Apollo And The Jet Age.

October 17 1010 A.G
Omega industry factory.
8:30 PM

It was a chilly, fall evening in Cloudsdale, and right now Apollo and Astro were on the factory floor looking at the aircraft they work so hard to build.

In front of them is the brand new Aspera. The airliner’s new paint job glistened under the bright factory lights and its size gave it almost a larger than like presence.

In that moment, the human and the Pegasus both agreed that this was one beautiful aircraft.

“It was almost like it was yesterday when me and Roy decided to partner up with you, who knew that we would accomplish so much so quickly.” Astro said.

“I couldn’t agree more. It was like pulling teeth trying to get her ready, but it was all worth it. Before you know it, it’ll be the Astra’s turn to take its first flight.”

“Yep. Can’t wait to see every pony’s reaction when that jet breaks the sound barrier.” Astro said as check his watch.

“I have to get going, don’t want to miss my flight. Are you already to make history, pilot?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. I’ll see you in Manehattan. Have a good night, Apollo.”

“Good night.”

After that, Astro walked away.

Apollo stayed a few minutes longer before he too, left the factory.

===•••===
October 18
11:30 AM

Apollo was outside of the Aspera’s hanger, answering all the questions the crowd of journalist were asking him. He wasn’t surprised the moment he arrived; he would be surrounded by journalist from around the world.

After all, today is a special day.

After spending about 15 minutes of interacting with the press, he decided to check his watch. “I’m sorry every pony, I have to get going.”

He teleported out of the crowd and started walking towards the hanger.

‘I thought that would never end.’ Apollo thought.

“Apollo, you got this!” Atlas yelled.

Apollo looked on his right and saw that Atlas, Artemis and his friends were standing behind one of the barriers.

He smiled and waved to them before he entered the building.

But before he could walk up the stairs to enter the plane, a familiar wealthy Canterlot accent called out to him. “Apollo, wait.”

This made him stop in his tracks. “Oh God, don’t tell me it’s him.” He whispered.

He turned around and saw that his rival, Lloyd Ivory, was walking towards him. He is a white Kirin with a platinum-colored mane and tail.

“Lloyd, whatever you’re going to say, please make it quick.”

“I will. I just came over here to tell you good luck on your flight.”

This surprised, Apollo. Anytime these two would meet, it almost always ends up in an argument.

“Oh…. thank you, Lloyd. I never thought I would hear something like that from you.”

“Well, just because rivals, doesn’t mean we have to hate each other’s guts. I respect you as an engineer, even though your vision for the future is a bit…. radical.”

“Same over here. Maybe we will come to an agreement one day.” Apollo said.

“Maybe.”

“I’ll see you when I get back to Cloudsdale.”

“See you then.”

After Lloyd was gone, Apollo walked up the stairs, closed the exterior door and enter the cockpit.

After he put on his seatbelt, he grabbed his headset and turned it on. “Patricia, are you there?”

Patricia: “I am here, Apollo. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, I am.”

Patricia: “All right. Hang tight.”

Apollo didn’t wait long for the doors to slide open.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MppIym5AuK4&pp=ygUMZXBjb3QgYW50aGVt

Moments later, a small aircraft tug reversed into the hanger and its towbar was attached to the airplane front landing gear. After that, the tug started to tow the plane out of the hanger, revealing the Aspera to world for the first time.

This also gave Apollo an opportunity to see the large crowd of ponies surrounding the factory complex. He wondered if seeing an airplane in person for the first time would inspire some of the younger spectators in the crowd. Like just Apollo, when he saw Concorde for the first time.

After the Aircraft tug tow the plane on to the taxi way, its towbar was detached from the landing gear and the small vehicle drove away.

Now it was up to Apollo to get the Aspera to the runway. He turned on the engines and guided the plane on the narrow tarmac.

Taxiing a plane the size of a Boeing 777 was not easy. But Apollo knew what he was doing.

A few minutes later, the plane was on the runway.

