Heat Eight Airmageddon

Welcome to Airmageddon,

TV's ultimate test of airborne skill...

-Get out of the way!

-..and radio-controlled mayhem.

-32 teams of wannabe aviators from across the UK...

-Yay!

..will do battle in the Airena with their customised drones.

-Only those with the skill...

-Yes!

..the luck and the aerial courage will make it through.

Scream if you want to go faster! It's Airmageddon!

Welcome to Airmageddon.

We have got three more rounds of high-flying gamesmanship

here in the home of drones.

Yes, our Airena is a state-of-the-art playground

for gamers everywhere, so put aside your consoles,

computer simulations and tablets for a few minutes.

This is where the real players hang out.

Yes, we are keeping it real.

Real joystick control,

real first-person views and real bad guys.

It's going to be game over for three of our teams

by the end of the show.

But one of them will level up for a place in the semifinals.

BOTH: Let's meet our aviators!

Yoo-hoo! It's bros Ryan and Aaron, aka Shark Vader.

Droning is rife in Fife, thanks to Ben and dad Rolf,

who are the Black Wrens.

Next on our roster, all the way from Gloucester,

are Dragon Eye, Adam and big sis Kirsty.

Y'ello! It's Rhys and Brendan from Bristol,

more commonly known as Stealth.

Aviators, welcome to the Airena.

-Are you ready for Airmageddon?

-ALL: Yeah!

Excellent, well, here's the first of our teams,

the Black Wrens, Ben and Rolf.

How have you guys been preparing?

Well, we've been practising hard, obviously,

and we also thought we'd get in the spirit

with our little personalised badges.

The badges, they're smart, but Dragon Eye's over here.

What have you done, Adam, Kirsty?

Well, we made personalised jumpers just for the occasion.

Personalised jumpers, badges - it's all going on here.

Well, these are our four teams.

And this is PIG, my Personalised Interactive Gyrocopter.

PIG, what's up?

PIG SQUEALS

The Airsault Course - like your average playground,

only 128 times as massive.

Wow! Its size is a necessity as it must house drones

as big as this very average dining table.

There's no time to fine dine, though,

as our aviators fly around the course.

Teams must carefully get through four gates,

the emphasis being on CAREFULLY,

because it really is a tight squeeze -

tighter than my skinny jeans.

After the Pillars, it's through the Letter Boxes.

Don't trip up because the top is the height of three elephants.

Yaw around the Foggy Corridor,

so dense you can't tell if you're flying drones or tables,

and then it's up through the Vortex,

more windy than Uncle Derek after beans on toast.

Then it's a dash to the chequered flag, et voila! Finito!

To complicate proceedings even more,

our resident drones are on hand,

flying interference, so who's on patrol this time?

It's the Dragon.

It will take more than St George to slay this fella.

He's hard as nails. He even eats nails.

Don't try that at home, kids.

Our first Airsault debutants are the Black Wrens.

Aviator Ben likes to recite poetry, which is a bit of a skill,

similar to drone flying, it gives him a thrill.

WingDad Rolf enjoys a spot of DIY,

till he hit his hand with a hammer and started to cry,

and their drone is called Ren.

Half-Rolf, half-Ben, with flames on the side,

it's flown by real men.

Ben, Rolf, welcome up to the control tower.

-How are you feeling?

-Butterflies in my belly.

The Dragon will soon burn those butterflies out of you.

What's your training for this consisted of?

We fashioned a little wrecking ball to our drone

and knocked over little blocks.

-That is excellent training.

-Yeah.

Obviously you won't be needing that for the assault course,

but this is all about precision flying.

All right, then, guys - aviators, stand by.

So here we go. No wrecking balls to help or hinder them,

but how will the Black Wrens do against all these obstacles?

Rev up your rotors.

You're cleared for takeoff.

Black Wrens, launch. Three, two, one...

Ben controls that launch very smoothly.

And Dad looks to be controlling Ben - interesting.

Nicely, go through.

OK, drop it down, bring it back.

Rolf also seems to be controlling the commentary. Am I needed today?!

-Line it up, so your back is to you.

-Obviously not.

I'll write my shopping list instead, then, shall I?

Come all the way through. Bring it back a wee bit.

Four tins of tuna...

He didn't even slow down at all for the first of the hurdles.

