Episode 2 Airmageddon

Welcome to Airmageddon, the ultimate test of airborne skill.

Four teams and their flying machines are about to go head-to-head

over a series of three epically tough challenges.

Each game will see one team grounded,

and just one team will make it through to the semifinals.

Here, in our purpose-built Airena, they'll face each other

and our resident drones,

a fleet of ferocious, unmanned

aerial vehicles programmed to shock and awe.

But who will survive, who will be crowned master of the skies?

Aviators, stand by.

This is Airmageddon!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Welcome to Airmageddon, the home of drones,

-a show you really can count on.

-Yes, we have got one giant Airena.

-Two presenters.

-Three dimensions of mayhem.

-And four UAVs.

-Explain, please, Will.

-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Keep up, Rachel.

Well, I'm already ahead of you, mate, don't worry.

-Anyway, let's meet our aviators.

-And here they are.

Entering the Airena, Stealth 2.2.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Followed by the Master Hawks.

Team Hornets. Last but not least, Area 51.

So, it's time for our first challenge.

This one is a real test of precision, speed and

skill against the clock.

And they're all pretty confident now, but will they be quite

so confident when they take on our aerial airsault course?

Team Stealth 2.2 are up first. They will be setting the pace.

-Is that a bird or is that a plane?

-Oh, no, that is a pig, actually.

Come on.

Yes, swine flu. Not the disease, but his test run.

Our first challenge, very simple.

It's an obstacle course, but with a twist or two or three.

One lap of our vast Airena.

Aviators must throttle off the launchpad

and fly through the first narrow gate.

Hightail it through the hurdles of horror,

a tricky traverse of coloured bars.

On to gate two, and then spot your entrance to

the pillars of precision.

Past gate three and on to the vortex.

A whirling wind that can whip you away.

One final gate...

And it is a supercharged sprint to the finish line.

Fastest time wins, slowest time and you're grounded.

Cheers, Piggy.

Of course, Pig makes it look easy,

but that couldn't be further from the truth.

And to turn something that's difficult into something almost

impossible, let's see who will be up there with them

from amongst our resident drones.

It's the D.R.A.GON.

Unique, unreliable and unpredictable. Designed to

act as a heavy-duty attack-style drone with deadly firepower,

thanks to a front-mounted flame-thrower. Beware of his breath.

First up is Stealth 2.2.

Aviator Robert is at the controls, hoping to fly to victory.

He is aided by wingman Peter.

Stealth 2.2, they're not flying under any radar with that paint job.

So, you've drawn the short straw, you're first up.

-Do you reckon you're going to set the best time?

-Yes. We can do it.

-We think so.

-Good stuff. Well, we are about to find out, OK?

Aviators, stand by.

Start your motors, rev your rotors,

you are clear for takeoff!

Time for these boys to propel themselves to greatness.

There's the D.R.A.GON at the end. He awaits them.

Air Marshal to start.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Aviators, stand by, in three, two, one.'

This is a tricky airsault course that Stealth 2.2

must manoeuvre.

Steady, that's it. Keep it moving.

Keep the thing moving, don't pause it at any period of time.

Yes, wingman Peter giving advice.

Aviator Robert attacking that first game very smoothly.

Bring it round more, bring it round. This is really good.

Yes, aerial artistry, if you like. Now the hurdles of horror.

Whoa, go that way. Yes, to the left, drop it there.

Yes.

Oh, no.

Oh, goodness, he's clipped it. Oh, he is caught as well.

And he quite literally has to wing it a bit here.

Oh, and a tap off for the one from behind.

He must try and stabilise.

Come on, keep it up. Oh, no.

I just broke one of them.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Drone damaged.'

-Oh, propeller.

Gravity got the better of them.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Drone under cover. Unairworthy.'

That must hurt. That's it, it's over.

Guys, unlucky, that was really, really unlucky.

-You held on to it really well. Are you OK, mate?

-Yeah.

Are you sure?

-It's all right, Rob.

-Oh, that's got to herd. Especially for the drone.

Old Sir Isaac Newton knew a thing or two.

Gravity, not just a good idea, but the law.

That was really unlucky. What went wrong for you?

Well, I thought I was on the other side of the bar so I went down.

But I was on this side so...

It is so tricky, the depth perception. Yeah, yeah.

And the important thing to remember is that you guys did get over

two of the obstacles,

so there's still a chance you will remain in the competition.

