Synopsis

The Skythrust, a new airliner designed by Brains, is to be the location for the unveiling of a new fashion collection by Penelope's friend Francois LeMare who has developed a secret new miracle fabric, Penelon. But the plane is hi-jacked by crooks intent on stealing the entire collection...

Characters

Jeff Tracy, Commander Norman, Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, Madeline, Telephone Operator, Scott Tracy, Virgil Tracy, Mason, D103 Pilot, Alan Tracy, Gordon Tracy, Brains, Aloysius Parker, Skythrust Co-Pilot, Officer, London Airport, Waiter, Ross, Tin-Tin Kyrano, Dierdre, Saville's Secretary, Francois Lemaire, Captain Saville, Lieutenant Burroughs, Collins, Captain Ashton, Reporters, Fashion Buyers

Credits

Directing

Director: Desmond Saunders

Producing

Producer: Gerry Anderson
Associate Producer: Reg Hill

Writing

Writer: Alan Pattillo

Voices

Voice: Peter Dyneley (Jeff Tracy, Commander Norman), Sylvia Anderson (Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, Madeline, Telephone Operator), Shane Rimmer (Scott Tracy), Jeremy Wilkin (Virgil Tracy, Mason, D103 Pilot, 1st Reporter), Matt Zimmerman (Alan Tracy), David Graham (Gordon Tracy, Brains, Aloysius Parker, Skythrust Co-Pilot, Officer, London Airport, Waiter, 1st Fashion Buyer, 2nd Fashion Buyer, Ross), Christine Finn (Tin-Tin Kyrano, Dierdre, Saville's Secretary), Ray Barrett (Francois Lemaire, Captain Saville, Lieutenant Burroughs, Collins), Paul Maxwell (Captain Ashton, 2nd Reporter [uncredited])

Music

Music: Barry Gray

Crew

Cinematography: John Reed
Special Effects: Derek Meddings
Visual Effects: Sylvia Anderson

Production notes

Thunderbirds was the most expensive Supermarionation series up to that time. Although it had resemblances to the live-action CBS series Mission: Impossible, it actually premiered on British TV a year before Mission: Impossible was first seen in the U.S.

Gerry Anderson repeated the characters and plotlines for "Thunderbirds 2086," an animated series which ran on U.S. cable TV in 1984, then entered syndication a year later.