Thunderbirds (TV series)/Recap/S2/E03 Alias Mr. Hackenbacker

Under his alias "Mr Hackenbacker", Brains has designed the Skythrust, a new type of jetliner. While it is undergoing final tests over London, Lady Penelope is asked to visit her designer friend, François Lemaire, in Paris. This designer has developed a new, revolutionary fabric, which he has named "Penelon" after everyone's favourite London Agent. Taken aback by such an honour, Lady Penelope nevertheless maintains her wits enough to determine that Lemaire is under intense surveillance. Convinced of the threat to this new fabric, Lady Penelope arranges for the first fashion show to take place aboard the Skythrust.

However, the evil masterminds determined to steal Penelon don't let that stop them, and hijackers take over Skythrust. The Thunderbirds respond instantly to Lady Penelope's distress call and, at Brains' urging, use a non-explosive rocket to disable Skythrust's landing gear. The pilots warn the hijackers of the explosive consequences of attempting a landing with nearly-full fuel tanks on a rough strip in the middle of the Sahara with no landing gear. The hijackers agree to return to London, where the Skythrust performs a no-gear crash-landing at Heathrow. Fortunately, Brains' innovation - an ejectible fuel supply - prevents Skythrust from going off like a bomb, making it unique amongst aircraft in the Thunderbirds universe.