Second in the Airena are the Master Hawks.

Aviator Harry loves steak pie. Don't we all, Harry?

Harry's dad, Steven, is providing wingman support.

Release the vibrant green flying machine.

-Are you hoping to be masters of the airsault course?

-I hope so.

-Yes.

And how are you feeling about this?

Have you had a proper look at everything?

Have you got your tactics worked out?

Yes, we've got our tactics worked out.

-We're pretty confident, I think, today.

-Yes, OK?

Your dad seems really confident.

And that's making me feel nice and relaxed, OK?

So let's have a good run, and hopefully you will post a fast time.

All right, then. Aviators, stand by.

Master Hawks ready to join the action here in the Airena.

Stealth 2.2 nervously watching on with Rachel.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Launch in three, two, one.'

Why, thank you, Air Marshal.

We saw the D.R.A.GON breathing fire at the end of the course.

Bang in the middle, mate, Good lad. Bang in the middle.

There you go, mate. Nice and easy. Nice and easy.

Communications spot on.

Through the first gate, on to the hurdles of horror.

That's it, bring it over now.

This is where the nightmare happened for Stealth 2.2.

Oh, under that middle one. Spot on.

Perfect. Bring it back in.

Good lad. Perfect, mate.

Now, they must do the ascent over, head towards the next gate.

As we have a little look back. Poor old Stealth 2.2.

They know they've been put into the drop zone.

Concentrate on getting through.

-You are through, mate, you are through.

-Yes, absolutely spot on.

Right through the pillars of precision without any trouble.

On to gate three.

-Down.

-The Air Marshall watching on. You can hear the noise.

-They are through that now.

-Down a bit, down a bit. Perfect, perfect.

-Up, up. Up.

-Almost going through the bottom. Out through the top.

Near circular motion, 100mph of air.

And here's the D.R.A.GON!

Through, through, through. Ignore the drone.

Right, straight round, straight round. Go, go, go.

Oh, yes, they've burned past the D.R.A.GON.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well, they handled that so well,

especially this mini cyclone of a vortex. Very tricky.

And then the first team to finish.

Bravo, Master Hawks.

02.05, they are top of the airsault leaderboard.

Stealth 2.2 did not finish, in the drop zone.

Come in, Master Hawks. Woo, high five! Well done, Dad.

That was pretty good, Harry. How did it feel?

-I feel really proud about it.

-The D.R.A.GON was out, wasn't he?

Did he put you off, was he scaring you?

Not really, I just tried to blank him out of my mind

and just focus on my drone.

Taking on the airsault course next is Team Hornets.

Piloted by aviator and self-confessed geek Ruby,

and her wingman dad, Lloyd.

Will they earn their stripes on the airsault course?

So, this is a big moment for you. Your first trip out in the Airena.

-How are you feeling?

-I'm kind of feeling a bit scared

-because you don't know what is going to happen.

-Lloyd, you're going

to have to be on hand to help keep her focused on the course.

-All right, then. You ready to go?

-Yeah.

-Aviators, stand by.

Well, Ruby's drone obviously modelled on a hornet.

And not too dissimilar to our own fearsome W.A.S.P.

But it is the D.R.A.GON she will be facing in the Airena today.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Aviators, stand by, launch in three, two, one.'

Remember, the Hornets have no idea how the others have done.

Ruby is away. Wow, she's quick.

Straight to the middle, straight to the middle. Brilliant.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Stay on your flight path. Repeat, stay on

'your flight path.

-'Stay on your flight path.'

-The Air Marshal just keeping her on track.

Quite right, she is going very wide there.

This is a little wild, but it's good so far.

Very quick indeed.

Brave, for sure. Gone past Stealth 2.2.

Perfect, perfect.

-Up. You got it?

-Well, let's look at that again.

She is taking a long route round, going very wide there.

But hey, it's fast. And she's through safely.

Great skills.

-This is the bit I have trouble on.

-You are doing brilliant, Ruby.

And we are coming in towards the vortex now.

Perhaps the trickiest part of the entire course. Oh, that was close.

Then she really gained control. And this is really fast.

She goes very wide again, but straight over the finish line.

-01:27. Did you see the time?!

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Airsault complete.

-'Warning, drone down.'

-Wow.

I give that landing a nine on the Richter scale. Ouch.

Hit by the vortex there as she came in low.

