Episode 7 Airmageddon

Airmageddon - the ultimate test of airborne skill.

Four teams and their flying machines face three turbulent trials.

It all culminates in a dogfight and a place in the semifinals.

Here in our secret hangar, known as the Airena,

teams will also face our fleet of resident drones

programmed for destruction.

So, who will be crowned master of the skies?

And just who will be grounded?

Aviators, if there's anything we can do

to make your flight more comfortable it's unlikely to happen!

This is AIRMAGEDDON!

YES!

Welcome to the Airena.

It's up, up, up and away here in our beautiful Airena,

but, for our aviators, there's nothing harmonious

about airborne action in three dimensions.

Four teams start.

But only one can earn a place in our semifinals.

Will, as someone once sang, "I believe I can fly,

"I believe I can touch the sky."

Well, that's all well and good, Rachel,

but let's just hope they don't follow Adele's advice.

-Sorry?

-Skyfall.

OK. Let's meet our aviators.

First into the Airena, it's Team Infiniti in blue,

followed by Vlad's Vampires in green

and it's the Kings' Fliers in a rather fetching yellow.

Lastly, the Wild Racers in red.

So, it's time for our first challenge.

This one is a real test of precision,

speed and skill against the clock.

Which of our teams can take on and complete the Airsault Course?

Well, Team Infiniti, they're up first.

Yep, and here's someone who'll show them how it's done.

It's my Personalized Interactive Gyrocopter,

a PIG class drone with very limited AI routines.

PIG, over to you.

The Airsault Course -

rather like a delicious cake your granny might make,

but without the sugar and spice and all things nice.

The recipe involves a race against time.

First, mix in one spoon of gate

and carefully measure up the Hurdles of Horror.

Another dash of gate before methodically whisking your way

through the Pillars of Precision.

Allow your drone to rise to gate three then mix vigorously

with lashings of Vortex before crawling through gate four.

Finally, shake and bake over the finish line,

unless you made a meal of it and got yourself grounded.

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

that's almost impossible, let's see who'll be up there with them

from amongst our resident drones.

It's the GUARD. The name says it all.

He's big, bulky and has the body to block.

Avoid contact with this resident drone at all costs.

First to take on the Airsault Course, it's Team Infiniti.

11-year-old aviator Umar and wingman, Dad Ami.

They pilot their Beijing Olympic Stadium-inspired drone

on their quest for gold.

Now, Umar, you're making me a little bit nervous

because all I've seen from you all morning

is just sort of wandering around as though you're having a lovely time,

little smile on your face.

Too confident, I'm asking?

Yep, too confident.

Is there any such thing as too confident, wingman?

-No, he's going to do this one.

-Yeah?

-He's very confident he's going to do it.

-OK.

-Record time.

Record time? I like that.

You'll not just win, you'll break records.

OK, then, aviators, stand by.

Start your pre-flight checks.

Air Marshall, airborne.

Thank you, Air Marshall. Positive mental attitude.

The Olympian state of mind,

confidence boosting words from wingman Dad there.

Will it be an Usain Bolt from the blue?

Bird's Nest ready for take off.

Aviators stand by. Launch in three, two, one...

Here goes the Beijing Olympic Stadium lookalike drone,

throttling up and away towards that first gate.

What a cracking pace through that already, onto the Hurdles of Horror.

Over, under and over again these three coloured bars.

-Slow down, slow down. Go under.

-Ssh!

Wingman getting shushed there! Aviator's the boss.

Under the second one and up.

Oh, it's accurate, it's fast but it's good.

Through the hoop. Slowly. Slow down, Umar.

-Umar, you need to slow down, please.

-OK, OK. OK.

Dad thinks it's way too fast.

Yes, he gets through now.

This is where you really do need precision - the Pillars of Precision

and the halfway point.

This is really confident flying, straight off the bat.

Confident or wild? I'm not sure, Will. Foolhardy, perhaps.

Let's see how good his entrance is.

Spot on!

Now, there's a little altitude.

Through this next gate.

Ha, very good. We're almost there.

A quarter of the lap to go.

The big boy awaits him, though. First, the Vortex.

He must go under these red markers

and then deal with this wind that's faster than a Texas tornado.

Oh, brilliant!

He's ridden the Vortex like it's nothing.

Yeah, he rode it like a surfer.

Through the gates.

Boom, through with room!