-Straight through the Letterbox.

-Thanks, Will.

-That reminds me, a book of stamps...

-Very good.

Come here. Line it up in front of the hoop.

Ah-ha! Not such a good commentator, Rolf.

That's a gate, not a hoop, son.

I'll take over again, shall I?

Black Wrens being closely watched by that flying drone thingy.

-Air Marshal.

-Yeah, that's him.

-Through the cloud of smoke...

-Not so much through,

that's down, up, then through.

Ben has to fly through the official route in order to comply.

I'm fine, I'm fine.

And eventually he does.

Very good, keep going.

Can you stop holding me? You're stressing me.

A line not heard since I didn't want to leave

my beloved Aunt Dora's house last weekend.

So Ben is stressed. Will that hamper his aviating teccers?

-Into the Vortex.

-The Vortex should help answer that question.

It's blowy. The Black Wrens can't get in at first attempt.

Deep breaths, Ben. In he goes.

-Up you go. Perfect.

-Excellent work,

which is making the Dragon cross.

Black Wrens are speeding up now.

Last gate, last pillar.

-And eventually...

-The finishing line.

The finishing line. Well done, Black Wrens.

Airsault Course complete.

Let's chart Ben's progress through the foggy corridor again.

Clean entry followed by a pitch inspection.

Black Wrens then tried the rarely used illegal side exit manoeuvre

before re-entering the corridor's orbit and departing safely.

That was epic. Talk us through what happened.

Well, originally, going to go for slow and steady, but...

Yeah...

- Didn't quite work out... - No!

You had to go for it.

And you got 2:04.

- Really, really quick time. - Yeah, that's really quick.

- Did you expect that? - No. I expected, like, a lot more.

Polite applause, please, for our next contenders.

It's Shark Vader.

Aviator Aaron is a wannabe inventor and one day wants to create

a huge drone that can transport people.

Dude, that's a helicopter.

WingBro Ryan is keen on a bit of karate.

No use today, I'm afraid. It's all about flight, not fight.

Shark Vader needed a fin, so they used a car aerial.

Stay tuned to see if it helps them around the course.

Aaron, you must be pretty psyched about this.

-Yeah, I'm a bit nervous, though.

-What about you, Ryan?

What's your top tip as a wingman to your brother?

Help him out and think ahead of him.

Oh, that's good, always thinking ahead.

OK, guys. Aviators, stand by.

Game time for Aaron and Ryan.

Rev up your rotors.

You're cleared for takeoff.

So Aaron is feeling the nerves.

Air Marshal, do you ever suffer from nerves?

Never. Nerves are for the weak.

What, never? You fear nothing?

Correct.

Is that a pet spider on your back?

Where? Get it off. Get it off. Get it off.

Chillax, man, I'm only kidding. Do your business. Let's do this.

Very funny. Shark Vader launch in three, two, one...

Well, he may be nervous but that is a perfectly steady-looking drone.

The Force is with them so far.

Remember, keep it nice and steady.

Right, keep going forward.

Watch the legs, watch the fire.

Watch the Air Marshal. Watch the Dragon.

Watch on iPlayer. It's all good tips there.

Under the yellow line.

Nice and steady.

This is a dream to behold, Aaron smoothly gliding along,

Ryan talking him through each step.

A perfect partnership here.

-Watch!

-Oh, no, we've got ourselves a prang!

It's an amazing recovery.

Looking back, you can see bits of letterbox being

sheared off by Shark Vader's razor-sharp propellers.

Let's hope there's no permanent damage.

It took me ages to paint them.

Aaron's finally through the Letter Boxes,

but the fun don't stop there.

It's the murky Foggy Corridor next.

Keep going, keep going. Watch this pole.

I don't think he saw it, Ryan,

and that is a close shave for both the Shark Vader team

and the Airmageddon Painting Department.

Confidence seems to be building, though,

as the third gate is dispatched with ease.

Nice and steady on the controls.

How will they cope with the venting fury of The Vortex?

Right, you can go up now.

Like this! In, up, out.

I've not seen someone cope with wind as well as that

since Will got a bit burpy after fizzy cherryade yesterday.

Nice velocity now.

Which is what Will said yesterday.

Oh, the Dragon is blazing.

He is and that is what he does best because, wow, look -

the Sharks have crash-landed into the lights as a result.