After getting permission to takeoff, Apollo put his hand on the throttle. “All right, here we go. Three, two, one.” He pushed the throttle all the way forward, giving the engines 100% power. Propelling the airliner down the runway.

Every pony in the area was silence as they watched the large plane speed down the runway. Before it got to the end of the tarmac, Apollo pulled back on the yoke, making the nose of the airplane tilt skyward and the rear wheels to lift off the ground.

And just like that Equestria’s first airplane, was now flying.

The crowd immediately erupted into cheers as the Aspera flew away.

===•••===
2:50 PM

It’s been three hours since Apollo left Cloudsdale and so far, everything has been pretty good.

The airliner has been operating normally and he didn’t encounter any bad weather since he is flying at an altitude of 25,000 feet.

Fly this high in the sky, gave the human pilot the most beautiful view of the Equestrian landscape.

He checked his radar and noticed that he was almost to his destination. In standard procedure, Apollo started his descent.

The airplane was flying through the clouds at this point when he got contacted by Air traffic control.

ATC: “Aspera, come in, Aspera.”

“This is the Aspera speaking. I’m assuming this is Manehattan-Hooflyn International?”

ATC: “That is correct. The tower wants to let you know that you’re on the right flight path and you have permission to land. Oh, and you have attracted a bit of an audience.”

“How big is it?”

ATC: “It’s pretty big.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

ATC: “You’re welcome.”

A few minutes later, the plane finally got through the clouds, and the air station was in sight.

Apollo lowered the landing gear and lined up with the newly built runway.

As he got closer to the ground, he was able to see the large crowd that was gathered at perimeter of the airfield.

The air traffic controller was right, the crowd is big. But he didn’t have time to worry about that now, he had a plane to land.

He pulled the throttle back, slowing the aircraft down and kept it steady until the planes rear wheels touch down on the runway. After the front landing gear was on the ground, Apollo put on the brakes and turned on the thrust reversers. Slowing the plane down until it came to a complete stop near the end of the runway.

After the Aspera arrived at the Air station’s hangers, Apollo picked up his bag and disembark the plane. The first thing that greeted him was the flashing lights of more than a dozen cameras.

===•••===
3:15 PM
20 minutes later.

The moment Apollo’s shoes touch the ground, he was immediately surrounded by hundreds of journalists. Somehow, they were even more curious than the ones back in Cloudsdale.

Which is why he has been spending the last 20 minutes answering every question they had while trying his best not to spill any company secrets.

“I have time for one more question.” He said before pointing at a green sea pony reporter. “You have a question for me?”

“Yes, I do.” She replied. “After this amazing achievement, do you and Omega brothers have any plans for the future? And if so, what is it?”

“Well, I can’t tell you the specifics. But what I can’t tell you is that me and the brothers are not done yet. The plans we have for the future is going to be just as amazing, if not more, than the Aspera. All you ponies have to do is just wait and see.”
Apollo answered before walking away as a few journalists try to get him to answer one more question.

===•••===
10 minutes later.

“Congratulations Apollo, you did it. You prove to the world that jet travel is the future.”
Roy said as their limo drove through the city of Manehattan.

“No, we did it. If it wasn’t for you two, The Aspera would’ve been nothing more than a drawing on a piece of paper.”

“Yeah, but you were the one that started this whole thing in the first place.” Astro said.

“True.”

“Oh, I almost forgot. Thanks to the Aspera’s first flight, we got a ton of new orders. We even got some from the River Federation.” Roy said.

“The Federation?! Holy crap. I knew we would be successful, but not that successful.” Apollo said in shocked.

“Success is a major understatement for what we have achieved today.” Astro said as he pulled out a champagne bottle from the cooler. After he filled up three champagne glasses, he passed them out before raising his own.

“Cheers, colts.”

“Cheers!” The other two stallions said as they tap their glasses together with an audible clink.

While they were having fun in Manehattan, the rest of the world was wondering, what are those stallions planning to do next?