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0625 hours.

Settlement Airfield.

The sun was still just starting to peek over the horizon. Its brilliant amber rays illuminating the thick fog that clung to the earth. The frigid air ensured that all outside this morning were in many layers of clothing and keeping gloved hands in pockets, the ponies were even wearing 'ear warmers' which the humans found made them look even more adorable.

A huge crowd had gathered along the fence line for the settlements impromptu airfield. The masons guild worked themselves to the bone overnight, covering the entire grass airstrip with packed gravel to ensure the planes had enough grip to not slide across the field on takeoff. This wouldn't be a problem usually, but the extreme weather, coupled with the failed training exercise of the new weather teams meant that everything was now covered in half an inch of solid ice, and no one wanted to take any chances with heavy bombers filled to the brim with fuel, speeding down a field with a town of wood buildings right next to the airstrip.

Being the first time the heavy bombers have even been started up since they landed at the airstrip, and were quickly locked away in the hangars. everyone was quite excited. Quite a large portion of the Guard currently taking residence in the town had yet to even lay eyes upon the metal beasts, Let alone see them operating. The a mob of humans stood on the fence line mingling with the guards ponies, Because honestly, Who doesn't enjoy hearing the bone rattling roar of four great big dirty radial engines, and the majestic sight of aircraft as large as B-17's and Lancaster's taking off?

The crowd hushed the moment that a metallic creaking echoed across the field. The hangar doors of two large hangar buildings on the opposite side of the airfield began to slide open. As the crowd leaned further and further into the chain-link fence in a useless attempt to get a better view of the hangars insides, but despite their efforts, they were rewarded with the same view as before they tried.

Several empty cargo trucks backed up to the hangar door and, after several minutes they reemerged, each towing the nose wheel of a huge aircraft. First, the huge nose of a flying fortress emerged from the dark confines of the hangar. Next into the early morning light was the square profile of the Lancaster. The ponies gawked at the sheer scale of the two monstrosities of engineering. Aircraft were continually towed out of the hangars until eight B-17's and six Lancaster's sat at the end of the runway. Whilst the mechanics feverishly kept track of the temperature of the aircraft's engines the pilots blazed through their checklists, double checking their every step to ensure that their added speed didn't end up causing dire problems.

Fuel trucks practically screeched to a halt either side of each aircraft and refueling staff scaled the aircraft and began quickly pumping fuel into the partially full fuel tanks. The copilots window of the lead B-17 slid open and he waved a neon yellow flag outside his plane. "We're starting the engines now, Watch yourselves." After several seconds pause for the ground-staff to move away form the engines and the refueling crew to climb down from the planes and move their trucks the pilot yelled out the window once more, his breath turning to vapor outside the confines of his rapidly cooling cockpit. "Clear Props!"

Silverstreak turns to Eliza and asked her human friend what the co-pilot meant by "clear prop"

Eliza just smiles and replies with "Its a verbal warning, he basically just spoke in 'Propeller head terms'. 'Please move away from my engines! I'm starting them and you'll very probably be seriously injured.' " The Bat pony was still confused and opened her mouth to ask Eliza to explain again, but the mare was cut off by a mechanical hiss.

With a whine, a groan, and finally a prolonged and cringe-worthy mechanical whimper. The engine spluttered and coughed to life. Then promptly and rather explosively backfired and stalled, the bang caused everyone on the fence line to jump and several of the ponies to yell in fear.

The pilot fully opened his window and stuck his head outside to get a better look at the troublesome engine. With a string of profanities that would made a sailor blush and hang his head in shame, And the mothers in the group hold their foals ears. The pilot attempted to start the engine once more.

The mechanics all started to look worried and continuously kept checking the engine temperature. Behind the lead B17, The Lancaster's Pilot yelled out his ritualistic words of warning, and once the ground-crew moved away from his aircraft's wings, gave him the thumbs up. With a mechanical groan and two seconds of whining the engine started up flawlessly. The ponies covered their ears with their woolen earmuffs, as the large camouflaged planes engine spat out six jets of flame then roared to life.