Now, a flying face off with his bulkiness, the GUARD.

He's got the skills...

Oh, look at that! Over the finish line.

Burnt him for pace.

Airsault Course complete.

Well, let's take a look at that again. Faultless run.

Umar's an aerial artist and the speed too hot to handle for Dad.

They're with Rachel now. Let's see what they're going to say.

You are very good. You were whooping up there, Ami.

Do you think he did really well?

He did brilliant.

Not even a touch on one of the pillars or the hoops. Excellent.

And that pesky GUARD at the end,

he was trying to prevent you from getting over the finish line.

Was that kind of off-putting, did you have to dodge him a little bit?

I think it was easy, but I just had to go over him.

Yay, burnt him for speed. Dad's pretending he's all cool now.

Well, let's see the next father/son pair - Vlad's Vampires!

Aviator Michael, wingman Andrew, and they're from Oxfordshire.

Michael pilots his self-designed

lean, green and occasionally mean vampire flying machine.

So, you came up there with a big smile on your face

and you've still got it.

-Reckon you'll still have it in a few minutes time?

-Yeah.

And maybe post a good time.

So, wingman, got any pearls of wisdom for the aviator?

I'm just here to protect...look after him.

Make sure he doesn't do anything silly

and give him as much support as I can.

Join the action, then,

with Vlad's Vampires approaching the second gate.

Infiniti watching on.

The Vampires, they don't know just how fast Infiniti went.

A little bit slower.

Whoa, that was a close shave!

Just got through,

that was very, very close getting through that gate.

Cor!

Nearly a touch there

and if he had done, it'd been a one-way ticket to the Airena floor.

Lucky escape.

Yes, he's made it through the Pillars of Precision

and now to gate three.

Slow and steady and that could mean a visit to the drop zone

if they're the slowest overall.

Now, this is a real test of nerve

after nearly crashing into the last gates.

Oh! Easy does it. Well done. This isn't for the faint-hearted.

Vlad's Vampires definitely seem a little slower.

They need to get a shift on.

Yes, they could be eliminated if they are the slowest now.

Yaws to the left.

He's got full control of this despite the vicious turbulence.

Pops him out the top.

-That's a nice bit of control.

-Indeed, Will.

Michael might not be the quickest, but he's a safe pair of hands.

Now the big fella!

He's waiting for his moment.

Just one more gate, but the GUARD,

ooh, he's got his wiggle on.

What do you do when you're faced

with a two-metre-wide drone staring you in the face?

Vlad's Vampires go low...

and they're over the finish line.

Airsault course complete.

Two minutes 36 seconds.

Huh, this little chopper nearly came a cropper at the second gate,

but steady Mike did enough to cross the finish line in one piece.

Michael, what are your tactics

because I have an idea of what you were doing,

but I want to hear it from you what you were doing out there.

I was trying to be quite precise with the movements,

so I wouldn't lose time by crashing.

OK, and the Vortex.

You went really slowly and then you obviously came flying out of it.

-Was that your, kind of, plan going into it?

-Yes.

So, 2.36, great news, eh?

-That's great.

-Scores confirmed.

Great news if your idea of great news

is being in the drop zone, I guess.

Speedy Umar, though,

Infiniti in first place with that incredible time.

Vlad's Vampires risk being grounded

if they're not ahead of the next two teams.

Well, hoping it's not going to be them, it's Kings' Fliers.

Led out by 11-year-old Rebecca with Dad Adam as her wingman.

They designed their flying machine

with a rather fetching regal paint job for this game of drones.

-So, are you going to show the boys how it's done?

-Yeah.

Yeah, that's all that needs to be said.

Wingman, do you reckon this is going to play to her strengths,

this particular challenge?

Definitely. I'm really confident in her.

She's done really well in the practices.

Excellent. OK, guys. Well, aviators, stand by.

Thanks, Will.

Dad's got a pilot's license.

Let's see how he copes with being a passenger.

Aviators, stand by.

Launch in three, two, one...

Rebecca throttles off this launch pad, and the drone tail-in style.

Oh, turn it round a bit. Turn it round.

Straight through.

Yeah, straight through the gate.

Whoa!

She clipped it there. Wow, that could've sent her to the ground.

It would've been all over. Now, the Hurdles of Horror!

Are they going to be a nightmare?

Keep going, keep going.

That may well have knocked her confidence.

