Courage by Joseph G. Udvari Page B

buffeted the small Cessna. It was getting very difficult to see, rain and the dark skies made it impossible to navigate by site .
    Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled all around them. One minute they were heading in one direction and the next moment the wind changed and they were pushed in another direction. Jim tried to fly above the storm, but the plane just couldn’t get up high enough to do so.
    The small plane hit several air pockets, dropping suddenly, until Jim could get it under control, then it would hit another air pocket and drop again.
    â€œMom, I’m going to be sick!” Jill cried.
    â€œOh honey, just hold on, I’ll get a plastic bag for you,” Mary replied.
    â€œToo late Mom!” Lucas said. “And I don’t feel so great right now either.”
    â€œJim, are we going to be okay?” Mary whispered.
    â€œI think so,” Jim responded without conviction.
    â€œMom I’m scared!” Jill said quietly.
    â€œDad’s a good pilot Jill, he’ll get us out of this, don’t worry,” consoled Lucas, always the optimist.
    â€œEveryone make sure you have your full harness on!” Jim ordered.
    The sky darkened even more and visibility was down to maybe 50 feet, Jim guessed.
    â€œI’ll call in for a check,” Jim said to no one in particular.
    â€œThis is VH-ER8, we are experiencing atmospheric disturbance. Repeat, this is VH-ER8, we are experiencing atmospheric disturbance, acknowledge please.”
    Jim was waiting for a reply when lightening struck the plane and all the instruments went dead including the radio communication system.
    Jim tried again, “Mayday, mayday this is VH-ER8, we are in an electrical storm, acknowledge please!” He repeated the distress call a second and third time.
    There was no reply, only static.
    Then Jim remembered the transponder, he reached over and flipped the switch. Nothing happened, the flashing light didn’t come on.
    It must have been damaged when the lightening hit the plane, he thought.
    The plane was bumped about and Jim quickly became disorientated, having no idea in which direction he was heading . He was pleased just being able to fly the plane without losing control. Jill was frightened and began to cry while Lucas attempted to be brave and comfort her. Mary quietly prayed that everything would be all right and held on for dear life. This continued for over an hour with Jim flying blind, not knowing which way they were heading. He attempted another distress call on the radio but again met with no success.
    â€œMary, why don’t you try to call in with your cell phone?”
    Mary turned her on the phone, but there was no signal.
    â€œKeep trying Mary, we have to let them know that we’re in trouble,” Jim said.
    He was concerned that if they went too far east of his designated course, they could be heading toward the Rockies. He pulled the nose of the plane up a little higher to avoid colliding with unseen mountain peaks. There was no let-up of the storm and the plane was tossed about like a small toy. He pulled back on the yoke again, not sure how high they were flying, but he didn’t want to hit anything. He checked the altimeter; it was fluctuating up and down. “It must have been hit by the lightning strike,” he muttered to himself.
    Jim felt a bump from the underbelly of the plane and yelled, “Brace yourselves!!”
    Suddenly, evergreen trees loomed directly in front of the plane. Jim pulled back on the yoke with all his might attempting to raise the nose of the plane, but to no avail. The engine screamed as Jim pulled harder on the yoke. When the wheels of the plane began to make contact with the tips of the trees, it was like a bad dream in slow motion. The plane was pulled down into the forest, breaking off branches and making full contact with the trees. The plane cart-wheeled down onto the forest floor and after what seemed like an eternity but