Original subtitles

Now, Captain Gort,

I want you to bring your mind back four weeks in time

to the night of May the 16th, Aurangabad airport.

Please don't think that this

is in any way a cross-examination.

It's just you and me putting our heads together

to try to find out why this accident took place.

Thank you.

I'm sure that you and all the pilots

who have to fly the Phoenix are just as anxious

to determine the truth as the manufacturers,

the Atlas Aviation Company,

whom I have the honor to represent.

Now, Captain, we have heard a good many theories

in this inquiry, but what are the facts?

The aircraft Phoenix Victor Fox, under your command,

was at Aurangabad with 89 passengers, six crew,

four tons of freight,

a maximum takeoff weight of 170,000 pounds.

Now, I ask, what happened?

Certainly nothing like it has ever happened before.

Phoenixes had been in operation

for months before the accident, functioning perfectly.

Yet on this single occasion, at a particular airport,

in a particular country under the command

of a particular pilot, Captain Gort, an accident occurs.

Why?

Now, sir, the time is 23:57 Aurangabad local time.

Here is Captain Gort. Beside him, first officer Lamborne.

Captain Gort is already calculated

from the Atlas Aviation Company's graph

that in these conditions of weight and temperature,

the unstick speed, that is the takeoff speed, is...

118 knots.

Exactly. Thank you, Captain.

The captain has signed the load and trim sheet

and is satisfied that mechanically,

everything is just as it should be.

Then all six engines are started.

Mr. Lamborne obtains permission to taxi,

and Captain Gort slowly taxis out

to takeoff position on runway two-seven.

Now, Captain, what next?

We were cleared to take off,

climb on course to 42,000 feet.

Great circle to Cairo.

And the conditions?

Dark, very hot, spitting with rain.

But you could see the boundary lights

at the far end of the runway.

Yes, but no horizon.

Had you any inkling whatever

that this was not going to be a normal takeoff?

None.

I see.

And then you switched on your landing lights?

No, I don't use landing lights for takeoff.

It's not required by the regulations.

And, of course, you always operate

strictly according to the book.

Of course.

Go on, Captain, what then?

I turned to Mr. Lamborne and put my thumb up.

He put his thumb up, too.

And?

I opened all six engines to full power,

released the brakes from the aircraft, and we began to move.

So, fairly slowly, I take it,

because of the high temperature

and the fact that you were so heavy.

Yes.

Then faster until Mr. Lamborne called out 75 knots.

Yes.

When you pulled back on the control column.

That is when I've been instructed

to lift the nose wheel off the ground.

So, the red boundary lights were nearer now.

Naturally.

Did Mr. Lamborne

say anything to you at this point?

Yes.

He said, "God, we're eating the runway."

But you had not reached the unstick speed,

and that made you concerned.

Well, we both knew from the graph calculations

that we'd use a lot of runway.

And then?

He called out 118 knots, at last.

So, you moved back the control column for the unstick,

but Victor Fox remained on the ground.

First, yes.

Then it rose a few inches above the runway,

for a second or two, then it touched down again,

But it was too late now

to do anything about it except go on.

Yes.

So you went on trying to get airborne

until the red boundary lights went by?

Yes.

What then?

I shouted to Mr. Lamborne, "It won't come off."

And then?

What then?

The Phoenix started to bang up and down on rough ground.

I slammed the throttles back.

There was a tremendous bump.

Terrible grinding noise, and I felt the port wheel collapse.

The aircraft shuddered, then suddenly stopped.

Go on, Captain.

I pressed all four emergency crash buttons,

shuddered about an aircraft,

then went after the passenger's cabin.

They were all right. Steward and I

got them out of the aircraft. Then I went forward again

to see if the crew had all left.

Only Mr. Lamborne was there, still in his seat.

I shouted, "For heaven sake, get out, Alec!"

I rushed up and shone the torch in his face.

Then I saw that he was dead.

Captain, uh... Captain Gort.

You've given us a very clear picture,

but it doesn't solve the problem, does it?

Why did the Phoenix fail to take off?

Now, let's go back to the time when you lifted

the nose wheel off the ground.

The speed is 75 knots.

You pull back on the stick.

I eased back.

I don't use strength to fly an airplane.

Up and up came the nose.

Not as high as that.

It was pitch dark. There was no horizon.

You had no instrument guidance. And you still say

that you know how high you held the nose up?

- I do. - How?

I have 19,000 hours experience.

In piston engine aircraft, Captain. In the Phoenix, 30.

Regardless of type, you get a sixth sense.

Now, please, allow me to proceed.

The wing at this angle is exposed to immense drag,

slowing the aircraft down.

Yes, but...

Perhaps Mr. Lamborne, who was worried...

I didn't say that.

Anticipated a fraction the air speed of 118 knots.

No.

Automatically, you pulled back on the stick.

Eased back.

But the aircraft was so nose-high

that it couldn't achieve flying speed.

But I never got the nose that high.

Look, I can show you exactly what happened.