All the way down the line of craft, engines began roaring to life and many clouds of vapor very quickly began to rise into the sky behind the line. The lead 17' first engine still refused to start, Instead just opting to lazily whine. The pilot shut off the magnetos and threw his arms up. As the mechanics converged on the rebellious engine like hungry wolves the pilot stuck his head out of his window. His hairs stress induced graying streaks turning orange in the morning light. "Burnard! What have you done with my beautiful plane?!"

The mechanic turned and crossed his arms. Whilst looking up to meet the airman's glare. "We haven't touched the engines since the day you flew to this bloody airfield you codger. Just sit there and twiddle your thumbs like a good boy and don't forget the difference between your brake and accelerator pedals whilst i see what the problem is."

The thirty year old leaned back into his cockpit and reclined back in his seat mumbling to no one in particular. Now everyone on the sidelines were starting to get worried. Even the ponies understood this was obviously abnormal. The mechanics dispersed and moved back to the front of the aircraft. Meanwhile all the way down the flight line the other aircraft were performing the last of their preflight checks. Crews stood at various positions around each aircraft and were watching each control surface for any abnormalities. Flaps deployed then raised, rudders wagged back and forth, Ailerons waved up and down, and elevators pitched up and down. Each engines cooling cowls and vents were observed from safety to ensure nothing was jammed or iced up.

Burnard yelled up to the pilot to give it another try after making sure his crew were away from the flying fortresses wings.. After another cringe inducing five seconds the engine finally gave up and started after a cough or two. The pilot throttled the engine up to fifteen percent power so i would warm up quickly and start behaving. The rest of the planes engines started with little hassle and everyone was happy smiles. The cockpit was full of hollers and cheers, the ground-crew looked elated. and the fence-line was erupted into whistles and whoops.

After a further few minutes the ground-crew cleared the 17' for duty and the aircraft taxied to the gravel airstrip. Leaving the ponies in awe at their air shaking power. They could feel the air in their lungs rattling and couldn't hear anything but the loud roar of engines, even whilst they covered their ears with their clothing and their hooves.

A Single B-17 and a Lancaster sat on the very end of the strip, their tail wheels sinking slightly into the frozen earth. To mark the historic event of the first proper civilian flights in equestrian history. The communications between the pilot and control truck were connected to the airfields loudspeakers.

"Blue Four, Cattle-car. Checklist complete, Pre-flight complete. Requesting permission to takeoff for Appleloosa."

The voice of the Lancaster pilot echoed over the field next. " Purple One, Galloping Gurney. Checklist complete, Pre-flight checked out. Requesting permission to take off for destination Appleloosa." After several moments an ear-piercing screech echoed over the airfield.

"SORRY! Sorry! That was was a doozey Ey? *Ahem* Righto, Cattle-car and Galloping Gurney, Standby for current weather conditions and weather schedule throughout the next hour." After a five second pause. The controller spoke in a monotone voice, being sure to speak slowly and clearly. "Current conditions. Fog, Visibility, one hundred meters. Wind, None. Ambient air temperature, Zero degrees Celsius. Weather, Clear. Cloud cover, Dense... Current Weather In Appleloosa- Fog, None. Visibility, clear. Wind, Five knots, Direction, South east. Ambient air temperature, Thirteen degrees Celsius. Weather, Clear. Cloud cover, None, clear skies..." After a six second pause he speaks up once more in a monotone. "Weather condition upon your return will be the same. Snow will fall an hour and a half after your landing." Inhaling audibly the controller returns to his normal tone of voice. "Addressing all of you lot, its noteworthy that you are making history today! Your flights mark the first airliner and cargo flights performed by internal combustion engine aircraft in Equestrian history, You wont earn any tonnage hauling records, but your going to obliterate the airspeed transport records! and for that we leave our mark! Have fun out there. Or i'll have to come up there and beat it into you with a tuna..." All the humans began laughing at the Sexton hale reference. The ponies looked both disgusted and confused by the mans words, but they were happy for the humans to be so excited. and their own curiosity was nagging at them. They wanted to see the so-called 'war birds' fly.

