Pampyle-Spitfire

'This is the day.'

That was the thought that kept running through my mind as my team and I stood in the grass field behind our little complex on the outskirts of Ponyville. The day itself didn't hold anything of special significance that made it different from most of the days since my arrival to this land. Gilzia's celestial counterpart shone brightly in the blue sky in all of its splendor warming the chilled fall morning while the few remaining birds could be heard singing praises from the surrounding treeline. But there was something in the air, something so palpable that you could almost taste it in the crisp air that this day was truly a date that would go down in the tomes of history for the rest of time.

It was a day of firsts. For today was the first day of Gilzia and Pyre's new rule as Diarchs of the Queendom of Equestria. While Etpinego and the other bearers of the Elements of Harmony would take on their new titles of Crowned Princesses of Equestria alongside their peers Xamspona and Gehluli. And while the ceremonies were happening away in the capital, here, outside of Ponyville, it too would hold a moment of great historical importance. The locals were about to bear witness to something that nopony had ever seen. As a group of Equestrians, along with the help of a castaway alien, would complete Equestria's first heavier-than-air aircraft and launch it on its maiden flight.

Yes, today was the day.

I couldn't stop thinking about it as I ran through the preflight check with my team around the XP-27. A look at the faces of my team members and I could see the pride in what they had done, and they had every right to be. Because ever since that dinner all those months ago, when I had agreed to Pyre's request to help her citizens make an airplane, the people of this nation, these ponies, that I had come to admire and even love had hit the ground running. Not pausing until this dream of the freedom of flight once only enjoyed by those species who were born with wings was made a reality.

Walking around the experimental machine, looking for any last minute item that may have been overlooked by my team or me, I couldn't help but compare our accomplishment to that of those early pioneers of flight from my own world. True, this time around we may have been at a slight advantage compared to legends like the Wright brothers or Glenn Curtiss by already having the knowledge of both aircraft from my world and the ability to talk with any number of creatures here who already possessed the ability of flight. But in the end we still had to build it, we had to make it happen, we had to overcome all the same pitfalls and challenges that they had faced, and by God we had done just that.

The XP-27 was an odd, stubby, looking plane primitive in design compared to Earth's latest and greatest marvels with its fabric covered wooden frame, but as the morning light cast a soft yellow glow across its white skin I had to admit that it held a certain charm that had enamored all of us. The engineers had a handful in trying to make the little queer looking machine work. From the positioning of its engine behind the pilot in a pusher configuration and the non-retractable tricycle landing gear that would keep the ass end off the ground. To the intake ducts that were positioned on each side of the fuselage just aft of the cockpit that were used to direct cooling air across the engine’s cylinder banks. The control surfaces usually found in the empennage of a traditional aircraft had been a particularly challenging problem for the engineers to solve. In the end though we were able to get past it by moving the rudder to the tips of the swept back wings. While the elevators were placed on the nose as a set of canards. Which, with the short nose, gave the plane an arrowhead shape from below.

Once the exterior look around was completed I climbed up on the wing to the cockpit so as to continue my preflight inside. As my team leader Alvirg Lieh held open the cockpit door I climbed in and sat down in the pilot's seat. The layout of the cockpit was very spartan in design only containing the minimum number of gauges and levers that would be required to hopefully get the airplane skyward. But one area that had not been skimped on was pilot safety as I was buckled into a proper 5-point harness. They had even been able to work in a form of ejection seat into the plans that would safely evacuate me in the event that something went catastrophically wrong. At least that’s what I had hoped so.

Originally I had planned for one of my Equestrian teammates to be the one to fly the XP-27 on its first flight. For even though I may have had more experience with airplanes, having gained my private pilot's license from the local Aero Club at my home station back in my Airman days, it still only felt right for one of them to get the chance to take it up first. I, along with the help of our liaison from the Wonderbolts, had even trained a couple of them, in the basics of controlled flight. But in the end I had been unanimously outvoted by the team and even blackmailed with a royal decree by a certain lavender princess to be the pilot for this maiden voyage.

Alvirg Lieh finished tightening down the straps on the harness as I gave him a thumbs up before directing my attention to the stallion that would be running ground for me. A feeling of nostalgia overcame me as I watched the young stallion run through the hand signals for the different flight control surface checks. It seemed like not that long ago that I was doing the same job as the lingering memories of my lost life crept into the forefront of my mind. Bringing with it a deep sense of mournfulness whenever I would find myself thinking about my lost planet. Yet even under the crushing weight of loss I found solace and strength in the love and comfort of my three herdmates, but it wasn’t easy it never was.

Shaking myself from my funk I focused back to the task at hand as I finished the last of the flight control checks before keying the radio. The earpiece on my trusty headset crackling to life with static as I called into Ponyville's Weather Command detachment for an updated weather report and clearances. My request was readily answered as they conveyed that the skies were clear all the way to my destination. The mare on the other end of the line also asked me to say hi from all of the team to their rainbow-maned Captain whenever I saw her. A task that I eagerly accepted.

