Episode 3 Airmageddon

Welcome to Airmageddon - the ultimate test of airborne skill.

Four teams and their flying machines are about to go

head-to-head on our three epically tough games and challenges.

One team will be grounded

and one team will go through to the semis at the end of today -

all here in our purpose-built airena.

They must also take on the resident drones -

a fleet of ferocious, state-of-the-art

unmanned aerial vehicles,

programmed for shock and awe.

Who'll survive?

Who'll be crowned master of the skies?

Aviators, strap yourselves in.

This is Airmageddon!

Welcome to Airmageddon,

the ultimate home of drone-based combat and competition.

Prepare yourself for some precision navigation, nerves of steel

and three rounds of radio-controlled action.

Yes, if you thought Iron Man could fly,

then you clearly haven't met the pilots competing in today's heat.

Eh, wait a minute, Will, neither have we.

-That's a very good point, well made.

-I aim to please.

Let's meet our aviators.

Welcome into the Airmageddon airena The Drone Dominators.

Team Stratus following on.

The Sky Flyers

and the worryingly named Dronebusters.

Well, confidence amongst our teams seems to be sky-high,

but that may well all change when they are faced

with the airsault course.

It's the ultimate test of hand-eye coordination

and precision flying against the clock.

And here's our Pig - Personalised Interactive Gyrocopter -

to show us all the course.

Show them how it's done, Piggy.

The airsault course,

a high-speed, high-octane, high-altitude race in the sky.

Take it away, Pigster!

The aim of the game?

Very simple - post the quickest time and you win.

But nothing's ever that easy on Airmageddon.

Obstructing the aviators are drone-destroying hurdles.

A tight squeeze through the Pillars of Precision

and the hurricane winds in the dreaded vortex.

Rather them than me.

If it looks difficult, that's because it is difficult.

We could make things easier, but where's the fun in that?

In fact, I'd rather make things even more difficult.

So let's see who'll be up there with them

from our fleet of resident drones.

The Wasp, a weaponised assault ship.

He's fast!

Feisty flyers are not to be messed with,

with their giant sparking tail, they take no prisoners.

We kick off with the Drone Dominators.

Arun is in control of the throttle as the aviator

and his rugby team-mate and best friend William - he's the wingman.

And their bold red-stripe-across-the-drone design

may dominate the skies, but will their flying?

Right, so you guys are first up.

You're looking to set a good time, but knowing you two,

you're probably looking to set some kind of course record.

-Is that right, Arun?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-We'll thrash them.

You are obsessed with trashing them.

Well, let's see if you can do it.

-Are you ready?

-Yeah.

-All right, then. Aviators, stand by.

Fire up your motors and rev up your rotors,

you're clear for takeoff.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-Stand by Drone Dominators.

So the Drone Dominators are the first to tackle

the mighty airsault course.

One lap and the ferocious Wasp at the end, who may well pounce.

-AIR MARSHAL:

-Dominate this if you can.

In three, two, one.

BUZZER BLARES

There's the signal from the air marshal. Arun throttles up.

Rocketing towards that first gate.

Nice, straight through.

Onto the hurdles of horror.

Over, under. Oh, my goodness!

-AIR MARSHAL:

-Warning, collision, collision!

-Yeah, no kidding!

Oh, and he clips the last hurdle, as well. What a recovery!

Wow!

Bounces off the floor and up.

Will's face says it all.

That was a lucky escape for the Drone Dominators

as they clip the hurdle, sending them into a spin.

Let's hope there's no damage to their rotors.

They approach the Pillars of Precision.

That's good. Yeah, OK.

Yes, it is good.

Look at that concentration as he heads to the third gate.

-All right?

-Yep.

Yes, tricky instructions from the wingman.

He's through before you can say weaponised assault ship.

Heading into the vortex now.

This takes delicate throttle control to navigate

and they've dominated, have those Dominators.

Just the final gate to go.

There's the Wasp in their flight path.

Oh, Arun's got a little sting in his tail.

He's smoked him.

Flying over the finish line - 1.17.

The Drone Dominators had a bit of a bumpy flight to begin with.

At the hurdles they regained that control,

posting what will be a tricky time to beat.

Drone Dominators, you absolutely dominated that course!

