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At London International Airport, a damaged plane is coming in to land on one of the runways. Due to a malfunction, it has no working landing gear and subsequently crashes. Emergency vehicles have already been scrambled, to meet it; but as the fire engines and ambulances arrive at the crash scene, the plane explodes into a big fireball...

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It's then revealed that this event is, in fact, a sequence of a motion-picture film, that has just been shown. Captain Ashton says this demonstrates the greatest danger of a plane crash: the fire hazard. However he thinks that they have found an answer to the problem, in Skythrust - a new type of airplane which they've done extensive tests on, to make it the safest jet around. He says they'll go up and meet Skythrust's designer...

...one Mr. Hiram K. Hackenbacker - who is actually Brains! He's on his way to London Airport and arrives in time to meet with the others, as the new Skythrust plane appears on a runway. He doesn't take all the credit for it, though, saying instead that he only designed some of the features of the plane.

Commander Norman advises Captain Ashton that he can take off. Soon, Skythrust is in the air; and everyone says that the plane looks great. Norman says that it will most likely be in service in just a few days...

Out in the Pacific, on Tracy Island, Scott is reading a magazine interview with Brains. It's all about the Skythrust, and how it has some revolutionary new features which Mr. Hackenbacker won't reveal to anyone yet. Jeff believes that as Brains is staying on in Europe for a while, Skythrust must be going into operation soon. Scott adds that the aircraft's first flight is meant to be from London to Paris. This prompts Tin-Tin to mention that the fashion magazine she's reading includes a story about how Lady Penelope (who also graces the magazine's cover) may be entering a charity fashion show in France, to be presented by the famous fashion designer, François Lemaire...

In Paris, Penelope is meeting with her friend François at his atelier. She says she'll model for him at his fashion show, which he's delighted to hear. He's about to reveal the big surprise he intends to tell everyone about at the show - but Penelope then stops him. She believes the room is bugged! Taking her hairbrush - which conceals a scanner - she proceeds to "sweep" the room; and, sure enough, the bug is found, hidden in a flower pot.

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She then takes a look outside, using François' telescope, and spies a long-range camera, planted several buildings away. She shuts the door. François then says he'll write down his secret instead, and then pass her the piece of paper.

However, before he finishes his writing, Penelope asks to see the pen. She opens it up, and finds that it too is bugged - the pen's special feature lets it copy whatever the writer puts down on paper, and send it to someone else. Penelope writes the rest of the message. It's all too much for François, who asks his secretary, Madeline, to bring in some tea. He also asks Deirdre, one of his other models, to stand by to model some of the new items that arrived that morning.

He then, finally, reveals his secret to Penelope: opening up a tiny box, he pulls from it an entire dress! This is his big secret - a new fibre he's named Penelon, in honor of Penelope herself. Penelon can duplicate other fabrics and can fold up so compactly, yet clothes made out of it won't crease when they do - prompting the surprised Penelope to exclaim that she could carry an entire wardrobe in her purse!.

Madeline brings in some tea. Penelope then discovers yet another bug - this time, in one of the sugar cubes. François is at his wits' end now and doesn't think the show can go on at his studio. Penelope has had an idea about that...

At London airport - where Captain Ashton is discussing with Commander Norman and Brains that the final tests for Skythrust are complete - a call comes in, for Mr. Hackenbacker. Brains leaves the room to get it - having just about remembered, that's him! He finds Penelope is the one calling him, and she lets him in on her idea...

Later on, Penelope meets Captain Ashton in a restaurant. She wants to have the fashion show aboard Skythrust itself. Ashton isn't so sure that's a good idea, though. A waiter then arrives with tea, but before either of them can pour it, Parker contacts Her Ladyship - his scanner is telling him the teapot is bugged! Penelope finds the bug, and Ashton realizes just how serious the fashion show is. He agrees they ought to move its location, after all...

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At last, Skythrust is out on a runway at a French airport. In the pilots' cabin, Ashton and his co-pilot have received some good-luck telegrams, including one from Mr. Hackenbacker, who, they regret, could not be along for the first commercial flight of the plane.

François, Madeline and Deirdre have arrived in a car, which is taken aboard Skythrust. Penelope's also on the way, in FAB 1. Parker drops her off inside the plane, where she meets with François. He tells her that everything is ready. Then it's time, and Skythrust takes off...

Brains is back in London, and Tin-Tin has joined him at the airport to await Skythrust's arrival. They head for the airport's control tower to check in on how things are going...

Aboard Skythrust, the fashion show is underway. All runs smoothly, as Penelope, Deirdre and Madeline show off Lemaire's newest fashion collection. The audience is wowed by the designs, and the Penelon fabric, seeing it as a revolution in the fashion world. In the cockpit, the pilots report to London airport that they are around 15 minutes away. Brains and Tin-Tin are in the airport's control tower, and one of the staff there states that they have Skythrust on their radar...