And then I think there's a little damage.

Excuse me, look what you did when you landed your drone.

Look, it's meant to go on there. You're meant to keep it on there.

-What do you say to that?

-Er, well,

after you've tried to finish, you don't really

think about anything else.

No, you just crash-landed your hornet there

epically, and broke its leg.

When you go fast, it seems more out of control.

Well, a little bit out of control, but very, very fast indeed.

Team Hornets, 01:27.

Well ahead of Master Hawks, but it is

Stealth 2.2 who didn't finish,

and currently in the drop zone.

So, team Area 51.

Aviator Brandon at the controls, wingman Michael, his stepdad,

will be cheering him on.

And there's nothing unidentified about this flying object.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

So, you're up in the tower for the first time.

-Is it looking good. Are you feeling comfortable up here?

-Yes.

-Yes?

I mean, this guy is super cool. Are you feeling as confident as he is?

-Yes, I think Brandon is going to smash it.

-Yeah?

-Not literally.

-No.

All right, then. OK, are you ready? Aviators, stand by.

I hope he hasn't cursed him with that one.

Let's hope he doesn't smash it.

Let's see his ultimate mastery.

That's what he needs.

Cool and calm at the start.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Aviators, launch in three, two, one.'

Why, thank you, Air Marshal. Here we go.

Towards this first gate.

Not the most difficult of the obstacles to go through.

But when you're this nervous, I'm sure it is.

Now, on to the hurdles of horror,

and these are tricky, as we saw with Stealth 2.2.

Our Air Marshal, you can see,

watching on, making sure that the course is done properly.

Now, if they get through and under this second hurdle...

That is clear, you can bring it up now.

It is good news, they're going to be going through!

They don't know that, of course. Up and over,

towards gate number two.

If we look back, we can see Stealth 2.2 watching with Rachel.

That's the moment they realised they were grounded.

Back towards us.

Now, into the vortex.

Coming in low, you must go out high. Very stable.

-Well held.

-Great stuff, Brandon. Great stuff.

Yes indeed.

What does the D.R.A.GON have? He is flaming mad.

He hasn't bothered anybody yet.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Second place. 01:46.

That was a really solid one throughout.

-Well done, Brandon. That was great. How did that feel?

-Awesome.

It felt awesome? Hey, I didn't notice before,

but that is quite the impressive red mohawk you've got on there.

Were you nervous going over the finish line that you might

-catch fire?

-Um, not really. Tried to go in the middle.

Yeah, you were going way too quick for that.

Yes, the might of the mullets gets them into second

place behind Team Hornets, who were just incredible with 01:27.

Master Hawks are just going through to the next round.

And in the drop zone, Stealth 2.2.

Goodbye, guys.

We know what that means, don't we? But didn't they do great, everybody?

I think they deserve a round of applause.

Stealth 2.2, Peter and Rob,

you were absolutely brilliant, guys.

It was really difficult out there.

But I've got to say, guys, for now you are officially grounded.

So, we are one team down, but three are still flying high.

I think it is time we really put them to the test.

Barrage Balloons.

Having customised their drones with specialist carbon fibre lances,

our aviators must attempt to burst their row of coloured balloons.

If they use their drone to burst them, it still counts.

But they risk crashing out.

The two teams that burst the most will fly through to the

dogfight, and the winner carries forward a five-second advantage.

And our lowest scorer will be grounded.

You guys did post the slowest time in the previous round.

But it was steady, it was considered.

What are your tactics for this one? Harry, what are you going to do?

I might speed it up a little bit, but still have loads of control

and, like, chill out.

That sounds, that sounds about right. You agree with that?

-Yes, chill out, a bit of precision flying, yes.

-Excellent. OK, then.

Well, precision flying was one thing we didn't...

I'm not sure we saw a huge amount with Ruby,

but you posted the fastest time by quite some way.

Are you going to just have the same tactic this time,

just go for it and see what happens?

Er, well, mainly, probably, because that's why I work best.

But I do need a bit more precision when you are doing this task,

-because it is harder.

-OK.

Area 51, this challenge, it is difficult.

And obviously all the balloons are at different heights.

-How are you going to deal with that?

-I'll go one by one.

-One by one.

-Are you going to go sideways, or just stay on one side?

-I don't know.

-Probably sideways.

-Well, the tension up here is palpable.