Classic Dragon there.

Full speed, full speed ahead.

Aaron did amazingly well not to crash and burn there,

and he gets over the line and allows himself a grin of relief.

Just look how that shark attack on the lights

nearly meant an eternity on the dark side

for Aaron and Ryan,

but cool heads and steady hands got them home in the end.

Wow. You guys had some epic recoveries out there.

- Aaron, just talk us through it. - I thought I was going to crash.

- A lot. - We did as well.

- But... - I just...I waited until, like,

it became free and then quickly stabled it and then continued.

So nesting atop the leaderboard are the Black Wrens

in an amazing 2:04.

Shark Vader got around the course in a very decent time of 2:36,

even after flying off to a galaxy far, far away.

But will that be quick enough to see them survive?

Third to take on the Airsault Course are Stealth.

Aviator Brendan is an air cadet, loves skating

and has been pals with Rhys since they were six.

Wingman Rhys is an air cadet, loves skating and has been pals

with Brendan since they were six - deja vu.

They spray-painted Stealth yellow in Brendan's garage,

where they also accidentally spray-painted his parents' bikes.

Whoops!

Is there any particular bit that you're most afraid of?

That would probably be the Vortex.

Now, Rhys, as the wingman, it's kind of up to you

to help him get through that bit.

Yeah, I'll just make sure he is level with underneath

and he don't hit the fan.

Are you ready to get out there and set a good time?

BOTH: Yeah.

All right, then, guys. Aviators, stand by.

Brendan and Rhys are set to take on the Airsault Course,

but will Stealth be in good health come the end?

Rev up your rotors.

You're clear for takeoff.

Stealth launch in three, two, one...

Stealth is up and Brendan has a look of steely determination about him.

Classic aviator.

Let's go, go straight up.

Make sure you get it nice and centred.

Nice and centred.

There you go, there you go, through.

Rhys is talking him through it as Stealth nails gate one,

and the first pillars, with consummate ease.

Very confident start from Stealth.

Yeah. An anagram of Stealth is The Last.

If they carry on like this,

last ain't where they're going to end up,

believe me, and Black Wrens and Shark Vader know it.

Oh, this is smooth Letterboxing.

No stop-starts, just one fluid motion.

I'm in drone heaven just watching. Dreaven.

Very quick through the Letter Boxes.

All Air Marshal can do is watch on.

-Hang on a darn second!

-Come back, come back...

Where are they going?

They've just missed the gate.

Lads, reboot the sat-nav, flip to page 37 of your road map,

stop and ask for directions!

Anything!

Not the first person to do that, either.

But they're back on track.

Oh!

I think it's safe to say that Aaron and Ryan

were hoping for a disqualification there.

Look at the Shark Vader faces

when they thought Stealth had missed the gate. Funny.

Oh, that's really annoying.

Yeah, but you're through now, lads. Lads?!

Where have they gone?

Are they lost in the Foggy Corridor of doom?

No, there they are, and they are gate-bound once again.

Whippet-like!

Come up for the next hoop again.

It's called a gate!

And they didn't miss that one.

They were worried about the Vortex before -

let's see how complex they find it.

Straight up.

No problems in The Vortex whatsoever.

Don't know why they were worried.

They made it look like a walk in the park,

unlike the gate earlier.

Come back, come back...

But that was the only buttock-clenching moment

as they sprint across the line.

Airsault Course complete.

- How did it feel out there? - It was quite scary.

The second hoop, I think it was, you kind of went

straight to the fog and then had to go back, didn't you?

Yeah. I was just thinking, "We're not going to get through."

I just thought it would add so much time.

Which one of you noticed that problem?

I think I did first and then I was

quickly saying, "Come back, come back."

And then he realised, and quickly came back and got through.

Incredible stuff from Stealth,

who have stolen a march on the others

with a time of 1:49.

Imagine the time if they had not got lost.

That puts Black Wrens in second place

and Shark Vader in third.

The pressure is all on our last team now,

but they are oblivious of the time to beat.

Our final Airsaulters today are Dragon Eye.

Aviator Adam loves fencing and archery,

so he'd be great to have on your side

if you ever went to war in the year 1415.

Kirsty loves the trampoline.

Let's hope she will spring into her role as WingSis. Haha!

