Unknown Skies part 22
Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and everyone on-board Quebec Echo felt a powerful rumbling sensation as the 757 stood at the end of the runway.
"What's Happening?!" someone exclaimed. But before anyone else could say anything in reply, the aircraft jolted into motion.
Faster and faster the 757 gained speed over the icy runway, shuddering greatly as the twin Rolls Royce RB211 engines forced the airliner forwards.
Elsa, who was sitting in a window seat on the right hand side of the aircraft, looked out at the ground moving at a blinding speed until the aircraft gave a sudden lurch, the nose rose up and Quebec Echo took to the air!
There was utter silence in the cabin for a long moment as everyone processed the fact that they were now flying, then everyone in the cabin clapped and cheered as loudly as they physically could. They were in the air!
Sam and Dan could hear them clearly from the cockpit and they both smiled as they brought Quebec Echo up to its cruising altitude of 290000 feet for this flight. They then set up the autopilot to take the 757 on a long circuit of Arendelle's borders before Sam activated the intercom again.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now at cruising altitude. My first officer has turned off the fasten seatbelt signs so you are all free to move about the cabin. Kate and her team will be passing through the cabin shortly with a selection of drinks and light meals if you should want anything. Also, would the royal family of Arendelle please report to the cockpit. Thank you."
Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf got up from their seats and moved through the cabin to the cockpit door. Kristoff knocked on the door and Sam's muffled voice filtered back at them.
"One moment"
The sound of the door being unlocked and a soft beep filled the air and the cockpit door swung open to reveal Sam.
"Come on in." he said to his family and they all moved into the cockpit. It seemed to be smaller than it was on the ground but the Cockpit seemed more alive as Quebec Echo was in the air.
"So this is what you guys did for a job" Kristoff said open mouthed.
"We still do it. As long as Quebec Echo exists" Sam replied.
Olaf was entranced by all the bright electronic screens of the 757's cockpit and he reached out to touch one before Sam stopped him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you mate." Sam warned the living snowman.
"Why?" Olaf asked.
"First thing in pilot training you learn is to treat everything in the cockpit as if it is critical to safely flying the aircraft" Sam replied.
Olaf seemed to get the hint and stepped back.
"This truly is amazing. We are actually flying. It's almost magical!" Anna exclaimed.
"It sometimes feels that way." Dan said back.
It was then that Kristoff noticed a set of lights on the top of the main control panel which showed a set of numbers on them with white dials underneath them.
"What's that?" he asked.
Sam looked to where Kristoff was gesturing and said,
"That's the autopilot controls. It enables Dan and I to give instructions to the aircraft to set speed, altitude, heading and rate of climb or descent without operating the main flight controls. Once at the set parameters, the Autopilot keeps the aircraft operating with those parameters with extreme accuracy and little to no input from the pilots."
Dan adjusted the autopilot to turn the aircraft onto a heading which would make the 757 pass the north mountain on its port side, in order to prove Sam's statement.
"I know I have said this before and I will say it many times. But this is absolutely amazing!" Anna exclaimed.
Quebec Echo cruised on for a little while before it was overflying the northern mountain range and the North Mountain was within sight. Elsa noticed this first and nearly pressed her face up against the glass to see the sight of her Ice Palace from 290000 feet. Sam and the others looked to where Elsa was looking and smiled.
"I never got to see that. One of the most if not the most iconic location in Frozen and it is right beneath our wings" Sam spoke to his sister.
"Maybe we can go up there and you can see it up close for yourself" Elsa replied.
"You mean it?" Sam asked in astonishment.
"Of course" Elsa replied kindly.
The rest of the flight went by smoothly for everyone on-board and by the time that Quebec Echo touched down back in Arendelle, the guests on-board were buzzing with excitement and were eager to start Airline services as soon as it was possible.
Kristoff and Olaf got off the aircraft as soon as they were able, Kristoff wanted to check on Sven and make sure he was ok.
Anna and Elsa stayed on-board with Sam and Dan whilst the pilots shut the 757 down.
As the two pilots shut Quebec Echo down, all four people in the cockpit heard the sound of rumbling Jet Engines in the air!
"Are the engines still running?" Anna asked before she could stop herself.
"No, those aren't Quebec Echo's engines" Elsa replied.
The four immediately dashed out of the Cockpit and looked to the air to see the lights of another aircraft circling Arendelle!