Wow, how do you feel?

I feel brilliant and, like, I did my very best.

If I don't get through, then I don't get through. But hopefully I do.

Arun, tell me about that crash. What happened up there?

I just sort of clipped the post and then lost orientation.

So I just full-throttled it and then it went back up.

The Stratus are up next, piloted by 12-year-old Harry.

He's joined by wingman dad John,

the duo from Oxfordshire.

Will team Stratus fly their way to the top of the stratosphere?

Now, Harry, have you got a tactic for dealing with the Wasp?

Because out of all of the resident drones,

I think he's the scariest.

Well, I'm just going to hopefully do my best

and try and get away from him.

That's it, always try and get away from the Wasp, that's good.

OK, aviators stand by.

Fire up your motors and rev up your rotors.

Can team Stratus post a quick time?

Harry's looking pretty relaxed.

Will he look so relaxed when he meets the Wasp?

Look at that sting!

There is the air marshal. Over to you, sir.

-MARSHAL:

-Lift off in three, two, one.

BUZZER BLARES

They're away.

The Drone Dominators backstage, looking on nervously.

Stratus have no idea, of course, what time they posted.

I've got a feeling that wingdad John

is going to be quite quiet in this one.

Yes, it is quiet. (Shhh.)

Cathedral-like.

Go right, go right, go right.

Great concentration as they go through the Hurdles of Horror.

Oh!

Smooth moves!

Going towards gate number two.

You're making this look rather easy, Harry.

Pitches forward. He's through as the air marshal watches on.

Well done, that's good.

Smooth so far. But then again, it only takes a second to crash.

Thanks for that positive note there, Will, yeah?

Look out now.

Slight touch on the floor.

Perfectly legal but, of course, not very good.

It will slow them down.

Let's look at the replay.

The Drone Dominators look on.

You can see Harry hit the floor twice there.

Let's hope that didn't affect the drone's control system.

Coming into the Vortex,

all two metres plus of this.

Whirling wind. They get battered, but he's up and out in a flash.

To the final gates.

That lurking Wasp to get past.

Whoa!

He's nearly toast - the Wasp, that is.

Fancy flying.

Yes, our leaderboard topped by the Drone Dominators with 1.17

and Stratus down in the drop zone with 1.26.

Harry, what did you think when you started hitting the floor a bit?

I felt a bit annoyed, but I just kept going.

Did you think you were going to crash out or what was the nerves...?

-"OK, let's calm down and let's reset."

-Yes, that was it.

He who dares wins.

Team Skyfliers are up next with Nimrita - with wingman dad Amarjit.

Having only flown drones for a month,

Nimrita is a bit of an underdog.

But look at the paint job! Bling-a-liscious!

How does it feel to be considered the underdog in the competition?

Well, I don't mind being called the underdog,

-but I think I'm going to show these boys how it's done.

-I think so, too!

-This is brilliant.

-Yes, yes.

-All right, then. Aviators, stand by.

Nimrita, fighting talk.

Show them what you've got!

Big props for attempting this course

with so little flight time in your logbook.

Stand by.

Nice body paint.

Launch in three, two, one.

The calm before the storm. And they're away.

That's a confident throttle up by Nimrita.

Come left, come left.

Great wingmanship there.

And through the first gate successfully.

That's a confidence booster.

Stay on flight path.

Quite dainty and delicate, but good.

What are we talking, the paint or their flying?

-Looks spot-on and quick to me.

-Bring it back, bring it back.

-Great, a bit higher.

-Yes, good communication.

Altitude, not attitude, that's what's needed.

Through the second gate.

Take it left. There you go. Straight through.

-Communication again.

-Straight through. Bring it down.

What a duo!

I haven't seen a pair work better, but it's into the Vortex.

Nothing Dad can do with that shake. She deals with it well, though.

-Straight through the hoop.

-Straight through the hoop. Where is it?

-Look at all that smoke.

-Forward.

-Wasp's kicking that out.

Keep your eyes open, Nimrita, even if your dad doesn't.

-They've made it! Relief!

-Vessel crossed.

Nimrita was a little shaky getting into the Vortex.

Such little experience behind the controls,

but she pulled off a stunning time. Great job.

