The Old Lady flies

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78035

Title

The Old Lady flies

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In the 1920s, sentimental flyer Russ Healy refuses to retire his beloved, dilapidated Jenny biplane despite his boss's orders. When the circus faces financial trouble, Russ defies logic and safety protocols to prove the 'Old Lady' still has spirit. His stubbornness leads to a chaotic confrontation with a film crew, resulting in a staged aerial dogfight that tests the limits of friendship, business, and the enduring bond between a pilot and his machine.

Summary up to 500 words

In Raoul Whitfield's *The Old Lady Flies*, the narrative centers on Russ Healy, a skilled yet sentimental stunt pilot who refuses to sell his aging Jenny biplane, affectionately known as the 'Old Lady.' Despite the Jenny being slow, patched, and visually worn, Russ views her as a sentient partner rather than mere machinery. This sentimentality clashes with the financial realities of the Brooks Flying Circus. Following a series of crashes and poor business, the circus's owner, Bob Brooks, orders the retirement of the Jenny to cut costs. Russ defiantly rejects this decision, declaring he is 'sticking to his plane,' creating immediate tension between the pilot and his boss. The conflict escalates when Russ decides to fly the Jenny to a nearby field where a movie company is filming a war picture titled *War Aces*. The film's director, Conant, desperately needs dramatic crash scenes but lacks the necessary equipment or willing pilots. Upon arriving, the circus crew discovers the Jenny already being camouflaged with dummy guns and war paint by Conant's team. Conant and Russ exchange knowing glances, revealing a secret plan. While the circus crew prepares to intervene, they are tricked; Conant and Russ have orchestrated a massive, chaotic aerial dogfight involving the entire circus fleet. The crew watches in horror as their planes are used to simulate a fierce battle, complete with synchronized machine-gun fire and dramatic dives. The 'Old Lady' performs incredible stunts, including loops and spins, before intentionally crashing into a shell-hole filled with soft sand to ensure a safe landing. The stunt is a resounding success for the film crew, who pay the circus handsomely for the footage. Bob Brooks is initially furious but eventually realizes the genius of the operation. He sees that the Jenny not only survived the crash but performed better than any new aircraft. The incident resolves the conflict between Russ and his boss; Brooks acknowledges the plane's worth and Russ's skill. The story concludes with the realization that the 'Old Lady' is still a capable flyer, and the bond between the pilot and his machine is stronger than mere sentimentality or financial logic.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Aviation fiction