Will you let go?

Can you proceed, Sir Arnold?

As far as Captain Gort is concerned, sir, I've finished.

Well, how nice! Were you looking for me?

No.

Oh, what a pity. Well, never mind.

Now that we know each other...

We don't. If you'll kindly move, I'm going inside.

Ah, you can't.

Council's already made a dreadful fuss

about the press going in and out. Now, what I suggest...

When does Captain Gort give evidence?

He's just given it. You missed it.

Sir Arnold made rings around him, if you're interested.

Look, why don't we have tea together and talk it over?

Talk what over?

Well, what I mean is you want the story,

I can give it to you.

Of course, there'll be a small charge for inside information.

I thought this was a public inquiry.

Yes, so it is.

But you are talking to an expert.

Expert in what?

Apart from picking up strange women.

Here we are.

Two teas, please.

I shall always remember our first meeting.

Soft lights, sweet music, and discreet self-service.

Expert in what?

Oh, that. I'm the training captain of the airline.

So you trained Captain Gort for the Phoenix?

Yes, I did.

Then you're Captain Dallas.

Yes, that's right.

Shilling.

Oh, thank you.

Sugar on the table.

Service with a smile.

Eh?

Afraid it's a bit rough.

No matter.

I want to know about the inquiry.

Oh, yes, the inquiry.

How's it going?

Just as everyone expected.

And how's that?

They eliminated all possible causes

of the accident except one.

A fault in the aircraft.

No.

What then?

Well, it's not over, so you mustn't quote me,

but I can tell you what they'll say: "pilot error."

I don't believe it.

My dear girl, you don't know anything about it.

Do you?

Obviously.

It wasn't his fault. It was the aircraft.

You're talking nonsense.

They got all the pieces checked, every single thing.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the aircraft.

There must have been.

Look, we spent years building up the Phoenix.

It costs millions of pounds.

And your future's wrapped up in it.

Well, I don't see what the hell that's got to do with it.

Why are you getting so worked up defending old man Gort?

Do you know him?

He's my father.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I thought you were a reporter.

I'm a secretary. Thanks for the tea.

I didn't break the damn thing.

Of course, you didn't.

Don't be silly, Charlotte, you weren't even in court.

I'm talking about the model.

Between us, we managed to drop it. Cost a lot of money.

You're worried about the result, aren't you?

Why should I?

I did my best to get the aircraft off.

Nobody could have done better.

Of course not.

Don't worry, you'll be flying again soon.

I'm just going to wash up these things

and then I'm going to bed.

Goodnight, father.

Goodnight.

You'll go, too, won't you?

Yes, yes, of course.

Soon? It's half past 11.

Well, I just wanna finish that book you gave me.

You finished it yesterday.

So I did.

Father, you're sleeping all right, aren't you?

Yes, yes.

No trouble about sleeping. It's just...

It's Lamborne, Charlotte. I dream about him.

Nothing to do with the crash or anything like that.

Just his face.

I think I'll stay up a bit longer. You go to bed.

That's all right. Straighten up.

Okay, let's go home.

How often does Pickering go up?

Whenever he can. Never misses a chance.

He's like a new man since the result of the inquiry.

He's a funny bloke.

He's very difficult to talk to.

Only got one subject: the Phoenix.

You get him to talk about that

only if you've got plenty of time to spare.

You know he still carries the first sketch

he ever made of it around in his pocket?

I'll go and see if he's finished.

Be back in a minute to do the field approach check.

Okay.

Nigel, we're going in now, if you've finished.

I'll come up front.

Everything all right?

Fine.

Come on, then.

Man, that's what I call an aircraft.

Enjoyed yourself?

I'm sold.

Flies right?

Flies beaut.

It's the height that gets me.

First time "Birdman" Braddock ever felt like a real spaceman.

Must make you feel pretty good, Mr. Pickering.

Perhaps this will interest you.

That's how I first saw the Phoenix.

You notice the wings?

Yeah, I always thought wings

were such a headache these days.

We were lucky.

Speed range is, what,

100 to 600 miles an hour.

Just about.

Good looking, too.

There's only one thing.

What's that?

Now, this lift business.

There's obviously a lot of lift here,

but it's getting less and less all the way down.

That must be just about zero at the tip here.

Oh, high speed's fine, but surely at low...

All that's checked and rechecked 100 times.

Is it? How?

How?

Yeah.

What do you think we've got a wind tunnel for?

Now, what's got into him?

Sorry I'm late.

Oh, hello, Hugh.

Ran into our eager beaver of a flight captain.

Judd? He's off to Sydney,

organizing an extension of the route.

Looked as though they had a full load.

Building up all the time, everywhere except Aurangabad.

I take it that's not what you called me over for.

No, this. You read it?

Yes, it's pretty well what we expected, isn't it?

"Pilot error." And what happens to Gort?

Three years loss of seniority and a severe reprimand.

Have you told him?

Just.

How'd he take it?

He said the board could think what it liked.