You've been flying for one month and you flew that well out there.

-Thank you.

-Are you really pleased with that?

-Yeah.

-Dad, how do you think she got on?

-I thought she did brilliantly.

I was obviously nervous, as dads would be,

but I thought she was excellent. I thought she had great control.

After three lightning runs, the leaderboard is looking like this.

The Drone Dominators on top with 1.17.

Stratus on 1.26 in second

and the Skyfliers with an excellent time of 1.38 in the drop zone.

One team left to come.

That fourth team into the airena is the Dronebusters.

Piloted by aviator and magician Theo along with wingman dad Nicholas.

Can they pull a rabbit out of the hat on this famous airsault course?

Shazam.

OK, you guys are the last to fly on the airsault course.

Have you got in the back of your mind,

we're going to have to make this quick,

because people might have got some very fast times -

without giving anything away?

I think I've got to go quite slowly because I'm not so stable.

-You're not so stable?! That's a bad sign.

-I am going to try my best.

Try your best. You've got your wingdad here to support you.

I've got a good feeling about you guys. Are you ready for this?

-We're ready.

-All right, then. Aviators, stand by.

Fire up your motors, rev up your rotors.

You're clear for takeoff.

We've had three very quick flights so far.

He's going to have to go very fast if he's not going to be grounded.

Thumbs up to you, too, guys. Best of luck.

Lift off in three, two, one.

There's the signal from the air marshal.

Theo throttles up.

And through the first gate at some speed.

So they've got some very fast times to beat to get through.

-You are not wrong, Will. Three very fast times to beat here.

-Fantastic.

-Keep on walking.

-Keep on walking? What about flying?

And he's doing it well.

Now, only three teams can progress. This is so good.

We won't until the end just how good

as he goes for the Pillars of Precision.

Going well through gate three.

Don't stick your tongue out at me, I'm being nice.

-A quarter lap to go, then.

-Brilliant. On to the Vortex.

Whoa, that was super-quick! This just might do it, you know?

The final gate. He's through, past old Waspy. What a run.

Brilliant. Fantastic.

Theo so close to grounding out his drone

going through those Pillars of Precision,

but he wiped the floor with the rest of the course.

-Incredible flight.

-1.03 sends Dronebusters to the top.

Drone Dominators are second.

Stratus third.

And look, the Skyfliers are grounded in the drop zone.

With a time that would normally jet you through to the next round.

1.03, that is really, really quick!

Theo, you're a record-breaking flyer!

-That's amazing and you are through to the next round!

-Great. Thank you.

-He seems pretty speechless.

-Nimrita, 1.38,

can I please tell you was fabulous. It was absolutely amazing from you.

You were the most skilful flyer out there.

Can we please all give Nimrita a round of applause.

Have you had a good time?

-Yes.

-And one month flying under your belt and you did that.

-Are you going to continue flying?

-Yes, definitely.

-Yes.

Thank you so much for being such brilliant competitors.

But we all know what that means

you won't be going to precision paintball.

You are officially grounded.

Time for some basic arithmetic. Four teams minus one, leaves three.

Which can only mean one thing - it's time for a game number two.

And here's Pig with even more numbers for you.

Our aviators have customised their drones with powerful

paintball projectors.

They must use these to hit a row of targets

and score as many points as possible.

Aviators will score three points for hitting the red,

too for the whites and one for the black.

They can only hit each target with a maximum of two strikes.

Communication is key,

as the wingmen will be activating the paint projectors.

So, boys, the Drone Dominators, William and Arun.

You said at the start you were going to thrash everyone.

But you didn't win the speed challenge

of the aerial assault course.

How are you feeling about that?

Well, I'm feeling a bit annoyed about that,

but I'm going to thrash them in this course.

There's always time for more thrashing,

that's one thing I've learned.

-All right, are you feeling good, William?

-Yes.

-Yes!

Get thrashing! OK...team Stratus.

Harry, this challenge, I think this is the hardest one

because you fly away from the tower,

but then you're having to fire back towards yourself.

How are you going to handle that?

Well, I'm just going to be using the screen here to help me

and also telling my dad to encourage me.

I think you're going to need to do that. And, these guys...

So, the fastest of the day so far. The Dronebusters.