There's a hush before the storm, but I think it is going to get

pretty heated when we kick off, so are you ready?

-ALL:

-Yes.

-OK, aviators, stand by.

The Air Marshal and G.U.A.R.D. getting into their

watchful positions.

Our aviators going through their final preflight checks.

All desperate to get through to that dogfight at the end.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Aviators, launch in three, two, one.'

That's it. The command is given, we are underway. Very simple, this.

Just lance five balloons. Easier said than done, though.

Not for Area 51, though, two in a row. My goodness.

Let's have a look at that again. Onboard camera. Right in the middle.

Lovely flying.

Oh, no! So annoying!

-Just come back.

-Sorry.

-Come on, Ruby.

Just starting to lose her cool a little bit. Dad has got a job here.

-Nice work.

-Oh, I don't like this!

Oh, she might not like it, but it's effective, whatever she is doing.

-Here you come.

-You don't have to lance it.

You can hit it with one of your propellers, though not advisable.

Here comes Master Hawks. Oh. Little head-butt on the pole.

-Oh, no.

-Oh, you knocked it off.

Goodness, he nearly lanced himself.

Keep going, keep going, that's fine. Take your time. Take your time.

Let's have a little look at that again. Oh, he missed,

but managed to clip it with the undercarriage.

Oh, he could have got caught up there.

Two, two, one at the moment.

Area 51 go into the lead.

Very clinical from Brandon.

Air Marshall just making sure there is no naughtiness.

It won't pop. That's because you've got to hit it with the lance.

Come on, Ruby.

There's all to play for here. Master Hawks on one, though.

Perhaps in the worst position at the moment.

Whoever wins this gets a five-second lead into the dogfight,

the final game as well, so it is worth winning.

Come on, Team Hornets. Give it a good old thrust.

-No, I'm not going to do it.

-Oh, I feel for you, too. Come on.

-Oh, he's one upset hornet.

-Area 51.

Oh, that was a move from outside the handbook. I think he sat on it.

Loads of time. Loads of time, Brandon. Loads of time.

Well, he's doubled what anyone else has at the moment, he's on four.

Just one to go.

The way his luck's going, he's going

to get this from whatever angle he wants. Oh, he does as well.

Just gets it on the side. All five.

Well done, Brandon and Mike.

Go take a rest. Yeah, make sure you look good for the cameras, too.

-Oh, it's...

-That's it, that's it.

-Master Hawks, two in a row.

That was some sweet flying there.

Now the pressure really is on Team Hornets.

-Turn around, turn around.

-Buzzing around like an angry hornet.

It's a very suitable animal to choose. Three in three.

Can the Master Hawks finish this off? They're locked and loaded.

Our Air Marshall watching on.

And there is the onboard camera.

As that final balloon gets lanced by Master Hawks. Oh, no.

Team Hornets going into a spin here.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Warning, drone out of control.

'Drone out of control.'

What the...? What the...? What's it doing?

-Oh, no, what is it doing?

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Warning, crash.'

I think Dad is getting the blame there.

Well, that one is in the handbook, I'm afraid. It's called crashing.

Ouch. From hero at the first event

to literally grounded in the second.

Sad for Ruby. A real natural.

We won't see her in the dogfight, I'm afraid.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well, that was certainly very exciting.

It looked really difficult.

Ruby, you were having a few problems actually popping

some of the balloons.

One of the balloons, every time I got near to it,

I was probably going so fast that it kept blowing away

-whenever I tried to pop it.

-Classic Ruby.

Just too quick, too quick for your own good.

Air Marshall, sir, can we have the scores?

It's Area 51 who jousted their way to five balloons.

They'll take a five-second lead going into the dogfight,

ahead of Master Hawks who are in second. Four balloons for them.

And we say goodbye to Team Hornets. Grounded with three.

Thank you, Air Marshal.

Yes, Brandon, Area 51, you are through to the dogfight!

-Are you excited?

-Yes.

-Yes. He is on the inside.

And, Ruby, Team Hornets, I'm afraid you are grounded.

But thank you so much for being a great competitor.

Let's give a round of applause, guys.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And, Master Hawks, you will be in the dogfight against these guys.

So, good luck.

No legs. Propeller's broken. Another propeller broken.

The outer shell came off. What have you got to say to that?

-I crashed it.

-Yes, epically, may I add?

What went wrong out there, because you were going so well?

Well, I was mainly just kind of trying...

