Flight

[thefirststark]

The space within the SXF-16 is cramped. Three seats, and room for maybe two suitcases. Ask anyone who flew on the Pan Am clipper ships, and they would say that this is a step backwards. But ask anyone who sat at the controls of the SF-12 Mockingbird or SF-11 Vulture, and he would be thrilled there's room for a co-pilot.

Howard opens the hatch from the outside, leading his passenger aboard.

"Welcome aboard, Helena."

Comments

[timelessinventor]

"I have been to Los Angeles. Once with Claudia for a case. I did not have the time to really take in the city. It occurs to me now that I really should change that."

She smiles, and looks out of the plane, down to the ground and the civilization below.

[thefirststark]

"It's really talking off now. A lot of veterans are staying here, the aerospace industry is booming, and there's still Hollywood."

And as if on cue, he points at the famous HOLLYWOOD sign, tiny in the distance.

[timelessinventor]

"Ah, Hollywood. Beyond my time, but Pete seems to quite like its products. I remember hearing of Mr. Edison's moving pictures, but it was nothing like it is now." She smiles at the sign. "Well, that is quite the landmark."

[thefirststark]

"It was built to sell houses, actually. But anything larger than life tends to become famous here. Not far from that sign are all the studios. Interesting places to visit. The techniques they use can be rather clever." Also, the starlets are gorgeous.

There is a momentary jolt as they pass through a patch of rough air. "Just a little turbulence. Nothing to worry about."

[timelessinventor]

"Why is almost everything famous in America an advertisement?" She laughs, but her laugh is cut short by the jolt.

Quickly, she recovers herself, but she's back to sitting stiffly in the chair and clutching the arms. "Anyway, if the things that Pete watches are any indications, many of the movie people are quite clever."

[thefirststark]

"They have some great tricks to simulate almost anything now. The war films they did were a bit too close to the real thing, in fact." If less loud.

"Should I go over just how this thing works?" That might put her at ease.

[timelessinventor]

"Yes, I think that would be a capital idea." Helena smiles, covering her bit of nervousness.

Knowing how this huge machine works is both interesting and distracting.

[thefirststark]

Howard begins a very technical explanation of how a plane works, starting with the theory behind heavier than air flight, moving to the role each part of the machine plays. It's a pleasure to be able to use such detail, knowing Helena is bound to understand all of it.

[timelessinventor]

She is quite glad to have something specific to focus on, actually. Sitting back, and relaxing her iron grip on the chair's arms, Helena listens to him, chiming in every so often with a quite intelligent question or three. Many of the mechanics behind the plane are things that she understands, and while the theories behind flight were around in her original time, her contemporaries were rather stuck on airships and dirigibles.

By the time Howard is only halfway done explaining things, she has calmed herself down and is almost bouncing in her seat with excitement.

[thefirststark]

As the plane flies over Santa Monica, Howard turns her south and begins to parallel the coastline, and drops the altitude to about 7,500 feet. The famous pier passes beneath.

And with basic theory established moves on to how this beauty works, how innovative she is, and how at her heart is a tried and true design for fighter planes.

[timelessinventor]

Helena's breath catches for a moment as she watches the pier go by underneath the plane. She has always loved the beauty of the sea, and there is something so very beautiful and so very different about the Pacific Ocean than the Channel she's familiar with.

Her attention comes back to Howard, though, as he explains the plane. She asks questions, both to get some clarifications about things that she's uncertain about, and to draw more information out about the lovely machine.

[thefirststark]

As they make their way towards the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Howard has Helena up to speed. She won't know quite as much he does, but he is confident that he's never tried to teach anyone else this much.

"Take the stick." The one in front of her seat, that is.

[timelessinventor]

"Oh dear." Helena takes the stick in front of her with a shaky breath. "Well, I have found that I am a halfway decent driver of a car."

She smiles, though, sitting up straighter in her seat to see a bit better as she takes control.

[thefirststark]

"Don't worry. I'm not letting go of mine completely. Just keep her steady. Head straight for a few minutes." If she can drive, she can fly.

[timelessinventor]

"I trust you, Howard."

As she takes control of the plane, a huge smile crosses her face while she flies straight and true. "I can completely see why you enjoy this, Howard!" It's actually quite exhilarating.

[thefirststark]

"First time I did this route, I was about 17. In a smaller plane, with my grandfather behind me, trying not to backseat drive. We got caught in a sudden squall, and sputtered our way back to the field.

"That was one of the best days of my life." Howard practically beams.

[timelessinventor]

"Oh, that sounds brilliant!" Helena beams, her enthusiasm absolutely infectious in the small place.

"I think I understand now why people are so entranced by flight. It is such an amazing experience."

[thefirststark]

"Do a lot of people fly in the future? As much as I want to imagine otherwise, I can't see flight being affordable." Be it in a plane, a copter or a flying car.

[timelessinventor]

"Not really. People are in large planes and flown about when they travel, which is quite common, but not many people actually do the flying themselves. It's a shame, really. Perhaps I will attempt to get a flying license when I go home."

She pauses, still making the plane go straight and true. "People do mostly travel by air if they are going long distances. Cars are more used, but they're useful mostly for short-term travel."

[thefirststark]

"We're looking into making larger airplanes. Though it's a crowded marketplace. Still, clearly we need to go in that direction." Helena's not altering history. Howard would have thought about it either way.

"I guess the car isn't ever going away. But I find it limiting somehow." The view is never like this.

The port comes into view below.

[timelessinventor]

"It's probably a good idea, darling. Large planes are all the rage in my bit of the future." She smiles.

"No, I think the car increases in popularity. From what I know of your era, there is more, oh, what would Claudia call it, public transportation, busses or trains or things like that, than there is in the future."

[thefirststark]

"Los Angeles is known for its streetcars. And there are places that have good subway systems. Not as good as flight, of course, but practical." And less likely to add to the misbegotten Ford fortune.

"We're now over Long Beach, and near Orange County. Want to see the orange groves?"

[timelessinventor]

"Well I believe New York has a subway still in the future, as well as some other large cities." When Helena travels, she tends to find taxis to get places. "I do not believe street cars are as much of a thing anymore."

She grins again, pulling her brain out of thoughts of transportation and the future. "That would be absolutely lovely. I don't think I've actually seen orange groves before."

[thefirststark]

"It would probably be rude to land at one. And also a hard landing and takeoff." Howard takes control long enough to steer the plane inland. "I hope you've at least eaten oranges."

[timelessinventor]

"Oh, of course, darling. Leena, the lady who runs our bed and breakfast back home finds them a quite good supplement to pretty much every meal. I am also quite fond of orange juice for breakfast." She smiles, relinquishing control a tiny bit reluctantly. "And it would very likely be rude to land on someone else's property."