Theo, that was like a record-breaking speed

that you pulled out before.

Do you reckon speed is going to be important in this game, though?

I think it could help

because you want as many people over the targets as possible.

Yeah. Do you think he's got the precision?

Do you think he's got the precision?

I couldn't ask for a more precise partner than this one.

You are the most precise pilot this man could ever dream of. OK.

Right, aviators, stand by.

Fire up your motors, rev up your rotors, you're clear for takeoff.

I'm looking forward to this one, Will.

So is the guard who will be patrolling that no-fly zone.

There's Pig taking over air-adjudication duties,

as the air marshal pulled his IMU in the pre-flight warm-up.

Well, Pig and guard look set. Here we go.

In three, two, one...

-There is the signal! We're up and away.

-I'm so excited about this one.

So am I, Will! This should be a cracker!

This needs a high level of pilot skill.

Our aviators have to fly side to side to hit those targets,

whilst also communicating with their wingmen.

Who's doing the splattering?

Hopefully not the drones.

-Not yet. Fire!

-Good one!

-Great start there from team Stratus.

Points on the board. Wait a sec, where is Harry going?

He's hit the target. It set him into a spin. He's gone down! No!

Look at this again.

As you can see, Harry just came in way too hot.

Smashed his rotor against the target, causing terminal damage.

-So he's crashed out.

-If we don't crash, then we are through. Fire!

Yeah, we hit it!

Arun's not wrong.

If the Dominators and Dronebusters stay in the air and score,

they both go through.

-It's now a battle for that five-second head start.

-Good shot!

Yes, that was a good shot. Precision splattering. Precision piloting.

Fire!

Drone Dominators just hit the target.

Remember, hitting black adds 1.2 to their score.

-Another strike by Drone Dominators.

-Shoot! Good!

Dronebusters strike white. That's two points.

And the Pig takes a look to confirm.

-Shoot!

-Another great shot.

OK, we're coming back now.

-Turning round. Shoot.

-Hit the black. It all counts.

Team Stratus looking on. A sideways glance there.

They know, after their crash, they could be heading home.

Now we are onboard with the Dronebusters. What a shot!

Looking at that shot again, you can see Theo was still

yawing his drone when Nicholas took the shot. Brilliant!

Blocking the guards. Keeping his distance up there.

-The Drone Dominators just clipped the target.

-Fire, fire!

Did they recover? Three-pointer.

Hang on, what's this? Pig has gone off his trotters.

We've lost the Pig! The Pig is down!

-He clearly didn't do his pre-flight stretching.

-Shoot!

Good shot!

Another couple of points added to the Dronebusters' score.

And bang! That's a heavy touchdown by the Dominators!

Bull's-eye. Right in the middle.

As the replay shows, that's right in the centre of the target.

-This is a close game.

-Now, shoot! Good, that was right in the red.

Well done!

Fire! Shoot! Shoot, shoot. No, don't, don't.

Theo changed his mind.

That could be costly.

They are getting very close to those targets.

Yeah, there is the guard. He's a big unit, isn't he?

Lining the shot up on Arun's. He's fired and hit the target! Bravo!

We are out of ammo!

Let's land him very gracefully, in the best possible manner.

You'd like him to be your pilot, wouldn't you?

The Dronebusters have used up all their paint.

They've done enough or will the Dominators splat some more targets?

-Oh, they've crashed! What an end.

-It stuck!

-Exactly right.

Let's take a look at the replay again.

Look, the rotor's snagged, dangling there like a dangleberry.

-How did you do that!

-How do you actually do that?!

-It's like an aircraft carrier.

-Skill!

-Skill. All right, guys, stop.

Come here. Arun. You look extremely pleased with yourself.

I don't know if that counts as a landing! No extra points.

-No extra points for this man.

-Oh, come on!

For parking his drone on top of the target.

The Dronebusters top of the table with some very precise splattering.

Drone Dominators will join them in the dogfight,

having got 15. No bonuses for that landing, though.

Team Stratus are left in the drop zone with their early crash,

leaving them with just two points.

Well, the air marshal has spoken. Some great scores there.

Unfortunately, Harry, the Stratus, John, you didn't make it through.

