Author : Rajeev Gupta

Sonu, Monu and Piku were playing on the branch of a tree. Suddenly, they saw an aeroplane up in the sky. They had never seen an aeroplane before and were shocked to see one.

“Look, mom! There’s a huge bird flying across the sky!” said Sonu.

“Yes, mom! It’s very big and it is making a loud noise,” added Monu.

“It is so shiny, unlike any bird I have seen!” exclaimed Piku.

Mini laughed and explained, “That is not a bird. It’s an aeroplane. Humans use it to reach far off places in very little time.”

“Wow! Humans can fly?” asked Monu surprised.

“But I have never seen any human flying,” said Piku.

“They cannot fly but they can build things that can. So all they have to do is sit inside an aeroplane that will take them from one place to another,” said Mini.

“Mom, how did they build an aeroplane?” asked Sonu.

“Humans came up with the idea of flying when they saw us flying. They thought flying would be a faster way to cover long distances,” said Mini.

“When did they build the first aeroplane, Mom?” asked Piku.

“The aeroplane was not built at one go. The one that you saw today is the result of many scientists working over several decades on different designs. In fact, people have been attempting to fly or build flying devices since ancient times,” explained Mini.

“So, there were other designs?” said Monu.

“Yes, Monu. Do you remember when we flew past the park last week I showed you a lot of people flying kites?” asked Mini.

“Yes, Mom,” said Piku. “Sonu and Monu thought they were sky-fishes,” she said laughing.

“Humans consider kites one of their earliest man-made flying objects.  People in China designed it hundreds of years ago. Some kites were so big that they could carry a man along with them,” said Mini.

 The little ones listened in awe. “Then humans discovered that they could fill balloons with hydrogen gas to make them fly.”

“But Mom, even balloons that they merely blow into flies,” said Sonu.

“But the balloons I am referring to are so big that they can carry humans with it,” said Mini.  “In 1783, the Wright brothers— Orville and Wilbur— used hydrogen-filled balloons to attempt flying. Once, a goat was made to fly such a balloon!” said Mini.

The three giggled at the idea.

“Yes, it’s true,” said Mini. “Haven’t you heard Lonu uncle saying that it was his great grandfather who was sent up in that balloon?”

“But mom, how did the humans change the design from a balloon to like the one we saw?” asked Monu.

“We helped the humans on this. They understood that our tails and wings help us to fly and maintain balance in the air. So they designed a machine with similar features and soon, they were successful,” replied Mini.

“Mom, our wings don’t just help us to fly, we can even move in any direction we want. Can the aeroplanes do that too?” asked Sonu.

“Of course. The Wright brothers were American inventors who dreamt of building a powered machine that could fly and also be controlled by the pilot to change directions. After observing the way we fly, they built the first successful aeroplane. After decades, this model evolved into the one we saw today,” explained Mini.

“They must have been delighted with their success,” said Piku enthusiastically.

“Yes, of course. Every human is happy at their success. Every invention these humans make is to make their lives easier,” said Mini.

“Mom, how many people can travel in a single aeroplane?” asked Monu.

“There are aeroplanes of different sizes built today—from the smallest ones that can carry just two people, to bigger ones like what you just saw that can carry over a 100 or even 300. And these aircrafts can travel pretty fast,” said Mini.

“Even we birds tear across the skies with our wings,” said Piku flapping her tiny wings.

“Yes, we sure do,” said Mini with a smile.