-It is hard when you go quickly.

-It is. And we know you like going fast.

After the assault course, you were so fast.

Thank you very much for being such great contestants.

-Mmm, you're welcome.

-SHE LAUGHS

So, it comes to this.

Two teams, two pilots, both worthy victors,

but one worthier than the other.

It is time for the dogfight.

Our brave aviators must fly through the entry activation gates,

powering up their advance laser cannons.

Once through, they are contained in a flaming combat zone,

where they're free to fire away at their opponent.

The aviators must use all of their piloting skills

and experience to evade being hit,

as four direct strikes to the drone will see them grounded.

So, two surviving teams, but there can only be one victor.

They are about to battle it out to find out who will fly

through to the semifinals,

but first let's see who is going to be patrolling the combat zone.

Patrolling the dogfight, it's the G.U.A.R.D.

Purposeful, solid and imposing, the G.U.A.R.D. functions as a defence

and patrol-class drone.

Slow and steady, but ever ready.

So, teams, you've got to remember, if you leave your combat zone,

our resident drones, they will engage. Are you ready for this?

-ALL:

-Yes.

OK, then. Aviators, for the final time, stand by.

This is it, the dogfight.

The final chance, the final showdown to get into the semifinals.

The Air Marshal, the G.U.A.R.D. He's the boss.

No-one is running away from this fight.

Master Hawks.

There is Area 51.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Area 51, takeoff in three, two, one.'

He gets the start advantage. Here we go. Five seconds.

He can go through and activate that laser targeting system first.

Once that laser is live,

he can wheel round and get a shot on Master Hawks,

who is only getting his laser targeting system sorted.

-Fire.

-Fire, fire.

-Harry not in any danger there.

-And he does get a shot off.

-Fire, fire.

-Oh, he is a little trigger-happy.

-Fire. Fire.

-The Reds going low.

-Down. Fire.

The Hawks. Oh, it was locked and loaded, but he didn't take a shot.

And Harry is not happy about that one.

Still, it is all even-stevens at the moment.

-Here we go.

-Come on, Harry.

Oh, he's got him in his line of sight, but Steve missed it.

Didn't take his chance properly. There's the G.U.A.R.D.

-Oh, he loves a scrap.

-Fire.

-Oh, Area 51, that was their moment.

-Fire, fire.

-What you giving out,

-Brandon?

-Fire, fire.

-Precise pilot.

-Fire, fire, fire.

-Oh, yes.

And brilliant timing by Mike, what a duo.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-Three lives remain.

So they have lost one of their lives.

Both coming from the undercarriage now.

Can't let that cloud their judgment, they've got to keep cool.

-Well, he climbs there. Just to try to get away from Area 51.

-Fire.

Oh!

-Tags him again. Two lives left.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Two lives remain.'

This is where you need a really cool head.

Harry, we are on board with him right now.

Just going up and down, a little peekaboo going on here.

Two lives left for the green team. The reds...

-zoning in.

-Keep moving, keep moving.

Pilot's eye view for the greens.

-And Harry gets tagged again.

-Fire!

Fire, dad, come on!

He wants some shots off here. There is smoke everywhere.

Fire. Fire, fire...

-He's been tagged again. Oh!

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Great strike.

'All lives lost. All lives lost.'

It's all over for the Master Hawks.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-'Dogfight over. Dogfight over.'

You could hear there, Harry feeling that his wingman just

wasn't firing enough.

Going up and down, it is so off-putting with all that smoke.

As for Area 51, they are into the semis.

And here's confirmation of the dogfight.

Smoking away was Master Hawks, I'm afraid, with zero.

But smoking hot was Area 51.

So, the Air Marshal has confirmed that the Master Hawks,

you are today's runners-up.

Commiserations, Harry, you were fabulous. How was it for you?

It was quite exciting, it was quite fun, too.

It was super exciting, but, unfortunately,

we do know what that means. It means you are officially grounded.

Thanks so much, I think a round of applause.

Give them a round of applause. APPLAUSE

Well done, guys, you were great competitors.

But, Area 51, Brandon, you were too strong for them.

4-0 in the dogfight. That's got to feel pretty good.

-Awesome.

-Awesome.

I tell you what, if you were a fighter pilot, you would be an ace.

Well done, you're through to the semifinals.

-Until then, though, let's power down.

-And you guys, step up.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE