Frankie Fay Finklea's Frantic Final Flight

Sometimes, well-intentioned plans that are expected to entertain other people turn out to do just the opposite for some of them. Such was the day when Frankie Fay Finklea of Faraway Forest, Florida, took her first ride in an airplane. Frankie hated the sight of airplanes, and never would she be so foolish as to ride in one of them. Just the thought of doing so terrified her. Her dad, Mr. Fred Finklea, knew about his daughter’s fear and decided to do something about it. He believed that doings things that are feared ends the fear.

Mr. Finklea’s best friend, Fabio “Flyboy” Flint, was an expert pilot and owned a beautiful bright yellow Piper Cub, a small airplane with only two seats, one behind the other, that was used for training World War II pilots, and its safety record is unmatched. On warm days, the doors on the right side, hinged at the top and bottom, can be left open during flight. When Mr. Finklea called Flyboy, he got welcome news. “Well, this would be a great day for Frankie Fay’s first flight,” Flyboy said. “I am taking a bunch of kids for plane rides.”