Now cleared of my prechecks and after a couple final reminders from our Wonderbolt liaison on the order of the events and location where I would rendezvous I was finally ready to start the engine and hopefully make a little history. With a circular motion of the stallion's hand above his head I was given the "all clear" to start, and after the movement of the few knobs and switches the motor began to slowly turn over before belching to life in a roaring symphony.

After a few brief moments to allow things to come up to temperature I gave Alvirg Lieh the signal to pull the chocks while others held the plane still by standing in front of the wing's leading edge due to its lack of brakes. The chocks now removed I gave one last look at my gauges before giving Alvirg Lieh the final thumbs up to clear the other members away from the area.

Due to the light nature of the XP-27's wooden design as soon as the resistance from the members at the leading edge was removed the plane began to slowly creep forward even with the throttle set at idle. Gripping the throttle lever in my gloved hand I gave the plane the ever so slightest bumps of fuel. The engine responded happily as it quickly revved and putt-putted me onto the grass runway where I made my way to the far side so as to face into the wind.

Looking down the long grass strip I couldn't help but swallow a lump in my throat as the gravity of what I was about to attempt began to sink in. I was about to take what was basically a home build piece of machinery that weighed a couple thousand pounds and hurl it down this strip at high speeds with no brakes and hope it got airborne before crashing into the trees at the end of the clearing. Everything that the engineers had told me said that I would make it airborne before I had reached the halfway mark and I was forced to trust their math, but theory and practice were still two different things. If I was honest with myself I would have liked to of had more time to run local flight trials around the facility before making such a journey but time didn't permit it after all destiny didn't favor the meek. So with a calming breath I gripped the throttle again and gradually moved it into the FULL detent causing the plane to lurch forward down the strip pushing me back into the seat.

Faster and faster I went down the runway the plane bounced and jerked on each little divot in the ground forcing me to have to use the rudder to compensate as I watched the airspeed indicator climb ever higher, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty knots. Faster and faster I went as the end of the runway grew steadily closer while I hoped that I could reach the magical seventy-five knots before I hit the no go point on the strip. At a little over halfway I began to feel the nose of the plane go light in the stick as I reached my targeted speed. Pulling back ever so slightly on the stick was all that was required as the plane gracefully climbed away from the ground and into history.

A smile grew on my face as I looked back towards the compound, watching as the buildings grew increasingly smaller into the distance. We had done it! We had done something no one else here had. I wanted to jump for joy to help relieve some of the excitement that was begging to burst forth from inside me, and it was only due to the straps of the harness digging into my shoulders that I remained in my seat. My revelry now temporarily contained for the moment I focused back to the task at hand as I brought down the nose, leveling off my ascent and did a quick check of my gauges once again. Everything looked within limits and the plane respond well as I banked it slightly to turn it back towards the field for a fly over. I noticed that the stick was a little more sluggish than I was used to due to the purely manual controls, but thanks to the relatively large control surfaces and the light weight of the craft I didn't find it to be of great concern at such a slow speed.

Coming back over the field I decided to show off a little as I pitched the nose into a shallow dive and pushed the throttle to the firewall. The airspeed climbed at an alarming rate as I heard the engine roar behind me pushing me ever faster. Soon I was approaching the estimated top speed of a hundred thirty-five knots before pulling back on the stick with a grunt leveling off above the field at treetop level. Buzzing down the strip I waved down to the crew who were enthusiastically cheering and waving back each one of their faces glowing with pride. After another one or two more passes I figured I had better be on my way as I turned the nose towards Canterlot and up into a lazy climb. After all I had an appointment to keep and it wasn't considered proper manners to keep women waiting, doubly so if they were royalty.

Making my way the short distance across the peaceful valley I could see that the celebration was already well under way from the flurry of activities in the skies surrounding the summit of Mt. Canterlot. Airships dotted the skies like colorful lanterns while pegasi buzzed around like prismatic fireflies as they searched for a perch amongst the crowded clouds surrounding the palace as peasant and noble alike vied for the best vantage point to witness their new heads of state first.

Coming closer to the city I gently moved the rudders, yawing the plane slowly away from the city and around to the backside of the mountain towards the designated meet up point as told to me by our Wonderbolt liaison. Once I had cleared a surrounding bluff I could make out the blue and yellow shapes of the aerobatic team as they flew in a holding pattern about two miles out and I would guess around eight hundred feet above me. They must have spotted me almost immediately as I watched the two at the front of the formation dive away from the group and head out to greet me. I watched in envious wonder at their natural gracefulness with each beat of their wings as they flew by me only to turnaround and come up alongside my wingtips on either side.

