Thunderbirds

Way back in the distant mists of time I attended a primary school in Australia. One day an English migrant lad turned up and started raving about an action / adventure TV show which had the most incredible aircraft.... piloted by puppets!
Needless to say we thought he was quite mad and attributed his ravings to the effects of the tropical sun. Little did we know!
A couple of years later Thunderbirds turned up on our TV screens and started for many of us a lifelong fascination with aviation.
In 2004 Jonathan Frakes directed a live action movie which replaced the super-marionettes of the original Thunderbirds with live actors and tastefully updated versions of the TB vehicles.
Sad to say the "big-bucks" contemporary version had neither the elan or witty camp that Gerry and Sylvia Anderson were able to consistently produce during the 1960's.

F.A.B.

The original pilot roster

Scott
Virgil
Alan
Gordon
John
Brains
The theme music was performed by The Shadows
Each pilot entered the cockpit in his own manner. The launch sequences made up a good portion of each episode, and one that viewers looked forward to with relish.
2004 Pilot Roster

1966 vs. 2004

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward

1966

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward - glamour personified.
Receiving an emergency call from Tracy Island on the teapot-phone.
The 1966 FAB-1 couldn't fly but it was amphibious, as shown here with hydrofoils deployed
The distinctive Rolls Royce grille hid an effective cannon which could bring down military helicopters when necessary.

2004

FAB-001, Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward's luxury ride. Traditionally it has been a pink Rolls Royce but apparently the filmmakers couldn't get the rights to Rolls and had to roll with this Ford
... Lady Penelope indulging in luxury...
There are some optional extras in the 2004 FAB-001, including this jet turbine in the boot.
A holographic 3-D HUD helps Parker aviate the pink ride.
And this steering wheel mounted display aids navigation.
Lady Penelope is GO !!!

Scott Tracy - Thunderbird 1

1966

2004

Thunderbird 1 now has a "wrap around canopy".
Thunderbird 1 in formation with Thunderbird 2
Landing gear - Thunderbird 1 is a VTOL, swing wing, high speed interceptor aircraft.
Thunderbird 1 in hover mode.

Virgil Tracy - Thunderbird 2

1966

2004

Thunderbird 2 arriving at the millenium wheel in London.
Detail of the pod area and vertical thrusters.
Thunderbird 2 cockpit - no, that kid is not supposed to be in there!
Thunderbird 2 in formation with Thunderbird 1

Alan Tracy - Thunderbird 3

1966

2004

Gordon Tracy - Thunderbird 4

1966

2004

The Thames was too murky to secure a clear image.

John Tracy - Thunderbird 5

1966

Thunderbird 5 is International Rescue's Space Station.

2004

Thunderbird 5 on station and monitoring international emergencies.

Tracy Island

1966

The swimming pool retracts to allow launch of Thunderbird 1.

2004

Index