Dragon Eye was moulded using a home-made heat press.

Wow, I'm impressed.

Everyone else has been,

but how confident are you that you can go through?

I do think we have a very good chance of getting through.

Excellent. And, Kirsty, how much are you looking

forward to your first challenge as wingwoman?

Really looking forward to it. It's going to be great.

All right, guys, let's get you out there. Aviators, stand by.

Deep breath from Adam before one of the toughest challenges

he will have ever faced.

Dragon Eye launch in three, two, one...

Nice deep breath there from Adam before...getting into it.

Careful. Up...

And into it he is, in the gate and out the other side.

Dream start for the young aviator.

..the flames before I drive through them.

A little-known fact - drones and flames don't mix well.

It leads to all sorts of issues.

Yeah, that's going to go through.

Bring it around.

Keep moving. Adam, don't touch the floor.

I can't see it because of the flames.

Those flames, they cause a lot of problems.

Does Adam have a naturally nervous

face or is he petrified right now?

The latter, I would say.

-His WingSis needs to soothe him.

-OK, drop down.

Ooh, that was close.

Close?! The international award for understatement of the year

goes to Dragon Eye from Gloucester. How did they not crash that?!

You're making me feel nervous.

What do you think I am?

There is the nerves confirmation.

Both aviator and WingSis have got the shakes,

and it's not the nice strawberry kind, for that matter.

Deep breaths, gang!

Air Marshal can smell fear - it's an app in his mainframe.

Oh, wobble! Oh, careful!

Oh, dear!

Shark Vader enjoying this right now.

They can sense a place in the second round if Adam continues like this.

That was like the ride at the funfair you only get on to impress

your mates, or that girl.

Out of control, jerky, downright dangerous. Mum!

Go through.

Now he's through!

Will exhausted,

Shark Vader excited, Dragon Eye blind to the dangers around them.

This is lightning quick.

-OK, Vortex!

-Shish kebab!

Just when you thought it couldn't get any tougher, it's the Vortex.

-Oh!

-Touchdown.

Are they taking time out?

Only a little one before shooting up the Vortex

like cola out of a shaken-up bottle. Explosive.

Go through. We are so close, boss.

Yeah, but you might also be close to a few more

obstacles before the end.

I give you exhibit A, the pillar. Bang. There we go.

Which way's front?

This way! Over here!

No, that's the back. Come on, over here!

That's it, good boy, heel! And sit!

Good Dragon Eye. Well done, guys.

You got there in the end. Well done.

Well, so many highlights or lowlights during that run.

There was this...

That...

This other one...

Not forgetting this.

Bruised and battered Dragon Eye.

-Oh-ho!

-That was dreadful!

No, it wasn't dreadful.

You seemed to have a real problem with the uprights, the columns.

You were fine through the Letterbox, fine through the hoops.

Every column, you seemed to have it in for them.

Why was that?

I don't know.

Let's find out from the Air Marshal

whether you did enough to get through it, OK?

What an amazing Airsault we've had.

Dragon Eye didn't do enough to beat Stealth's 1 minute 49,

nor did they go quicker than The Black Wrens.

Did they beat Shark Vader?

Yes, they did, with a time of 2 minutes 21.

They are through to round two,

which means Shark Vader are about to hear words

similar to "grou're younded".

You're grounded, sorry.

Shark Vaders, you have been fantastic.

Thank you so much. But, for now, I'm going to unfortunately

have to say, "You're grounded."

So, one team have hung up their control pads and are

retreating from the Airena.

Three teams play on.

PIG SQUEALS

Ah, and here's PIG with the next game.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy -

four words that don't describe Balloon Cutters at all.

The game is hard, the rules are simple.

Attached to each drone is a metal prong with some razor-sharp shears,

which aviators must use to cut loose five bunches of balloons.

Is there a but? Yes, there is.

But don't cut the string with your props, because that won't count.

The last to finish or who cuts the fewest strings is out of here.

As if that wasn't hard enough,

the aviators have one big distraction on their hands,

similar to flies buzzing around a doggie doo-doo -

it's these critters. Don't bother the BUGs.

The batteries are recharged. The shears are sharpened.

The drones are ready. But are our aviators?

-ALL: Yes!

-They're really ready.

Excellent. OK, Adam, Dragon Eye,

do you think you've got what it takes to step up,

get through this round and get into the Dogfight?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-As long as I stay calm and steady.