He was satisfied he'd done nothing wrong.

"Pilot error."

Yes, it's tough having to live with a thing like that.

What are they gonna do with him?

Well, that's what I want to see you about.

The chairman has left it to me to do the sensible thing.

Hugh, I've given it a lot of thought.

I think we should keep him on the Phoenix fleet.

We should what?

Subject to a satisfactory check by you.

You must be crazy! After a crash like that,

killing his first officer?

If Lamborne had been properly braced,

he wouldn't have been killed.

But he was killed.

That doesn't make Gort any more to blame.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree.

You know, once, years ago, I undershot a runway

and touched down on the grass.

Ground was frozen hard and nothing happened.

Six months later,

somebody else did exactly the same thing

when it had been raining and put the aircraft on its back.

Result of the inquiry? "Pilot error."

All right, I know there's often only a hairline

between being blamed and getting away with it.

You were just lucky, that's all.

And Gort wasn't.

But his mistake was elementary.

So elementary, I can't see how he can have made it,

can you?

The point is he did make it and we can't afford

to take any chances.

Now, look, Hugh,

he's got millions of safe miles behind him,

more than any two other Phoenix pilots put together,

and we're desperately short of jet pilots.

All I'm asking is an impartial check.

Then if you're still not satisfied, that's it.

All right.

If that's what you want, I'll give him a check.

He better be bloody good.

Now see if you can find the cone of silence.

You try and follow him through on there.

This is the best instrument flying test there is.

No visual aids whatever.

All he is got to go on is what he can hear.

He's gotta find his way blind to the cone of silence there,

and it's pretty small.

Difficult to get the drift, isn't it?

Yes, particularly with this gusty wind.

From where I've started him, I doubt if he'll make it.

The ends are getting clearer.

Yeah.

Well, surely he can hear them.

Don't know what he's playing at.

He's way off the leg. Here, now.

Why doesn't he do something?

I think he's gonna miss it.

You'd be surprised how often they think

they're in this sector,

when actually they're flying away from it on this one.

When they find they've done something wrong,

they're apt to get panicky and start trying

to let down without knowing where they are.

What do you do then?

Only thing I can do, fail 'em.

One thing you learn in this job: beware of pity.

He's turning.

Not enough.

Wait a minute.

The signal's building. Must be closer than I thought.

He's got the drift anyway.

Cone of silence.

See the approach check.

All right, that's it.

Let down to 1500 feet.

There's only one thing.

Yes?

I thought you stayed in the end signal a bit too long.

I'd got the drift.

I knew where I was.

- I grant you that, but... - The wind was gusting.

I didn't want to be blown across into the A sector.

Well, that's fair enough.

Perhaps you'd like a second opinion.

I don't need one.

Then tell me where I went wrong,

when I failed to follow the book.

Oh, come off it.

It's one of the best checks I ever did on anyone.

Well, then what's the trouble?

You're back on the route.

Everything's fine.

I believe you've met Captain Dallas.

Yes, we've met. How are you?

I'm all right, thanks.

You must come and have a meal with us sometime.

Yes, I'd like to.

We'll make it soon.

Good.

Come along, father. Goodbye, Captain Dallas.

Looks a good check.

First rate.

I'm glad.

You know, he is unholy accurate, and he had me fooled

on the range flying test.

Stayed way off the leg to the last possible moment

and let himself be drifted slap into the cone.

Pretty impressive.

Oh, I told Pickering about it.

He wasn't any too pleased.

He'll get over it.

You don't know Pickering. By the way,

he says there won't be an aircraft available for training

for another two weeks.

So is it all right if I do a trip down the route?

Yeah, they'll be glad to have you.

You want me to wait till Judd gets back?

No, no.

He's still organizing things in Sydney.

Sends me about 500 words on the tele-printer every day.

Always the weaver.

Yeah, he's a good flight captain.

I'll fix your trip sometime next week.

Thanks.

I'll be at the factory you when you want me.

All right.

Operations, this is Dallas here.

Can you tell me when Captain Carter

will be available for flight check?

I see, thanks.

Oh, just a minute.

When's Captain Gort due back?

Friday, uh-huh. And can you tell me his home number?

Hello?

Hello, Miss Gort?

Speaking.

Oh, it's Hugh Dallas here. Is your father in?

No, I'm afraid my father's away on service.

Oh, what bad luck, I should have checked.

Well, knowing he's keen on Shakespeare,

I booked three seats at the Old Vic tonight.

Perhaps you and I could still go?

Tonight, I'm afraid I've already arranged

to go to the Vaudeville.

Oh, dear.

In any case, isn't the Old Vic closed for redecoration?

Oh, good Lord.

I seem to have last week's paper.

How stupid of me.

And how unkind of them to sell you seats

for an empty theater.

Yes.

Yes, I can't understand that.

Goodnight.

Oh, dear.

Hmm. Let's see.

Hello?

Hugh! I've just got in.

Long time, no see.

