Trapped in the Sky

This article is about the Thunderbirds episode. For the film, see Trapped in the Sky (film).

"Trapped in the Sky"
Thunderbirds episode
A blue, futuristic airliner rests on top of three orange support vehicles (one underneath the fuselage and two underneath the wings) as it speeds out of control down an airport runway, the sky bright with clouds.
The Elevator Cars intercept Fireflash. These shots used looping rolls of canvas to simulate movement of ground and sky. An error involving a snapped control wire was kept in the episode.
Episode no.Series 1
Episode 1
Directed byAlan Pattillo
Written byGerry & Sylvia Anderson
Cinematography byPaddy Seale
Editing byDavid Lane & Len Walter
Production code1
Original air date30 September 1965 (1965-09-30)
Guest character voices
Flight Attendant
Co-Pilot Frank
Harris, Assistant Operator
Assistant Controller
TX-204 "Target 1" Pilot
Commander Norman
"Interceptor 1" Pilot
London Airport Announcer
Captain Hanson
Lieutenant Bob Meddings
Passenger
Doctor
Airport Police Officer
Crash Tenders Chief
TX-204 "Target 1" Co-Pilot
Episode chronology
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List of episodes

"Trapped in the Sky" is the first episode of Thunderbirds, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company AP Films (APF) for ITC Entertainment. Written by the Andersons, it was first broadcast on ATV Midlands on 30 September 1965.

Set in the 2060s, the series follows the exploits of International Rescue, an organisation that uses technologically-advanced rescue vehicles to save human life. The main characters are ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy, founder of International Rescue, and his five adult sons, who pilot the organisation's main fleet: the Thunderbird machines. In "Trapped in the Sky", master criminal the Hood plants a bomb on board the new atomic-powered airliner Fireflash before it departs on its maiden flight. Unable to land for fear of setting off the bomb, the crew and passengers' only hope of survival lies with International Rescue.

While planning the episode, the Andersons drew inspiration from Gerry's memories of his National Service in the RAF, during which he witnessed the fatal crash of a Mosquito aircraft and the emergency landing of a damaged Spitfire. To save studio space, special effects director Derek Meddings filmed the rescue of Fireflash on a static set using a system of looping canvasses instead of a miniature runway.

"Trapped in the Sky" was originally filmed as a 25-minute pilot in late 1964. Lew Grade, the Andersons' financial backer, was so impressed by the production that he ordered APF to re-write and extend every Thunderbirds episode from 25 to 50 minutes so that the series would fill a one-hour TV timeslot. Well received on its first broadcast,[1] "Trapped in the Sky" is widely regarded as one of the best episodes of Thunderbirds.[2][3][4][5] It was adapted into an audio play in 1966 and had its first UK-wide showing in 1991 on BBC 2. It was later re-made as "Fireflash", the fifth episode of the remake series Thunderbirds Are Go.

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