The controlled said his final prayers for a safe and easy flight then addressed the line one final time. "Oh, And we here in the control truck thought it a nice gesture to give you all an Australian Treat. one that may be argued is overused but, What the heck, its a good one... Cattle-car, Galloping gurney... Cleared for takeoff, Have fun gents." With that done the sound of the microphone being hung-up echoed across the airfield. And the short period of silence from the loudspeakers ended with a familiar guitar tune playing through them. All the Australians instantly let out a hearty laugh, and all the other humans just smiles and started humming the lyrics that were about to come.

The loudspeakers gave the music a rather flat and tinny sound, but overall it was still a great quality.

The ponies listened to the song with great interest, lightly bobbing to the music. Certain parts of the lyrics had them looking quizzically at each-other, but eventually they just stopped caring about the lyrics and just enjoyed the music.

The aircraft on the runway lowered their engines power so that the music could be heard better over the roar of the engines and all of the crews were practically in a state of reminisce induced bliss. Some danced in their seats. Others grinned stupidly whilst humming. Some let a a few tears trail down their cheeks. And quite a few tapped out the songs beat on any reachable surface. The captains of both aircraft on the airstrip just crossed their arms and smiled whilst the song played out.

Eliza found herself quietly singing along, Her voices purity being on par with that of a churches choir. Her angelic voice caused most of the humans in the group to look at her with more than a fair amount of utter shock and disbelief, whilst the ponies just smiled and watched her sing passionately from her heart. Luke appeared from the group of awestruck people and hugged his girlfriend tightly whilst she continued to sing.

Once the song finished the roar of the B-17's engines filled the air of Neighagra Falls, The pilot released the brakes and the flying fortress lurched forwards, after a short while of gaining speed, the tail lifted gently from the ground and the hulking plane hurtled down the runway. As the Flying fortress reached the burning bonfire that marked the point of no return, The planes nose slowly tilted skyward. After a further few seconds, the landing gear left mother earth and the machines flight amazed the ponies and left the humans grinning like Cheshire cats.

When the Silver bomber was raising its gears and slowly getting smaller in the distance the Lancaster's Engines roared to life, and it too took to the heavens in a similar fashion to the aircraft before it.

The Lancasters Co-pilot hollowed his joy. "Scratch that one off the bucket list!"

The pilot after raising the flaps to their final position for the majority of the flight turned to look at his friend. "What would that be?"

If the airmen weren't wearing oxygen masks, the co-pilots toothy grin would of made the captain chuckle. "Why, We've already just broken two official records. and we have about seven more to go." He said with a smug laugh.

Meanwhile in the B17 cockpit there was a scene befit for a circus. The copilot and flight engineer had been at odds for picking a song to play over the bombers comm system. The navigator was repeatedly 'face-desking' whilst the gunners had completely tuned out and were having their own conversations.

As the captain was beginning to loose his cool he reached down into his seats side pocket and pulled out his smartphone. after plugging the aux-cord into the stereo that the crew had nagged Burnard to install for months before they arrived in Equestria. The captain scrolled down through his phones many many songs. Finally he sound the first song he actually enjoyed so much he recorded it. A song he heard when he went to a club back in Ponyville, before he was driven out by an angry bouncers glare.

The song echoed through the planes interior and the fight in the cockpit, much to the captains relief ceased. The navigator finally having some decent music to work to, and no longer hearing his fellow airmen bickering like children, managed to actually start catching up on organizing the mountain of maps the leadership dumped on his planes desk that morning.

The three planes continued their flight, seeming to chase the night as the sun rose behind them.