I can hear Dad's soothing voice.

Underneath the second, back over the third.

Straight up to the ring.

Yeah, sit back, relax, Rebecca.

You can imagine them at the controls of a plane.

That's right, back, back, back, back.

Getting a little more edgy now.

Oh, no! She's hit the second gate.

She's gone into a tail spin

and she's missed out the Pillars of Precision.

She's in the Vortex. Oh, this has all gone wrong!

Warning! Drone out of control.

You will enter the no-fly zone.

Warning! Warning!

Oh, the Air Marshall laying down the law,

but in the end it's the laws of gravity.

Drone unrecoverable.

-Drone down.

-Don't worry.

Oh, that must be heartbreaking!

Poor girl!

Two clips - the second one took out a rotor.

There was no coming back from that.

She tried desperately to wrestle with it,

but, in the end, she went to the Vortex and then the wall.

Rebecca, that was really, really unlucky.

What went wrong, because you were going up to that second gate,

you had a good line and then was it a draught or something,

that just kind of swung you down to clip it?

The turbulence just pushed it the wrong way

and it just hit the hoop at the wrong time.

It did. It did.

It's a miracle that you kept it in the air for as long

as you did after you hit the clip, so, really, really good flying.

Scores confirmed.

Well, a smile of approval from pilot Dad.

Kings' Fliers now sitting in third place in the drop zone,

but it's not over yet.

They can still go through to the next round

if the final team fail to get past the second gate.

Last to go on the Airsault Course is the Wild Racers.

11-year-old Rory pilots his drone, Dad Simon, the wingman.

The Formula 1-inspired drone

sporting a rather superb chequered flag.

So, Rory, this is it.

The first challenge is about to get under way.

You're clearly quietly confident,

but which bit of the course are you most nervous about?

The second part where you have to go up over one

and then through the second one.

Yeah, and have you got any tactics

-for how you're going to do that really super-quick?

-Um...

That's up to your wingman. Wingman, what's he going to do?

Well, we just had a discussion about it.

I think we're just going to take it easy and play it cool,

you know, no stick banging, just keep it real and...

Keep it real, play it cool. You guys are...ace.

We're just going to live the dream.

You're living the dream like a pair of cool cats.

All right, then, aviators, stand by.

Well, here's some advice, Will.

How about over, under and over again

or the Hurdles of Horror become a nightmare.

Aviators, stand by.

Launch in three, two, one...

Air Marshall gets them under way.

Now, the important thing to remember,

the Wild Racers have no idea

the Kings' Fliers crashed out at gate two.

Now, through the first gate fairly easily.

The Air Marshall watching on.

Look at his face - a picture of concentration.

Everybody hates this bit, it's tricky.

We know he's worried about the Hurdles of Horror.

Taking his time.

Following Dad's tactics.

Very sensible, it's so easy to get a rush of blood to the head

and go a little wild, but really keeping it cool.

Absolutely faultless so far.

He won't know it -

when he gets through this, he'll be through to the next round.

Oh, bingo!

Spot on. Look at that again.

Right through the middle.

Nerves of steel. Yawing to the left there,

moving towards our Vortex.

Oh, he's nearly lost it!

He's been caught out by some kind of turbulence.

Nice rescue.

Hitching forward. Now, attack it.

That's it. Up and out.

Still a little wobbly...

but he's clear. That turbulence,

combined with the updraught from his propeller wash,

meant he lost control momentarily.

Now, the Wild Racers burn past the GUARD,

who was snoozing.

Two minutes 30. Solid time.

Ice-cold Rory makes it past the all-important second gate

where the Kings' Fliers crashed out.

They take their place in the next round.

You absolutely nearly lost it there.

How did you control that, because I thought you were done for?

-Just different inputs.

-Yeah?

Trying to save it.

Scores confirmed.

So, can we please have a round of applause for Rebecca and Adam,

the Kings' Fliers.

Well done, guys.

But...that does, unfortunately, mean that you are grounded.

While one team takes up residency in our departure lounge,

three more survive to the next round and it's a true test of skill,

eye-to-hand coordination and nerve.

Let's find out what the Airena has in store for them.

Over to you, PIG.

PIG showing us how it's done on the Slalom.

This time it's all about precision and agility.

Fearlessly fly around the 30-foot pillars as quick as you dare.

Pick up a point for every single one passed.

