Wicked Comet part 4
3 days later.
The Sun shone brightly down upon Shiz University's main courtyard, casting its glow upon everything there. The light also reflected upon the skin of the Shiny, unpainted skin of the Comet, nearly blinding the dozens of press officials and Government ambassadors who had heard news about the Comet and had journeyed to Shiz to see the Aircraft. Teachers and Students of Shiz were also gathered behind a temporary fence. Excitement rippled through everyone as they patiently waited to see the Comet being tested. Rich was in the cockpit, undergoing the final pre-startup checks. At the Moment, Galinda and Elphaba were sitting in a noise proof platform, raised high above the ground so in order to see the whole courtyard. They were to handle all communications between the Comet and the Ground using another of Rich's inventions which he called the Radio.
As Rich began the starting sequence, Elphaba's voice crackled through the radio.
"Rich, everything looks good out here. You are cleared for start"
Rich pressed a button on his headset and replied
"Roger that"
He then began to start the four Ghost Jet engines. Once he was about to activate engine 1's ignition, he leant outside the open side window and shouted at the top of his voice "Clear Jet!" Once he had done this, Rich leant back inside the Comet's cockpit and closed the side window.
To Everyone watching the Comet, there was the dull whining sound of the Ghost's air starters and then the loud whooshing and shreiking of all four engines starting. Slowly, the bright silver Comet began to taxy to one end of the Courtyard and turned 180 degrees to face the opposite end. Everyone was expecting a high speed taxy run. But Rich had other ideas.
"Ok, Flaps are down to 15 degrees, Fuel Tanks are full and Engines are within normal parameters." Rich said to himself as he crossed off a mental checklist.
Glancing down at the Throttles, Rich placed his right hand on them and said,
"Well, here goes nothing" and pushed the Throttles to full power.
All of the spectators watched in amazement as the Comet's engines grew rapidly to a deafening roar and they all had to cover their ears as the Comet slowly but surely began to accelerate.
Faster and Faster the Comet moved and Elphaba couldn't help but feel worried for her cousin, Galinda was also worried as she and Elphaba were the only two people that had been told that Rich was going to attempt to take off.
Elphaba wasn't really the religious type but she sent a quick prayer to the unnamed god for Rich's safety.
As the Comet passed the midpoint of the courtyard, the point where Rich usually put the brakes on during the taxy tests. People became alarmed at the lack of Braking.
"IT'S GOING TO CRASH!" someone yelled.
Nessarose was sitting next to the person in question and snapped at them,
"Be Quiet! Rich knows what he is doing and i have full confidence in him!"
The Comet was now three quarters across the courtyard and the opposite buildings were now approaching rapidly!
Galinda grabbed the radio mike from Elphaba and shouted down it
"YOU'RE GOING TO HIT THE BUILDINGS! GET THAT HEAP OF JUNK IN THE AIR!"
There was no response for a moment, but then the nose of the Comet rose and the aircraft was angled to the ground travelling on its main gear for just a moment before the tension in the main gear relaxed and the Comet rose.
"IT FLIES! IT FLIES!" someone shouted.
The Crowd then went wild, standing up, cheering and clapping as loud as they could. The Comet had made it's first take off! History had been made in Oz! The Comet then lifted it's undercarriage and banked sharply to the left in a wide turn over the Shiz area. Elphaba and Galinda both cheered loudest of all.
Rich's voice then crackled through the radio,
"How was that for a first flight?"
Elphaba spoke back
"Amazing. Although you did have us thinking you were about to crash."
Rich just chuckled softly to himself.
"Alrighty then, lets see what this beast can do." He eventually said over the radio and with that, the tests began.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER
Over the previous few hours, Rich had put the Comet through its paces. Testing its performance, response times of the Engines, Gear and Flaps, etc. He also did some manoeuvrability tests as well, at one point; Rich put the Aircraft into a barrel roll! The Spectators on the ground all watched in amazement at the sheer sight of the Silver aircraft performing all sorts of manoeuvres that were never thought possible. Well, up until recently, they had thought that powered flight was an impossibility. The only other major form of flight was the hot air balloon that the Wizard of Oz arrived in some years ago.
But now it was time to land, Elphaba and Galinda had checked the Wind Speed and direction beforehand as the speed and direction of wind was important for the Comet to take off and land safely.
Rich watched the Controls carefully as he swung the Comet round the complex series of Physical landmarks which he had picked out previously in an earlier part of the flight so he would be lined up on the courtyard which served as the runway.
As he aligned the Comet with the Runway, Rich gently drew back the power on the four Ghost Jet Engines, lowered full flaps and lowered the Landing Gear.
Once he was lined up, Rich spoke through the radio to Elphaba,
"Elphaba, what's the conditions like on the landing strip?"
Elphaba's voice filtered back through the radio,
"Wind conditions are stable for landing, getting a little dark now but Lights are being lit. Everyone is waiting on you now"
"Roger that" Rich replied and then he took a deep breath as he mentally prepared himself for the Comet's first landing.
Descending rapidly, The Comet swooped low over the buildings of Shiz University. The Ghost Engines shrieking loudly. Tension mounted amongst the gathered crowd just as it had when the Comet took off.
Once over the courtyard edge, Rich forced the Comet down faster. The Main wheels then touched the ground with a soft squeal and twin puffs of smoke, then the nose descended and the nose wheel touched down also producing the same effects as the mainwheels.
Everyone heard the loud squeal of the Comet's brakes and a soft whump as the Comet released a parachute from the rear of the aircraft. Both of which combined with the flaps being deployed well before landing helped to slow the Comet to a quick and safe stop. Once stopped, the Comet retracted its flaps and parachute and taxied back over to its parking spot where it shut down its engines.
Everyone within the courtyard cheered, History had been made in Oz and they had all been there to witness it. The Future looked bright for everyone and Rich, Elphaba and Galinda would be there at the very cutting edge.