Answer :
Final answer:
Traveling by plane would be unsafe for Percy because his family's secluded residence has anti-aircraft defenses to protect against unwanted detection from the air, making it dangerous for any aircraft approaching the area, including ones Percy might be on.
Explanation:
Why shouldn't Percy travel by plane? The narrative implies that Percy lives in a secluded location with measures put in place to avoid detection, such as manipulating compasses and altering official maps. Percy's family has even taken steps to create a magnetic field to deflect surveying instruments. The greatest fear they harbor, according to Percy, is the potential for airplanes to discover their secret haven. Percy confides in a whisper that the single biggest threat to their hidden domain is aeroplanes. With the presence of anti-aircraft guns, the area is defended against the encroachment of planes, indicating past conflicts resulting in casualties and prisoners. This area, undisclosed and jealously guarded, is committed to remaining undetected, leading to stringent security measures against the very thing that airplanes could defeat. Thus, traveling by plane would be incredibly unsafe for Percy and could possibly compromise the secrecy and security of his residence.