When the time runs out, the team with the lowest score

will be grounded and eliminated with the victor carrying through

a crucial five-second time advantage to the Dogfight.

Aviators, your flying machines are ready, but are you?

-ALL:

-Yeah!

Excellent. So, this is one of the most deceptively difficult

challenges in Airmageddon - it's the Slalom.

All three teams competing at the same time

and it is a pure test of speed.

This is a challenge for the wing dads in the room.

Are you going to be able to control these guys?

-ALL:

-Yes!

-Excellent. OK, aviators, stand by.

Fire up your motors, rev up your rotors.

They are ready, Will. Three teams prepare for the Slalom.

High scoring round.

-Aviators, stand by.

-Thank you, your highness.

Launch in three, two, one...

And the Air Marshall gets them under way.

On board with aviator Umar here.

Umar really is extremely quick.

He's faster than a fast thing on fast day.

Warning! Warning!

Huh! But he butts heads there with the pillar.

I'm not sure Umar's quite grasped the correct rules of engagement.

I've got this.

Look at the smile on his face as well, he's loving this.

He's fast. He's really fast.

Left, left, left. Don't look at them.

Forward, forward, forward, forward,

forward, forward, forward. Brilliant.

Stating the obvious a little bit there from Andrew.

Wise words, though.

The reds on the right, they're only on two and they're drifting.

-OK, now pull back, back, back.

-Warning!

No-fly zone breached.

Uh-oh, the boss isn't happy.

No penalty, but they had to be brought back in.

Take a right. Forward. Back.

It's taken them up into the lead and this is on board with Umar.

They're on nine.

Oh, the greens are on nine too.

But things are getting a little hairy for Infiniti.

Clipping the pillars.

Don't lose it now! Don't lose it now, Umar.

Yeah, exactly. Keep your head and stop bashing off the pillars.

OK, keep going. Take your time, take your time, Um.

11 and 11.

Left, that's it. Left, left, left, left.

The Wild Racers still on six. Come on, guys.

Rory's cool nerves are starting to get a little frayed.

Falling behind on the scores.

Ooh, he's drifting.

The GUARD ready to engage if he goes to the no-fly zone.

It's good, mate. You're so quick, and now forward.

Vlad's Vampires' wingman, I'd want him, he's so calming.

This is so tense.

Forward, forward, forward.

The pilot dad, he's spot on as a wingman.

One ahead of the blues.

Umar loves to win, but, ooh, it's the greens now three ahead.

Racing away, Vlad's Vampires! Look at this.

Strictly Come Dancing's got nothing on these boys.

Oh! Is that posing...or is that turbulence? Nice moves either way.

He's controlled it and they're still in the lead.

Not too cocky, Umar, not too cocky. OK, forward a little bit.

Him and his wingman, knocking heads slightly.

Yeah. It's a win or nothing for these boys. The egos!

It's like Top Gun out there, eh?

How about the Wild Racers, though?

They're down on 13, but it's still Umar who's causing all the drama.

The Wild Racers, could there be a chance?

30 seconds remaining.

30 seconds to comply.

Top two go through.

It's Vlad's Vampires.

Get as many more gates as you can.

Oh, it sounds so easy the way you say it, Will,

but under this pressure,

well, it's only Vlad's Vampires who still are looking good.

Shuffling in and out, aviator Umar there.

Ten seconds remain.

Easy, easy, Umar, easy.

He's had more hits than Adele!

Oh, make that Elvis.

Umar desperate to claw this back.

Four in it.

Ah, but that's it! Time's up.

I don't know about you - I'm exhausted!

Oh! How was that? We can all breathe a sigh of relief.

Everybody made it. Do you feel like you did well?

-Yeah, I think I did quite well.

-Yeah?

It's difficult to tell exactly from when you're flying

how you are in comparison with the others.

-Do you think you did enough?

-I don't know. You just have no idea.

-You're just concentrating on each pole as you go round.

-Absolutely.

Well, listen, I can say that the atmosphere in here

was really tense during that.

I could tell you were all concentrating

and I could tell it means a lot to all of you,

but, I have to say, one team, the team that got the fewest points,

will be grounded after this round and won't progress to the dogfight.

OK? So, let's take a look at your scores.

The Air Marshall has them now.

Scores confirmed.

And with 16, sadly, Wild Racers, you guys are out, OK?