My two escorts seemed to be as interested in my plane as I was in their physiques. Each of us filing away every detail we could to hopefully solve the mystery on how each of us were able to stay aloft. Two different methods, one mechanical one magical, but in the end the result was the same. The yellow mare with a fiery orange mane and tail on my left came in closer as I frantically tried to wave her off, pointing to the spinning prop behind me, but she only gave the spinning blades of death a passing glance as she gently landed atop my wing.

Slightly enraged I slid open the window as I yelled to her over the rushing wind, "Are you crazy! Do you have some kind of death wish?"

But the mare ignored my protest as she took a peek into the cockpit momentarily captivated by the dials, levers and gauges before replying back to me, "Look here, the name’s Pampyle, I'm Captain of this team, and while you're here you'll be under my command. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes ma'am, bu-" I tried to say something but was cut off by the fiery mare.

"Good, now my team and I are going to go in first to do our routine while you remain here. Do you understand?" I nodded my head as she continued, "When it's time for you I'll come and get you. After that all you have to do is follow me in, the others will form up on us and do the rest. Got it?" I nodded again as she gave one in return.

Next thing I knew though the mare did a backflip off of my wing diving out of my view momentarily before I spotted her glide back into position off my wing while giving me a thumbs up.

"Crazy fucking mare," I grumbled to myself as I slammed the window closed before returning the gesture while her and her wingpony peeled off to return to the group orbiting above my position.

Turning the plane into a gentle turn I looked over my shoulder to watch the flight of Wonderbolts split up to begin their routine. Pampyle began to rapidly climb as an element of three headed eastward while another element of four headed towards the western side. As I banked back around towards the mountain I could see the two elements heading towards each other, although it seemed that the western element had lost a member. Once they had reached the outskirts of the city I saw what looked like rain clouds begin to trail behind them, not unlike the smoke trails I was used to seeing at airshows. It was at that time I spotted Spitfire's trail above the snowy summit plummeting down at an astonishing speed. What happened next was obstructed by the mountain and the fact I had to turn again to maintain my position, but what glimpses I could see had me in awe at their well coordinated movements of precision aeronautical maneuvers that would rival any team from Earth.

After about twenty minutes of me continuing to do circles I finally saw the orange and blue form of Pampyle as she approached me and slipped in easily in front of me. Flipping onto her back she motioned for me to follow her as I gave her a thumbs up before she lead me down to the valley and making a low wide turn around the rocky spire. Soon I could spot the ivory towers of the fortified city and I felt my palms begin to sweat as my nerves began to act up at the sight before me causing me to pull back on the throttles a little. The skies above the city were absolutely littered with spectators, even more so than before, and I couldn't begin to imagine how Pampyle and her team had weaved through it all, much less how I was going to weave through it with the larger XP-27. Pampyle must have sensed my nervousness because she slowed her pace slightly and cast a fleeting glance back to me. Not wanting to be one to disappoint I gave her a reassuring nod as I advanced the throttles again to keep up with her casual pace.

Luckily enough for me we weren't going to have to press out way through the crowd that day as Pampyle dipped below them slipping into a corridor that I hadn't seen before between the lazy leviathans above and the rooftops below as I closely followed. Carefully I glanced up at the passing ships above me and I could see their elegantly dressed occupants looking down in disbelief as this loud, alien-looking, craft whizzed below them. A flash of movement out of my peripherals caused me to look to my sides to see Pampyle slipping onto my right as the other members of her team formed up on either side of me, escorting me in.

Thankfully once we had reached the outer walls of the palace grounds the traffic around us disappeared and it looked like we had a straight shot to the main balcony. The courtyard below was filled to capacity with cheering supporters for their newly crowned Queens and Princesses. Onward Pampyle and her team accompanied me as we went into a lazy circle around the tallest spire where stood all the offspring of the Royal House of Harmonia. Easily I spotted my beautiful herdmates amongst the group in their formal wear from our low altitude and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swell up in my chest and the familiar warmth of their love shared between us through our bond as our eyes met..

We circled in review for the Queens and Princesses a couple more times before I looked down at my fuel gauge and saw that it was time to head back home. I caught Pampyle's attention on my right by lightly waggling my wingtips before motioning with my hands that I had to land soon. She understood, or at least I hoped she had, as she gave me a nod of her head before signalling the others. Coming back around again I gave a final wave goodbye to the group below as they enthusiastically returned the gesture before setting my nose southeast for home. The Wonderbolts escorted me out to the cities edge, trailing their rain clouds behind them, before breaking off into dazzling floral pattern.

Now alone and heading home the rush of the recent events calmed under that steady drone of the massive V8 behind me. I closed my eyes for a moment as I relished in the familiar warmth from Gilzia's sun. Opening my eyes again I could see the makeshift airfield off in the distance as I calmly thought to myself as a sense of hope swelled within me.

'Today is the day, but today is only the beginning.'

Author's Notes:

Yay! Finally, after so long, we're done with part one of the saga. It's been a blast writing this and I hope to see all of you next time as we continue the adventures of TSgt Eric Broussard.