Wings Clear Climb Ahead

My dream was abruptly shattered by the Voice from the Back Office taking over control. Mackenzie immediately put the aeroplane into a very steep dive. Ah, I thought, yes! I’m pretty sure I know what this is going to be. This will be an inside loop and then a spin off the top.

As we went vertical, he yelled, ‘You have control.’

Just at that precise moment of me taking over control, I was suddenly hit in the face with a load of white powder! The shock caused temporary blindness and, losing control, we went into a spin.

Following one or two expletives, Mackenzie wrenched back control and I was left to clear my eyes. I was blinded with the dust and felt pretty awful about it. I tried to explain, but he snapped, ‘Don’t say another word. Back to base.’

Silence was kept until after we had safely parked the supermarket trolley in its allocated spot.

‘Look sir, I know what you’re thinking, but I didn’t bottle out. Look at me. This stuff’s everywhere — my eyes, my throat, my hair, my flying suit..., everywhere!’ I protested.

His expression suddenly changed. ‘I didn’t like to tell you up there, but you recall that the CO died last week...? Well, they used this aircraft to carry out the ceremonial scattering of the ashes over the sea. Unfortunately, the plane stalled on the victory roll, just as the urn was going out, and...’