I thought I'd done something wrong.

Hugh, you're awful.

What are you doing tonight, Joyce?

I'm supposed to be going out with someone.

Yes, with me.

Say you're being called out unexpectedly for service.

Is that what you say?

That's what I say.

Any particular show you'd like to go to?

What about the Vaudeville?

Vaudeville?

Oh, you're sure there's nothing else you'd rather see?

This is fun, Hugh. You remember last time?

In Rome, last summer.

I'm sorry, what was that?

I was thinking of that evening in Rome.

I don't suppose you get on the route much nowadays.

Actually, I'm going out quite soon.

Is this all right or would you like to change places?

No, really, I can see perfectly.

Anything the matter?

No, no, I was just thinking it's a bit warm in here.

Haven't noticed it.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Who's that?

Are you sure we're in the right theater?

Hugh?

Hello, Judd. When did you get back?

Yesterday. Croughton brought me. Nice pilot,

nice pair of hands.

Route to Sydney all organized?

Pretty well.

We don't often see you at the factory.

Just thought I'd come over and have a gab.

How's the new chap, Braddock?

He's pretty good. Doing a trip as first officer.

I've just been having a talk with Pickering.

He told me what's been happening while I've been away.

Oh, yes?

Our company has always got on pretty well

with Atlas Aviation, but Pickering's upset.

Yes, I know, about Gort. Well, he's wrong.

So now Gort's back on the Phoenix route.

Yes, he's done one flight since his check.

He's on his second now. What are you worried about?

The route's my pigeon.

And getting competent pilots

for the route is mine.

And Manningham's was to get rid of Gort

or put him back on piston aircraft without any fuss.

Was it? The chairman told him to do the sensible thing.

Exactly! To out him, but he didn't.

You know why? He's had a crash himself

and he's an old pal of Gort's.

Manningham's not like that.

He's the reverse, if anything.

Anyhow, I passed Gort, not Manningham.

Do you mind if I use my desk?

You realize what you've let yourself in for

with Gort loose for another five months.

Look, Clive,

I threw the book at him and he threw it right back at me,

word perfect.

You can't check everything in a couple of hours.

How about emergency after an explosive decompression?

Did you check him on that?

No.

Well, take him up again.

And when he passes, what then, tell him he's failed?

You seem to think I got something

against George personally. I like him,

but sometimes these things have to be done.

The competition's getting stronger all the time.

The Comet, and now the American jets.

My only concern is to get younger men.

I think George is getting past it.

He's a first rate pilot,

but he's too old for the Phoenix.

Before the check, I would have agreed with you.

But he was so darn good,

I think he's a fine example to the younger ones.

We need a man like him.

You may be right.

I hope you are.

Okay, it's all yours.

Right, sir.

Hello, what are you doing here?

I switched flights with Jennifer Brett.

I was a door row.

Do you know who took me out the last time I was here?

No.

Clive Judd.

That surprised you, didn't it?

Surprised me even more if you enjoyed it.

Well, Judd's a great organizer,

but he's not exactly my idea of a gay evening out.

Nor mine, really. But it was a great honor, of course.

Bet he made that quite clear.

Thank you.

It's fun, isn't it?

Yes, I'm enjoying it.

Much better than the place we went to last time.

You mean where that waiter tried to pinch your...?

Ah, now, please, Captain Dallas.

You must miss being on the route.

Oh, I don't know, you miss the flying.

It's a bit tiring just circling the airfield doing checks.

You did the one on Captain Gort, didn't you?

Yes.

Wasn't it his daughter at the theater the other night?

Yes.

She's very attractive.

Oh, do you think so?

Don't you?

Well, I hardly know her.

Was it her husband with her?

Good Lord, no. She isn't married.

At least, don't think she is.

That's funny.

I got the impression you knew her quite well.

And what gave you that idea?

Well, when she arrived, you seemed so upset.

That's ridiculous. I've only met her once,

then only for five minutes.

Sorry.

It's all right.

Let's go, shall we?

To the hotel?

Oh, look, Joyce, I'm awfully sorry,

but I'm afraid I'll have to drop you there.

I promised to have a drink with a chap.

I see.

Something I can't very well get out of.

It's all right, Hugh.

Charlotte, these graphs are out of date.

You haven't entered the last electricity or the gas.

Oh, dear, I forgot.

How can we keep track if you don't enter the readings?

Sorry.

They're like the graphs we keep for the Phoenix.

If we keep check, we know exactly where we are.

You can't be too careful.

What about this? Is this being too careful?

I got that in Rome.

It was ridiculously cheap.

Oh, yes.

You're very sweet.

Well, I was gonna get ready. I'll be late at the airport.

Now, be a good girl and fill in those graphs.

So that we can keep track?

Get along, or you'll be late, too.

Arrival of Phoenix flight 139 from Cairo.

Will passengers embarking for Calcutta

please go to the main hall to collect their baggage checks

and seat reservation? Thank you.

Only half-full, Mr. Robinson.

