I’m on my own. I’m 23 years old and trying to fly around the world by myself. If I make it, I will be the youngest person and first black pilot ever to do so. My plane climbs higher into the


clouds. T e waves of the Atlantic Ocean roll beneath me. I still have 12 hours before my next stop. Suddenly, the sound of my engine


changes. I tell myself that it’s nothing serious. It’ll be fine. It has to be. I don’t know how to swim.


No Turning Back If my engine dies, I’ll need a plan. I


open my cockpit door a little. I don’t want to get trapped inside if I crash. I can use my emergency signal to call for help. I look down at the waves. I’ll need


to land with the waves, not against them. Otherwise, I know my plane will be torn to pieces. I fly on, but then my radio stops


working. Now, I’m really worried. My only link to the world is gone. I’m not sure what to do. My heart is racing. T en without warning, the radio


crackles back to life. T e engine calms down. Whatever caused the problems has passed. Aſt er many hours, I land safely on a small island.


4 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


DRAG The force that slows things down. Heavy winds can cause a lot of drag on my plane.


FLIGHT LESSONS


To keep my plane, Inspiration, in the air, I have to understand the four forces of flight. They are lift, gravity, drag, and thrust.


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