the pilot looked sullen, but faced with Gao Yang’s vehement attitude, he eventually gave in, just grumbling, “What’s there to be scared of?
You people are always so timid.
Fine, I’ll fly it myself.”
Gao Yang was still somewhat angry since he was very dissatisfied with the pilot’s nonchalant attitude.
Letting him take control of the plane was a blatant disregard for his life.
However, watching the pilot listlessly holding the control stick without moving made him think that flying really seemed quite simple.
After watching for a while, Gao Yang, who had just sternly refused the pilot, finally wavered and said seriously, “Actually, I might be able to steer the plane, but you can’t sleep.
You have to watch me.
If you agree to that, then I can take over the controls from you.”
“Hold the yoke.
Alright, I’ve let go.
Now just keep heading straight, buddy.” (To be continued.
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