You are grounded.

Well done, guys. You are through to the final.

-CHEERING

-Whoo!

So, it comes to this - two teams, two pilots, both worthy victors,

but one worthier than the other.

It's time for the Dogfight.

It's furious, it's fast and there is nowhere to hide,

as demonstrated by our two drones, PIG and WASP.

First, through the entry activation gate to power up your lasers,

then to the flaming combat zone

to zap your opponent's infra-red sensors.

Successfully target them four times and they'll be grounded.

So, this is what it all comes down to - our two remaining teams

and their awesome flying machines, locked in aerial combat,

fighting for supremacy.

And for all you armchair pilots at home,

brace yourself for some serious flying.

So serious, in fact, that we'll be using advanced telemetry

and also laser tracers so you can keep up with all the action.

That is serious.

OK, aviators, strap yourselves in, motor up,

get ready for battle - this is the Dogfight.

Thank you, Will. We're all set here.

It comes down to this -

a Dogfight with a place in the semifinals up for grabs.

Vlad's Vampires won the Slalom round,

will have the all-important five second head start.

Small, but could be crucial.

The wingmen with another important role in the dogfight,

controlling the drone lasers.

Vlad's Vampires launch in three, two, one...

Vlad's Vampires are released.

Team Infiniti launch in three, two, one...

And there's Infiniti. Umar must also get through the activation gate.

Steady Mike and Vlad's Vampires already through.

Oh, oh, oh, Umar's a sitting duck

till he gets powered up. He is now.

Towards you, that's good, towards you.

So, the Dogfight begins in earnest.

Turn, turn.

On board with Umar.

-Move up...

-Wrong way, wrong way, you're going...

Oh, my goodness, there's a face-off.

Who's going to get the shot off first?

You're facing the wrong way.

Now the blues have to turn around.

Vlad's Vampires, this is their chance. Get the nose up.

Not quite in the scoring zone.

Andy didn't get the chance in the end.

Shot went off and it missed.

Infiniti line up their lasers, but miss.

All four lives still for both drones.

Vlad's Vampires take the shot.

Yes, they've got them.

Goodness! Infiniti down to three lives.

A smile on Dad's face there!

So much more action for the wingmen and he was the one that got them.

Look at that, smoke billowing from the blues.

Nice reply, though, from Infiniti.

They're holding their nerve.

This is it!

Infiniti with a chance...

Was it wingman dad who choked there?

Ooh, face-off!

That was so close.

Up and down, cat and mouse. Oh, my goodness!

Testing the pilot's skills to the max, Infiniti...

Yes!

They've managed to get the greens. It's even stevens and again!

Greens strike. Two lives remain.

Two lives remain.

The greens, Vlad's Vampires in real trouble as we see it again.

Perfectly lined up there by Infiniti.

So, we continue on.

Umar facing the wrong way, he's got to spin it round again.

Little bit of deja vu.

The greens up high, the blues down low.

Who's going to make the first move?

Now they meet in the middle.

It was Vlad's Vampires who got the shot off first.

Nice work there from the team and it is teamwork, but Infiniti line up...

Green strike. One life remains.

..and unleash the wingman. Yes, I think he's got him.

Smoke came out, yeah. Just one life left.

So close.

The greens hovering high.

They're in real trouble now.

Shoot!

Umar just desperate for Dad to fire off in these exchanges.

Yes, yes!

Oh, that was brilliant! How did he get that one?

-Green strike. All lives lost.

-Let's see it again.

He's not even in vision there...and at high speed.

Ah, I don't know if that's luck or brilliance.

Scores confirmed.

Infiniti pulling off an incredible win.

They go to the semis and Vlad's Vampires, I'm afraid, are grounded.

Oh, guys, guys, guys! That really was an epic battle.

Well done!

But Vlad's Vampires, commiserations, you have come runners up today

because Infiniti did shoot you four times with the lasers,

which means you are officially...grounded.

But thank you so much, you were brilliant competitors.

I think we need a round of applause.

-CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-Round of applause for those guys.

Well done, well done.

And that means that, Infiniti, you are through to the semifinals.

I'll be seeing you again then.

-Whoo!

-Whoo!

But...we will be seeing you even sooner

for another bout of aerial action right here on Airmageddon.

Yeah, and remember - he who masters the skies rules the world.

Time to power down.

Show over. Goodbye.