OK, guys. Aviators, stand by.

Don't those balloons look lovely?

It's like we're having a party, only it's not a party!

Start your rotors.

Aviators, stand by.

Launch in three, two, one...

All three teams make their ascent

with their hi-tech cutting implements, AKA shears.

Who can cut their five strings first?

-Come back.

-Straight away from this FPV,

you can see what a small margin for error there is here.

Nicely forward.

Look at the concentration.

-Come on.

-But he's made his first cut.

Dragon Eye were eagle-eyed there.

-They are up, up and away into the lead.

-Yes!

Good job from Dragon Eye.

They really wrestled with that, but they got it.

It's not about stealth, as Stealth are finding out. Its accuracy.

You're so close, come back. Come back.

And they narrowly miss a string.

Let's see what those Black Wrens are up to.

Cut... Yep.

It's 1-1-0. The Black Wrens have got one too.

All right, go to the left a little bit. There, you've got it.

And that's it. All square.

-Stealth have got one as well.

-They sure have.

Some great flying here.

It's back to even Stevens,

and even Steven couldn't do this well, whoever he is.

Keep coming, into the left a little bit. You've got it, you've got it.

And it's bye-bye balloons for Stealth.

Look how they pushed their string to breaking point

and then, ping, the snip was made. Excellent.

Take your time, Adam!

WingSis Kirsty too nervous to speak,

so Adam coaches himself through another balloon cut.

Yes, you're doing really well. Good. Go down.

-Black Wrens take aim...

-Yes.

-Great job!

-Next one, just stay where you are.

Each team's got two. Neck and neck!

Well, neck and neck and neck.

WingDad Rolf has got Ben lined up with another already.

Is it full of hot air?

No! Black Wrens come back from behind to take the lead.

-Right, yeah...

-Can Stealth reply?

Brendan's sawing furiously at the string like a lumberjack

on a Redwood. And, bingo!

Balloons be gone.

Who's going to come to the party next?

Get it! Yes.

Answer, Dragon Eye. How do you think you're doing, Adam?

-OK, really well.

-Good.

Three-all!

There you go. Keep coming, keep coming.

You're straight on it. You've got it.

And Stealth have snuck into the lead with four.

Stealth in good health as another wealth of balloons

head into the jealth of the Airena ceiling.

OK, jealth isn't a word, but it rhymed, all right?

-Leave me alone!

-Done!

Sorry, what? Oh, I seem to have

missed Brendan and Rhys releasing the final bunch of balloons.

How unprofessional.

Here it is again.

Look at that.

We're in the Dogfight!

You certainly are.

Yes, it's the Dogfight for you with a five-second head start.

But chill for now, yeah?

Black Wrens are having a tug of war with their balloons.

And a BUG is getting right in their grill,

but the balloons have been snipped.

-It's fine, you've got the point.

-No, I didn't.

Ben seems to think there's something amiss there.

They missed the string with their shears and it looks like

they've cut it with their propeller.

Yes, if they did, it's illegal and they should be thrown in jail.

But that will be down to the Air Marshal to decide afterwards.

Adam looks like he's really got his Dragon Eye in now.

Four each. The next bunch to hit the skies could clinch this,

but who's going to do it?

Ben swoops, he soars...

He shears. Cut!

Perfect. Now hover.

We see Dragon Eye cut through their last bunch of balloons,

a lovely manoeuvre, but that may be too little, too late.

What a round!

There's no doubting the winner.

Five clean cuts puts Stealth straight in the Dogfight.

Black Wrens did finish second, but, as we suspected,

they cut one bunch with their propellers

and not the shears provided.

Tough luck, guys.

Dragon Eye would have been grounded,

but they're through to the Dogfight thanks to Black Wrens' misfortune.

Unfortunately, Team Black Wren,

you guys, you cut one of the strings with your propellers.

That was an illegal move,

so unfortunately, guys, you are grounded.

So, time for our two final players to hit start on our endgame.

This is the Dogfight.

Get a precautionary rabies injection, people,

it's Dogfight time.

Each drone is equipped with a laser gun from the 23rd century.

Aviators must avoid getting hit

whilst their wingmen zap away accurately at their opponent.

First to hit their opponent four times is top dog. Woof, woof!