I do my best for the company, Captain,

but the publicity for the Phoenix here in Aurangabad...

Hello, there.

Hello, Wes.

Flight plan ready for signature, Captain.

Your crew look cooked to a ton.

What's the idea? Why aren't you in tropicals?

My first officer left his tropical kit at home.

The book says all the crew have to be dressed alike,

so nothing else.

Yes, yes.

Well, sooner you than me.

You better go before your navigator catches fire.

The bus is ready to take you into Aurangabad, Captain.

Oh, thanks.

We'll wait 'til Captain Gort's taken off.

All set?

All set, sir.

Goodbye, and thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Go on, go on. What's wrong with him?

He's not gonna get it off.

All right, Mr. Robinson, let's go.

Mr. Braddock.

Mr. Braddock! Take over.

Looks like a squall.

Those brown ones, they're the worst, aren't they?

Yes, terrific up-currents.

Tear your wings off at this speed.

That one's nearly over small.

Ah, but at night.

Oh, you get some warning.

10-10 degrees starboard.

Weather boys are good.

They weren't always.

I got into one of those schools once.

Tried to get under it, went down at 300 feet.

300?

Yeah, but that was 20 years ago.

Well, I'll straight do my rounds now.

Go on, buck up and take these up front.

Otherwise, he'd tell us off for slow service. You know him.

Well, homeward bound tomorrow.

In a few weeks, the route will be through to Sydney.

That'll suit you.

Australian beer can wait. Besides, I found a bar

in London where they sell it.

Well, I'm turning in.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Coder beacon.

All right, I'll take over.

We're clear to descend from here.

Estimating Aurangabad in just over the hour.

27,000.

Here's the layer cloud Calcutta reported.

Yes, I see it.

Should be through this stuff by now, if it is layer cloud.

The outside temperature's nearly zero Centigrade.

Seatbelt lights.

Would you mind fastening your seatbelt, please?

Thank you.

21,000.

Bit more to this than they reckoned.

Hailstones! Look at the size of them!

Air brakes.

- Air brakes! - Giving 'em to you!

Through the hail.

Got to slow down. Wings will be off in a minute.

Have to climb, lose speed quickly.

Watch out!

220...

210...

190...

Full flap.

Full flap!

Good. Lower the undercarriage at 155.

Now?

155. Wait for it.

Oxygen, where's the oxygen?

Try and hold out, boy.

Are you all right, sir?

Yes, but watch me. Going down now.

Lost enough speed.

7000 feet.

Tail level.

Can you shove a cushion in the windscreen?

Do you need any oxygen?

I'll manage.

Keep it there. Won't be long.

I'll have to land from the right hand seat.

Right.

Paragraph seven.

I'd like to suggest that the straps

of the crew's oxygen masks should be strengthened.

Paragraph eight.

The crew's oxygen masks, route maps, charts, books,

and some personal equipment have been written off.

Form 3652A.

Yes, Captain.

Well, that's all.

You have it typed out, I'll read and sign it.

Passengers got to the hotel?

Yes, Captain.

Good.

Well, tell your maintenance men not to say anything

about this broken windscreen.

I will, sir.

Nobody'd believe those hailstones who hadn't seen them.

Don't want anybody to get a wrong idea of the Phoenix.

Give a dog a bad name, you know?

I understand, Captain.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, sir.

It was the bouncing that I found so trying.

I must have traveled 50,000 miles by air,

but I've never met conditions like it.

Here's our captain. Hello, Captain.

I thought you'd all be in bed by now.

How are you now, Mrs. Wright?

What about you, Sir Henry?

Oh, we've been talking like mad.

Exchanging symptoms, you know.

It was a pressurization failure you say, Captain?

That's right, yes.

Freak storm. Tremendous hailstones.

It was very disquieting at the back.

My lungs are not what they were, I'm afraid.

Well, it wasn't too good for it.

You use up an awful lot of energy in a storm like that.

At that height, there's not very much oxygen.

Captain, we met somewhere before. I know your face.

Now, where, where was it?

Well, I've been flying all over the world

for quite some time, Mrs. Wright.

I suppose you'd call that sort of thing an air quake, eh?

Very good words, sir. Well, if you'll excuse me,

I think I'll turn in now.

We have a whole day here tomorrow

while they check pressurization before I take you on again...

if you still want to come with me.

Oh, why, certainly. Why, all the passengers

were singing your praises all through dinner.

Wait a minute.

Captain, you did something terribly brave before.

That's right. We hadn't met.

I've seen a photograph in the papers.

No, I think you're confusing me with someone else.

Yes.

Well, if you'll excuse me now.

Hope you all sleep well.

Good night.

Good night.

Cigars?

Oh, thank you very much.

I'm sure it was something here in Aurangabad.

Hello? Speaking, yes.

Cancellations?

But why? What's the matter with them all?

Oh, I see.

Very well. I'll try to get them onto Air India. Names?

Ms. Wright, Mr. Drinkwater.

