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It is the first time the schoolgirl has seen an aircraft from inside and her excitement is palpable, even though the jet is in fact a decommissioned plane parked on a plot of land near New Delhi's domestic airport.

"It's a great experience and will be very useful when I fly in future," she said of her time on the plane, which every week draws scores of schoolchildren and curious onlookers who have never seen a plane up close.

Of the 55 schoolgirls who took a "flight", only three had ever flown before, despite a boom in air travel.

Industry experts say nearly 100 million Indians are likely to travel by plane this year - compared to less than 50 million in 2003-04 - but still a small proportion in a country of 1.1 billion people.

"Most people in India have not seen an aircraft. I have been flooded with requests," said the plane's owner Bahadur Chand Gupta, a retired aircraft engineer.

"I was the first aircraft engineer in my village. Back in 1980, I was treated as if I were the prime minister by the village folks who all wanted to see a plane," Gupta said of his venture.

His company, Aeroplanet, now provides an on-the-ground in-flight experience to those who cannot afford to fly. The price is a mere 150 rupees (Bt127) per head.

Gupta's office staff double up as cabin crew, serving snacks and helping customers put on their oxygen masks, while the former engineer tells his audience about air pressure and aircraft speed.

Gupta bought the plane - cut up into four pieces to make transportation easier - as scrap four years ago.

"I even put together the emergency slide for $100 (Bt3,400) only. It would take several thousand dollars to buy a new one."

The former engineer launched the business three years ago after a deluge of requests by passers-by to board the aircraft.

Now he entertains schoolchildren three times a week, offering the facility free to charities who want to bring along poor children.

Weekend rides are also free for those who cannot afford to pay. Magic shows and dancers are thrown in for entertainment for larger bookings.

"The guard has instructions to let anyone who wants to have a look come in. I can understand because I come from a small village myself," Gupta said.

Photo AFP

Vocabulary

to fasten, v: to put on or tie tightly and securely; for example, a belt

score, n: 20; a great number

curious, adj: eager to find out

proportion, n: part (especially in relationship to the whole number or amount)

mere, adj: small number; only

to double up, v: to do another job on top of the usual one

deluge, n: a great number that arrives suddenly and unexpectedly; for example, applications

passer-by, n: a person who passes by chance

charity, n: organisation that helps people in need

to throw in, v: to give something extra as a bonus

Questions

1. Where can children visit the decommissioned aircraft?

a. Athens

b. Phoenix

c. New Delhi

d. Amsterdam

2. What is special about the "flight" on Gupta's plane?

a. It is for free.

b. The plane crash-lands.

c. It is piloted by a teenager.

d. The plane never leaves the ground.

3. How much does Gupta charge for the flight?

a. 100 dollars

b. 150 rupees

c. 1,000 dollars

d. 50 million rupees

4. Who are the cabin crew on the flight?

a. Gupta's office staff

b. trained flight attendants

c. teenage schoolchildren

d. personnel from Air India

5. Why do so many people want to see Gupta's plane?

a. The plane is a famous fighter jet.

b. They have never been on a plane.

c. It is the private plane of the Indian president.

d. Every passenger is allowed to take the helm.

Synonyms

Which of the following words or phrases replace the ones from the passage best?

1. palpable

a. slight

b. grateful

c. obvious

d. appropriate

2. decommission

a. retire

b. repair

c. renew

d. launch

3. onlooker

a. victim

b. customer

c. spectator

d. perpetrator

4. scrap

a. model

b. rubbish

c. premium

d. spare parts

5. board

a. fly

b. hijack

c. get on

d. control

KEY

Questions       1. c, 2. d, 3. b, 4. a, 5. b

Synonyms       1. c, 2. a, 3. c, 4. b, 5. c

By Ajarn Horst Baelz