Read Online Tomb of Atlantis by Christopher David Petersen - Free Book Online
Authors: Christopher David Petersen
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that signaled the wings were about to stall. His eyes darted to the airspeed, then over to the power. Quickly, instinctively, he thrust in the power control, silencing the sickening siren and all but reversing his descent… but it was too late.
Although his descent had nearly stopped, he still wasn’t climbing. The floats contacted the waves. Fearing the sudden water strike would cause the plane to somersault end over nose, he instantly pulled the power. The plane hit another wave and launched it skyward. Suddenly, the stall warning blared due to lack of speed and he thrust his hand forward against the power. The plane instantly lurched forward, as it picked up speed and settled back into the waves.
Jack held the stick back to keep the nose from digging into the waves as the plane plowed through the water.
Like a great anchor, the drag from the plane’s weight in the water dramatically reduced its speed. As the plane continued to crash through the rough seas, he needed to make a decision: land and ride out the storm on top of the water or take off and try to survive in the air.
Jack immediately cut the power. The floats grabbed the water and slowed the plane to a near stop. Suddenly, a large wave broadside d the fuselage, nearly capsizing the small plane. Before Jack could think, another violent wave slammed into the side once more.
“The hell with this!” he yelled.
He slammed the power full forward and immediately the plane sped up along the wave tops. He held back on the stick as the nose of the plane fought to break free of the ocean’s grasp.
Like a violent beast, the ocean punished the plane with large waves and spray that threatened to swallow it whole. Determined and focused, Jack held his control inputs and waited for results.
Seconds later, the violent shaking ceased and the little plane began to climb. Jack lowered the nose slightly to gain some much needed speed while maintaining his height above the raging waters.
With his minimum climb speed reached, he pulled back on the stick and began to gain altitude. Higher and higher, he climbed and with each passing foot of altitude, turbulence increased.
Without warning, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky. Instantly, a deafening crack of thunder followed. Within seconds, Jack was sideswiped by a savage gust of wind that rocked the wings to vertical. Before he realized, he had already taken corrective action. The wings leveled and the plane continued to climb into the thunderstorm.
Moments later, Jack heard a loud pop… then another. Suddenly, the sky above him opened up with torrential rains nearly obscuring his vision.
“What the hell ! How much more do I have to take?” Jack cried out in frustration and fear.
Holding his wings level and continuing to climb, he began to feel water pouring in on his arm and shoulder.
“Shit! The friggin’ door’s still open,” he called out loudly.
He grabbed the handle and pulled it shut, closing off the water. Returning his attention to his instruments, he continued to monitor his altitude: thirteen hundred feet.
Jack tightened his lap belt as the winds and rain shook the plane. Mentally and physically exhausted, he was now breathing heavily. Again, a large bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. His hands shook with fear and he struggled to maintain his grasp on the controls.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted some movement. Quickly, he darted his head to the left and looked out the window: Land. With the reduced visibility, he had missed the approaching landmass. Checking his GPS’s, he turned to a new heading as he fought the winds and turbulence.
Jack depressed the button for the microphone.
“Providenciales tower, Zenair 8362 Lima is five miles west, inbound for landing,” he announced to the control tower at Providenciales International airport.
“Zenair 8362 Lima, land one zero, straight in approach approved,” the tower controller announced immediately, then added,
Although his descent had nearly stopped, he still wasn’t climbing. The floats contacted the waves. Fearing the sudden water strike would cause the plane to somersault end over nose, he instantly pulled the power. The plane hit another wave and launched it skyward. Suddenly, the stall warning blared due to lack of speed and he thrust his hand forward against the power. The plane instantly lurched forward, as it picked up speed and settled back into the waves.
Jack held the stick back to keep the nose from digging into the waves as the plane plowed through the water.
Like a great anchor, the drag from the plane’s weight in the water dramatically reduced its speed. As the plane continued to crash through the rough seas, he needed to make a decision: land and ride out the storm on top of the water or take off and try to survive in the air.
Jack immediately cut the power. The floats grabbed the water and slowed the plane to a near stop. Suddenly, a large wave broadside d the fuselage, nearly capsizing the small plane. Before Jack could think, another violent wave slammed into the side once more.
“The hell with this!” he yelled.
He slammed the power full forward and immediately the plane sped up along the wave tops. He held back on the stick as the nose of the plane fought to break free of the ocean’s grasp.
Like a violent beast, the ocean punished the plane with large waves and spray that threatened to swallow it whole. Determined and focused, Jack held his control inputs and waited for results.
Seconds later, the violent shaking ceased and the little plane began to climb. Jack lowered the nose slightly to gain some much needed speed while maintaining his height above the raging waters.
With his minimum climb speed reached, he pulled back on the stick and began to gain altitude. Higher and higher, he climbed and with each passing foot of altitude, turbulence increased.
Without warning, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky. Instantly, a deafening crack of thunder followed. Within seconds, Jack was sideswiped by a savage gust of wind that rocked the wings to vertical. Before he realized, he had already taken corrective action. The wings leveled and the plane continued to climb into the thunderstorm.
Moments later, Jack heard a loud pop… then another. Suddenly, the sky above him opened up with torrential rains nearly obscuring his vision.
“What the hell ! How much more do I have to take?” Jack cried out in frustration and fear.
Holding his wings level and continuing to climb, he began to feel water pouring in on his arm and shoulder.
“Shit! The friggin’ door’s still open,” he called out loudly.
He grabbed the handle and pulled it shut, closing off the water. Returning his attention to his instruments, he continued to monitor his altitude: thirteen hundred feet.
Jack tightened his lap belt as the winds and rain shook the plane. Mentally and physically exhausted, he was now breathing heavily. Again, a large bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. His hands shook with fear and he struggled to maintain his grasp on the controls.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted some movement. Quickly, he darted his head to the left and looked out the window: Land. With the reduced visibility, he had missed the approaching landmass. Checking his GPS’s, he turned to a new heading as he fought the winds and turbulence.
Jack depressed the button for the microphone.
“Providenciales tower, Zenair 8362 Lima is five miles west, inbound for landing,” he announced to the control tower at Providenciales International airport.
“Zenair 8362 Lima, land one zero, straight in approach approved,” the tower controller announced immediately, then added,
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