I think you knew that, though,

pretty early on. It was unfortunate. But you've been a great competitor.

Guys, big round of applause.

Unfortunately, mate, you are grounded.

That means that the Drone Dominators

and the Dronebusters are going through.

And once again, the Dronebusters win the round.

Congratulations, Theo!

You're going through to the dogfight with a time advantage.

Well done to everybody.

CHEERING

It all comes down to this final drone-on-drone battle for supremacy.

Two pilots, four lives each - but there can only be one winner.

This is the dogfight.

Who's the big dog? Time for the dogfight.

Our brave aviators must live through the entry activation gates,

powering on their advanced laser cannons.

Once through, they enter the flaming combat zone, where they're free to

fire away at their opponents.

The aviators must use all of their piloting skills to evade

being hit, as four direct strikes on their drone will see them grounded.

Right, any final words before the battle?

Well, I think Drone Dominators are going to be dominated.

-Fighting talk! What about you guys?

-We'll thrash them!

Had a feeling you were going to say that. OK, aviators, stand by.

Well, this has got the potential to be a cracking dogfight.

Two teams at the top of their piloting game.

They'd better make sure they keep in the combat zone, though,

and away from that angry Wasp.

The air marshal is back to full fitness, you'll be pleased to hear.

Dronebusters, liftoff in three, two, one...

There is the signal.

Up go the Dronebusters with that important five-second head start.

Drone Dominators, launch.

Dronebusters have activated their laser cannons already.

Can they get a shot in?

They fired straight away but missed.

It's not just the lasers they're dodging, it's the Wasp's sting, too.

William firing the laser there for the Drone Dominators.

Shoot, shoot, shoot!

Onboard with the Dronebusters,

as they attempt the strike but miss, too.

Four strikes to their opponents' sensor

and they'll go through to the semifinals.

So much at stake.

Fire!

Another shot, another miss!

This is too tense.

They're so evenly matched, these two.

You're not wrong there, Will.

We've got a battle on here between these two. The Wasp is upset!

Was there a no-fly zone breach?

-Shoot them! Shoot them! Shoot them.

-Nicholas fires the laser.

A strike! He hits the Drone Dominators' sensor.

-Strike. Three lives remaining.

-We've been hit! We've been hit!

That's right, Arun! You've been hit!

The Dronebusters just waiting for the Dominators to come in line

before zapping them.

That was a great piece of flying

and the Dominators' drone is smoking away after that strike.

Keep shooting! Keep shooting!

Dronebusters go for a second but miss.

Can the Dominators come back and book a place in the semis?

-The two drones came close there.

-Shoot them! Shoot them!

Dronebusters searching for a second strike. There it is!

Strike. Two lives remaining.

That was some expert zapping by the Busters there,

as the Dominators were only in line for a split second. Two nil.

Both teams playing a little bit of cat and mouse here.

Whoa. More like rope-a-drone.

The Dronebusters have lock-on! And they've hit.

Strike. One life remaining.

Both drones were at the same altitude,

but it was the Dronebusters that hit the sensor first.

-Fantastic fire.

-Great work! I have to agree, this has been amazing.

The Drone Dominators have to pull out some tricks

to come back from this.

-Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!

-I'm pressing...

Strike! It's over.

-Yellow team are out.

-Zero lives remaining.

It's the magician, Theo, who performs the final trick.

Waiting for Arun to fly in the range before zapping his sensor

one last time.

Dogfight over, results verified.

The air marshal confirms the Dronebusters are through

to the semifinal, striking the Dominators all four times.

Yeah, that confirms it.

As we thought, the Dronebusters are today's winners.

Which sadly means, Drone Dominators, you guys are the runners-up.

And I have to say, you're grounded.

-Have you had a good time?

-Yeah!

-Good lad. William?

-Yeah.

-Good chap.

-Round of applause for Drone Dominators.

CHEERING

Well done, guys.

That does mean today's winners are the Dronebusters.

-Theo, Nicholas, how are you feeling?

-Very happy.

Very happy? You should be.

You did amazing. You dominated the entire competition today,

which means we'll be seeing you in the semifinal.

-That means it's time for you guys to power down...

-And you to step on up.

CHEERING

Airmageddon power down.