Edward?

Hello, Nigel. Go on in.

Sit down.

How are things at the factory?

I came to let you know there's going to be a delay

in delivering the Phoenix mark two.

Oh? Why?

Modifications, improvements.

Such as strengthening the windscreen?

What? Oh, that.

Yes, I read it.

Hail at that height... Can't guard against everything.

Still, you'd have to admit that Gort

put up a very good show.

A less experienced man would've tried to bring her down

too quickly and torn the wings off.

He followed the book exactly.

Anyway, he proved how strong the Phoenix is.

We knew that already.

Ah, how long's this delay?

Three, four months.

Your training program will have to wait, I'm sorry.

Oh, talking about training,

there's another thing: Dallas.

What about him?

Don't want to sound inhospitable,

but we need the room he's been using.

We're very busy over there.

On the modifications?

Yes, among other things.

Thank your stars you're not a designer.

You get an idea, you work like hell,

you involve yourself and thousands of others

in a project costing millions.

Yes, yes, of course.

But this delay is going to ruin our plans,

quite apart from the publicity campaign.

Sorry, can't help that.

We have our difficulties, you know.

So do we.

Morning. Thank you.

Hello, George.

Hello.

Hear you had a rough trip.

Just one of those things.

Must've livened things up for you.

Worry the passengers much?

Few of the older ones, but they were well-looked after.

Had a good crew. Makes all the difference.

You busy these days?

Yes, I'm moving over here from Atlas.

The training schedule's postponed for a while.

No aircraft.

Oh, then you'd be able to come

and have that meal with us one evening.

Yes, of course.

Hello.

Good evening.

Come in.

Thank you.

I'm afraid father's not back yet.

Won't you sit down? I think that's the most comfortable.

Thank you.

Let me get you a drink. Would you like gin or sherry?

You got any beer?

Yes.

I'll give you a hand.

No, don't bother.

Sit down, I won't be a moment.

Been to the theater much lately?

What?

Oh... No, not a great deal.

Lucky they managed to change the tickets

at such short notice.

Yes, wasn't it?

Oh, let me do that.

Quite a mix-up, isn't it?

What?

All this.

Oh, the room. Oh, I think it's very nice.

Souvenirs of 30 years flying.

He always brings something back.

This time I hear it's a commendation from the company.

Yes.

Isn't he pleased?

He didn't say much about it.

They've only ever been about four, you know.

Yes, I believe the last time

was when an elephant got loose in a freighter.

Anyway, he must be glad to be back on the route.

Did you know they'd offered him a ground job?

Ground job? What kind of a job?

Operations advisor at headquarters.

It's more money, I believe.

You don't mean to say he's taken it.

No, he turned it down.

I'm glad, so would I.

You don't really mean that.

Why not?

Well, it was you who wanted him off the Phoenix.

Who told you that?

You did, the first time we met at the inquiry.

Have you forgotten?

Oh, look, Charlotte...

Well, we've never really had a chance to talk about this.

I'm sorry I said so much.

To me or to the court?

Well, to you, of course.

I didn't know you were George's daughter.

What I said to the court doesn't really concern you.

I think it does.

It was your evidence that helped to get father blamed.

Oh, just a minute.

Who was it passed him fit to go back on the route?

I did.

He was reprimanded.

That can't be wiped out by a check flight.

They only brought in pilot error.

Only! It could hardly be worse, could it?

Yes, it could have been negligence,

which is a damn sight worse.

All that pilot error means is that in a certain situation,

your father didn't do quite the right thing.

That's not true.

I know father would always do the right thing.

You're not a pilot.

You don't know what the hell you're talking about.

I know this much.

You all wanted him blamed,

anything, as long as it wasn't your precious Phoenix.

Oh, now you are talking nonsense.

And now you'll pretend you're glad

he turned down the ground job.

Listen to me, Charlotte.

I'm surprised you can come here.

Are you?

Hello, Hugh. Charlotte been making you feel at home?

Yes, completely.

Anyway, I'm not kidding.

It is Gort. Oh, come on, Mitchell.

He's all right.

Every time I look at that roster,

I pray it won't be Captain Gort.

Morning, Mr. Minty, Ms. Mitchell.

He heard you.

He didn't.

He did, you know.

All right, perhaps he didn't.

Now, come on, snap out of it.

Hello, what's the matter with you?

Nothing.

Evening. Give me a nice lager, please.

Hello, George.

Well, hello, Judd.

Bring it here, would you?

I thought this flight was Croughton's?

He went sick so they asked me.

They always seem to ask you, don't they?

Well, it only meant to coming out a couple days earlier.

Nice to see you, anyway.

Have a good trip?

Very good. Thanks.

You must be tired.

No more than anyone else after 4,000 miles.

Of course.

Been here long?

I came yesterday with Bateson.

I'm on this route checking business.

What's that?

Oh, it's a new bee in the official bonnet.

Making sure the boys down the line

fly according to the book.

Well, I didn't know you had any instructional experience.