He looks like a ball, but can you kick it?

Best not, he'll lock you up.

It's the GUARD on duty.

It is the Dogfight, and so I want to know,

do you have any final words for your opponents?

-Watch out.

-LAUGHTER

Watch out. I suppose they are stealthy.

You've got to keep your eyes peeled.

-Safe journey home.

-BOTH: Ooh!

-That's good.

-Yeah, you are going home.

OK, guys. Aviators, stand by.

Calibrate your sights, complete your final systems checks.

You're clear for takeoff.

Dragon Eye V Stealth. Gloucester V Bristol.

It's the West Country Dogfight everyone's been talking about

and which I'm about to talk about a lot.

Aviators, fire up.

Remember, Stealth have a five-second advantage

to begin with for finishing Balloon Cutters first.

As soon as they get through the gate,

they can inundate Dragon Eye with laser fire.

Stealth launch in three, two, one...

And off they pop.

Make those seconds count, lads. And they are.

Great ascent towards that heavenly gate.

Stealth firing systems activated.

Adam releases Dragon Eye to the air,

but he needs to get through the gate to be active

and avoid Stealth while he's at it. Tricksome.

Dragon Eye firing systems activated.

Both drones now have licence to thrill with their lasers.

-This game is on.

-Let them come up.

Let them come up.

Interesting. The "best form of attack is defence" technique.

Crafty, Stealth.

Both sides eyeing each other up in these early stages.

And then Dragon Eye lobs out a big greeny

and it hits Stealth right in the unmentionables.

That was a classic shoot and duck from Adam and Dragon Eye.

For any novices out there, that basically means shoot then duck.

Stealth are injured both physically and psychologically there,

and they're coming in for some close-quarters action. Is that wise?

Just keep pressing it, just keep pressing it.

Sadly, they just keep missing it.

That's another life gone.

-Oh!

-Two hits.

-They've got two hits.

Adam and Kirsty don't fire often,

but, when they do, they do it really well.

That's 2-0, Dragon Eye.

Now, both teams are going at each other

like laser firing systems are going out of fashion.

Can Stealth hit team Dragon Eye?

Gosh! Not at the moment.

Maybe the question should be, can Dragon Eye

hit Stealth for a third time, Rachel?

Because the answer to that is affirmative.

Quick look at the replay just shows what a superb long-range shot

that was from Adam and Kirsty.

So, Stealth have lost three of their four lives.

They need to change their game plan and quick.

They miss again and the GUARD

is coming in to take a closer look at this.

Another shot from Stealth. Be careful.

-Oh, gosh!

-Whoa!

The GUARD's exploding!

The GUARD dropped his guard

for a second and a wayward laser from Stealth

struck him right between his servers.

I think GUARD may need an ice pack to stop that swelling.

Take it easy, big guy.

But back to matters at hand.

And would you Adam and Eve it?

Dragon Eye take their chance and finish Stealth off.

And that's it, game over, finished.

Ended. Opposite of begun.

Congratulations, Dragon Eye.

Well, that was one of the most dramatic Dogfights we've ever had.

Not because of Dragon Eye's straight shooting,

but watching this guy take one to the gut there.

It was fascinating to observe.

Not much to say about

that Dogfight that has not been said already.

Dragon Eye had the beadiest of eyes,

keeping all of their lives intact whilst wiping out all of Stealth's.

Phenom!

Team Dragon Eye, you took all four of Stealth's lives without

losing any, which means you guys are the winners.

How are you feeling, Adam and Kirsty?

-Ace!

-It was definitely ace flying there, guys, so well done.

Unfortunately, Team Stealth, Brendan, Rhys,

that does mean that you guys are grounded.

You guys were so good, but, Team Dragon Eye,

it does mean we are going to be seeing you in the semifinals.

Congratulations, guys! Thank you.

But for now, it is time for Airmageddon to power down.

And for these guys to step up.

Well, I managed to hit everything and still came out on top.

Get it! Yes!

Congratulations to Dragon Eye, who are through to the semifinals.

Joining them there will be Sam, Trevor and the Flight Masters,

Tom and brother Toby, AKA This Way Up,

and Leo and uncle Scott with Rotortrismus.

Oh, yes!

Coming soon to a Airmageddon near you.

Airmageddon, power down.