"Maneuvers" for the PicFic Challenge

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

(Don't faint, I actually wrote something! LOL! Many of you already know I've been in a writing slump for a number of reasons. Let's hope this isn't a temporary visit by my muse)


The prompt:

It was another one of those annoyances that agents had to deal with and that was the annual recertification for field equipment. At the moment it was demonstrating the abiltiy to use a helicopter.

The location was Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn; it was a clear day and perfect weather for flying.

Kuryakin sat in the pilot seat of the two man Schweizer 300 chopper. He wasn’t looking very pleased at all as he was tight lipped; at the moment he was keeping his ire in check.

In the other seat was a balding bespectacled man with a clipboard in his hands.

Both men were wearing headsets, masking the noise of the blades as they rotated, as well as the sound of the engine.  Still Illya Kuryakin was raising his voice.

“Is this absolutely necessary?” He huffed. “I have been flying a variety of helicopters since I was eighteen, not to mention Soviet MIG’s, American Phantom jet fighters, Learjets, prop planes and even hot air balloons. I think at this point I know what I am doing.”

The inspector, a man named Mitchell Daly, squinted at him through thick eye glasses. He scratched his nose with his fat little index finger before responding, though he didn’t raise his voice as Illya had.

“With the number of crashes and equipment you’ve damaged or destroyed Mister Kuryakin, you’re lucky the U.N.C.L.E. is even willing to have you recertified. We have a nickname for you in our department and that’s the Wrecking Ball.”

Kuryakin’s only reaction was to flare his nostrils.

Daly smiled.”Shall we begin?”

“Fine, but I suggest you hold on Mister Daly. And fair warning, my partner Mister Solo is also quite adept at flying one of these things.”

The chopper rose ever so slightly, but the front of one landing strut remained in contact with the ground.  Illya spun the helicopter round and around like a pirouette until it lifted off but instead of going forward, he flew the chopper backwards at a fast clip.

As it rose into the air the chopper quickly moved upwards in a backwards spiral until it stopped, just hovering for a moment.  It was then the helicopter moved forward but Illya had it climb, doing a 360˚ loop de loop.

As soon as the maneuver was completed the helicopter headed into a dive straight towards the ground.

Daly had let go of the clipboard and hung onto his safety belt for dear life.

“Are you crazy?” He screamed. “Take us down right now! I order you to land immediately.”

“I have not fully demonstrated my capabilites Mister Daly.”

Illya pulled up at the last second and soared upwards into another loop de loop.  He turned again, looking as if he’d execute another one, but instead the helicopter made a tight turn and continued turning as it descended in a tight corkscrew towards the ground.

The helicopter gently touched down, but only on one strut, and Illya flew it forward along the ground as if the chopper were skiing.

He took off again, this time spinning the helicopter in place round and round while it hovered at least 30 feet off the ground.

The helicopter levelled out, Illya cut the engine and put the chopper in autorotation to demonstrate an emergency landing.

As soon as the helicopter touched down Daly grabbed his stray clipboard, jumped out and ran like towards the hangar, not looking back.

Napoleon was waiting nearby, leaning against the corner of the building with his arms crossed in front of himself. He watched with amusement as the inspector opened the door looking somewhat panicked, and slammed the door closed after himself.

“So terrorized another inspector I see,” he chuckled to his partner as Illya walked towards him.” You know you could just go through the basics to pass.”

“Basics?”Illya smirked.”Where would the fun be in that?”

“You tovarisch can be pretty rotten at times.”

“What can I say? It is a gift...and you are welcome.”

“For what?”

“I just saw the inspector take off in his car, so I do not think you need to be recertified.”

“How’s that?”

“I told him that you are just as adept at flying a helicopter as I am.”

“Gee thanks, I thing,” Solo grinned as he looked at his wristwatch..”Shall we go get some lunch tovarisch?”

“On you?”

Napoleon hesitated. “Oh all right, why not. You did get me out of the recertification.”

“Only the helicopter recert. Remember this afternoon is driving the obstacle course; perhaps this time you could go first.”

“True true, you did wreck the test car last year.”

“Not my fault that a kitten ran onto the track, though if you recall you got lost...per se.”

“So you say Illya, but you were the only one who saw the cat and I didn’t get lost, I just went the wrong way on the course. I still passed.

“You do not believe me about the kitten?” Illya snarled; this time the Russian glared at him.

“Easy there tovarisch. Down boy, I believe you.”

“Sorry my friend, I guess I am feeling a bit peckish. Lunch would be good right now.”

“I thought as much,” Solo beckoned for his partner to follow him to the silver U.N.C.L.E. Pirana parked in the lot.

“Please do not tell me you are going to drive that for the recertification test?” Illya asked.

“Why not, even if I screw up I’ll still look good. Word is it that the test inspector is a woman, one Olivia Lee to be precise.”

Illya stopped in his tracks. “The one with the big…?”

“Precisely, tovarisch,” Napoleon grinned.

Kuryakin merely shook his head, not rolling his eyes as he usually did.

Little did Solo know the wiley Russian had a date with Miss Lee the night before, one that resulted in a bit more of romantic encounter for the evening…

Comments

[threecee.livejournal.com]

Looks like you soared out of your slump!

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Your muse seems to want to make amends to you. I love this! Illya, or should I say 'the Wrecking Ball', doesn't like his abilities being questioned, LOL. Good one, Cuz!!

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

Welcome back! A very enjoyable tale, good job!

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

What a great visual, and I'm impressed you were able to describe it so well. Just keep writing, the muse will catch up ;)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Actually someone I know was a helicopter pilot and I had an idea for a story years ago, so I asked him about some tricky maneuvers. I forgot about it and unfortunately I have no idea where the notes went, if I found them I could have used more apropos terms for what IK did. That's why I went with the descriptions... I knew I'd need them, but it would have been nice to have added the names for some of these moves.

Glad you liked the story, Glad you're back!!!