I'm not instructing, I'm just checking.

Be coming with you tomorrow.

Checking me, you mean.

Don't glare at me, George. It's nothing serious.

This business is pure formality for you.

We'll have a good yarn together then you can buy me a drink

in Singapore. See you tomorrow.

Got a date. 'Night, old chap.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Well, that's that.

You did very well.

Mrs. Only looked rather heavy-going to me.

She was.

What does Mr. Only do, Clive?

He's boss of Synd Airways. We may do business with him.

Bit of luck you were on this flight.

Three's an awkward number.

You've been a great help.

I'm glad.

I expect the crews take about quite a bit, huh?

Not much.

But you have a good time on the route.

I mean, you're well-looked after, aren't you?

Oh, yeah.

Well, you ought to be happy, flying on the Phoenix.

Well, that rather depends on our captain.

I mean in the air.

I mean in the air, too.

Oh, by the way, I'll be coming with you tomorrow.

You? Oh, I am glad.

As glad as all that? Why?

Well, if you come, you'll be able to keep an eye on things.

Because Captain Gort happened to have an accident,

stewardesses shouldn't jump to conclusions about his flying.

I'm sorry.

You asked me and I told you.

I just have a feeling that whenever Captain Gort's flying,

something's going to happen.

Then you forget it, it won't.

But after a crash like that, how can you be sure?

Because he had a very thorough check

before coming back on the route.

By Hugh Dallas?

Of course. Why not?

Just that it must have been difficult for him.

Difficult?

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that.

Maybe we ought to go...

No, wait a minute.

Why should it be difficult?

Well, he couldn't very well fail him.

Of course we could. What was there to stop him?

Captain Gort's daughter.

Gort's daughter? What's the tie-up between her and Dallas?

I'm not sure, exactly.

All I know is that we went to the theater one night.

She came and sat behind us and he seemed quite upset.

Upset? How do you mean?

Well, nervous, not at all like himself.

And then in the interval, she came into the bar

and he rushed me out

before we had time to finish our drinks.

I see.

Look, Clive, that's between us, isn't it?

I expect you're right about Captain Gort.

I'm probably being silly.

Oh, not at all. Don't worry about it.

Let's have another of these. Sir?

Flight plan's ready for signing, Captain.

This is Captain Gort's flight, not mine.

Take it to him.

What's the on-stick speed from the graph?

We're pretty heavy, sir, 114 knots.

Captain Gort's just checked.

Weather's pretty stinking low down, sir,

but clear at 9,000.

Report that to your captain, Mr. Williams.

114. Right?

Yes.

George, mind if I do the takeoff?

If you want to.

I'm doing so much office work,

I haven't been getting much practice lately.

35 embarking here, sir.

Business is stepping up.

Let's wait till we get a full load,

then we really have something to shout about.

Victor Metro, roger out.

That's all very well,

but wait until we have a full load,

then we'll something to shout about.

114.

Victor Metro, altimeter 1006 millibars.

Visibility, two miles in rain.

Wind, northerly 17.

Runway 33.

Runway 33, thank you.

You mind if I stay up front to watch the landing?

No.

Mr. Williams, let Captain Braddock have your seat, will you?

Runway 33.

That's a short one.

Yes.

Ever landed on it before?

No.

So, wouldn't you prefer the long one?

No, too much crosswind.

Runway 33's very short. It's only 1600 yards.

All right for a piston engine aircraft,

not long for a Phoenix.

With this wind, long enough.

You're the captain.

Field approach check.

Altimeter, set.

Brakes, check.

Cabin signs.

Thank you.

Relax, dear.

Oh, shut up.

Runway ahead.

You're a bit high, aren't you?

The runway is short, don't forget.

Watch your speed.

6,000.

Shall I give it 80 percent flap?

Not yet.

Nice landing. A bit low on the approach, there.

Low? Surprised me.

You were in a hell of a hurry to get those flaps down.

George, you were too low.

They found this around the port wheel.

Looks like we hit the hedge coming in.

Come in.

Oh, hello. I thought you were down the route,

in Asia somewhere.

I just came in, on Victor Metro.

Back early, aren't you?

Yes, for a reason.

You know I went out to check pilot operation on the route.

I had a memo about it.

Well, I checked Bateson. He's okay. Then Gort.

Not too good, I'm afraid.

Oh? In what way?

Just unsatisfactory.

Can't you be more specific?

He came in too low at Calcutta.

He was lucky to get away with it.

So you feel he should be suspended, is that it?

Oh, well, of course that's for you to say.

I wouldn't want to...

Here we go again.

He's not due out until a week tomorrow.

That gives us eight days to sort it out.

Dallas has just moved in over here.

Let's see what he has to say.

Settling in.

Well, it's rough and ready, but it's home.

Hello.

Hello, Hugh.

There's been a bit of trouble

about George Gort down the route.

What happened?

Well, nothing's happened yet,

but I did a check on him.

And found him unsatisfactory, naturally.