The airborne fashion show has concluded, and everyone is remarking about how great it all was. Penelope says she'd better go and change before they land in England. Deirdre, though, is wondering where Madeline's gotten off to, and asks about it; while Lemaire says he hasn't seen her since the show ended...

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So, where in the world is Madeline? She's gone to the cockpit - and she's pulled out a gun! She then tells Ashton and the co-pilot that their destination has changed, as they're now going to the Sahara Desert - a place where they won't be disturbed. Nor is Madeline alone: Mason, one of the stewards, has also produced a gun and is keeping the passengers at bay. He wants the Penelon outfits all boxed up again, as he and Madeline intend to abscond with Lemaire's entire collection. They'll make a lot of money if they sell it. (The fashion world appears not to be immune from the likes of industrial espionage...)

Skythrust changes course; and, with Madeline not letting the pilots use the radio, things seem hopeless. But Penelope has a plan: she activates a hidden feature on her ring, which sends an emergency signal to Tracy Island...

The Tracy family receive the signal, and Scott takes off in Thunderbird 1, whilst Virgil and Alan blast off in Thunderbird 2. Jeff tells his sons that he'll try and contact Brains in London, to find out what's up. Penelope's ring also acts as a transmitter, meaning that they can track her location.

Once Scott and Virgil figure out Penelope's position, they inform their father; and Jeff works out that it appears she's on the way to the Sahara! Why would she be heading out there? What none of them yet knows, however, is that some of Madeline and Mason's goons are waiting at a small airport there, along with a van. Scott says he is 18 minutes away from Skythrust...

As the hijacked airliner nears its destination, Madeline has the radio on, so she can talk to her men on the ground...

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...but who she actually gets, is Scott! He requests they return to London; Madeline says no. Scott warns they'll have to take action to force the plane to return. Madeline scoff at this, saying International Rescue's job is to save lives, not put them at risk; and that he should go away.

Meanwhile, at London airport, Brains is informing Virgil of a certain plan: he needs to take a shot at the undercarriage, with a non-explosive missile. Virgil thinks it risky, but Brains says he just needs to trust Mr. Hackenbacker...

Virgil makes a few passes, but Madeline isn't scared. She threatens to shoot Ashton if the Thunderbirds don't go away. Virgil holds back...but he gets under the plane's blind spot, and then moves in closer. He preps the rockets, and Alan takes the shot: He hits Skythrust's undercarriage, causing a malfunction!

The co-pilot checks it over and sees that they now have a fault. Ashton tells Madeline that the wheels on the plane will not activate - meaning they cannot land at such a small airport as the one they're going to. Madeline gets Mason to check it over, and Ashton goes over the situation with him: he argues that they have a much better chance at a crash-landing at London airport than out in the desert. Skythrust is carrying a lot of fuel; and if it explodes, there'll be nothing left of them. At least there are emergency services at London. Mason reluctantly agrees, and soon Skythrust is heading back to London airport. What Mason isn't aware of, is the Hackenbacker device - something Ashton and his co-pilot do know of, but keep quiet about...

Virgil and Alan let their father know that Skythrust has turned around, and is heading back to London. Jeff has learned from Interpol that Mason and Madeline were heading to meet up with two other crooks, called Ross and Collins. Both are wanted for murder (amongst other things). He suggests Thunderbird 2 go to pay them a visit...

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Skythrust is now 17 miles away from London airport. Captain Ashton convinces Mason and Madeline to go and wait with the other passengers in the back of the plane, as it's the safest place to be for the crash-landing they must attempt. With them out of the way, he and his co-pilot are at last free to use the Hackenbacker device...

The plane reaches the runway and does a crash landing. As Skythrust slides across the ground, the Hackenbacker device is activated - and part of the plane - its fuel pod - shoots straight up, high into the air. Commander Norman, watching from the control tower, waits - and once the fuel pod reaches a safe distance, he has it destroyed. The pod duly explodes, but since it's so far up in the air by then, it causes no damage.

Skythrust itself, meanwhile, finally comes to a stop on the runway; and it's clearly in no danger of exploding. Norman says that this eljectable fuel pod will revolutionize air safety.

Inside the plane, Lady Penelope pulls out a gun and tells the cowering hijackers to just stay right where they are, as they wait for the police. François asks about the hijackers' accomplices, but Penelope assures him they'll be dealt with...

...and, back in the desert, where Ross and Collins are still waiting around, they see a plane heading their way. It's Thunderbird 2! And as Virgil makes another pass, Alan sharp-shoots a rocket at the crook's van and destroys it, leaving the two stranded there. Alan lets his father know that their mission has been accomplished.

In the control tower, Norman says this won't be a day they'll forget about in a hurry! Does Mr. Hackenbacker have anything else he'd like to say? he inquires. Hackenbacker replies he wants to go out to get something to eat! And Skythrust's crew and passengers agree, as "Hiram" escorts Tin-Tin on their way off to a well-deserved dinner.

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