Right.

Well, that's what you wanted, isn't it?

Look, Hugh, we're all in this together.

George is on the Phoenix with your blessing.

Exactly.

They're all on the Phoenix with my blessing.

You passed him satisfactory.

I still say that he is until it's proved that he's not.

Apparently he made a dangerously low approach at Calcutta.

Well, who said it was dangerous?

If he was using the short runway there,

his approach should have been low.

He was too low.

I was in the cockpit with him and I warned him.

I wasn't going to show this to anyone,

but you rather force my hand.

Where did this come from?

The hedge at Calcutta.

They found it around one of the wheels.

Oh, Braddock?

I see you've been getting in some more flight time.

Yeah, yeah, still as first officer, though.

Yes, well, Judd tells me he thinks it's time

you took out a Phoenix as captain. How would you like that?

Of course, I'll have to check you out first,

but that should be all right.

By the way, weren't you on that last trip with Captain Gort?

Yeah.

He hit the hedge at Calcutta, I'm told.

Well, bit more to it than that.

How do you mean? Were you up front?

Yeah.

And Judd?

Yeah.

Well, come on, what happened?

Well, Judd wasn't too happy about using the short runway,

tried to make Gort change. That was the first thing.

Then he went on about being too high.

Not just telling him, either.

He put the flaps down before Gort was ready.

Well, I mean, it wasn't Gort's fault.

I will say this for Judd.

When he found that stuff on the wheel,

he did say it looks like "we" hit the hedge,

so he must have known it was half his fault.

I don't know why he was so worried anyway.

I mean, Gort's about the best of the lot.

Yeah. Well, thanks.

I'll let you know about that check.

Thanks for...

Been waiting long?

I went to head office this morning.

I saw the chairman.

Oh, yeah?

Among other things, we talked about Gort.

Well?

I told you there's every chance

that George accept that job at headquarters, after all.

I said I thought he ought to have another check.

That's rather for me to decide, isn't it?

It was at his suggestion.

The chairman wants it, I don't suppose George will object.

I'm not yet convinced

that the landing was entirely his fault.

I think you did it between him.

Gort was doing the handling.

You were doing the talking.

That sounds like Dallas.

And that reminds me,

I don't think he should give Gort this new check.

I happen to know he's in a rather difficult position then.

How?

I understand he's involved with Gort's daughter.

What nonsense. I don't think he even knows her.

I think he does.

I mix with the crews and I hear things,

and I say this check should be done by someone else.

For Dallas's sake, as much as anyone's.

Operations.

Operations, do you know where Captain Gort is?

Yes, sir. Estimating arrival at Aurangabad

about three quarters of an hour.

Oh? He's not due out until Tuesday.

Captain Leland went sick, sir,

so they asked Captain Gort. Aurangabad, Calcutta and back.

All right, thank you.

Well, he won't be back till the day after tomorrow.

I'll try and arrange a check for Monday.

A full load, Captain. At last.

And four tons of freight!

Even Captain Judd would now be pleased.

Perhaps.

You can hardly breathe in here.

We are at maximum weight, sir.

Going to need a lot of runway.

How much?

5,300 feet. On-stick speed, 118 knots.

Let's see the book.

That's right, Mr. Taylor.

Thank you, sir.

5,300 feet.

That still leaves us 800 feet of runway

to play with on the stick.

Yes, exactly 118.

118, Mr. Johnson.

If you have the wind, start the flight plan.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Taylor.

It's like a Turkish bath outside,

so the takeoff's gotta be exactly to the book.

Of course, sir.

I'm not doubting you, Mr. Johnson.

I'm just emphasizing it.

Yes, sir.

When you call the speeds for lifting the nose wheel

off the ground and the unstick,

I want the exact readings.

Will you sign the load sheet, Captain?

Yes.

Weight is 77,272 kilos.

0.2 feet out of Dayton.

Good, good.

Thank you. Now, let's see about the weather.

I can't tell you that without the papers.

They're on the desk.

Oxygen on.

Red pumps on, booster pumps on, flaps 20%.

Clear to take off, climb on course.

Clear to Calcutta 42000 feet, sir.

Thank you.

RPM checks at 10,500 on all four, sir.

Fuel flow's okay,

engine pressure and temperature's normal.

Takeoff check completed, sir.

All set, Mr. Johnson?

All set, sir.

75 knots.

Nose wheel off.

118.

We're eating the runway.

Speed?

Still 118.

Won't come off.

It won't come off!

Brace yourself, boy!

Well, I'm off. Good night.

Good night, sir.

Captain Judd, hold it. Top priority.

"Priority X, Aurangabad.

Deeply regret to inform you..."

I think, sir, that we are already clear

from yesterday's proceedings

that the aircraft was properly loaded,

the papers were all in order, and the weather conditions

do not enter into it.

There remain only two possibilities:

mechanical failure on the part of the aircraft,

or human failure on the part of the crew.

And you will understand that, for obvious reasons,

I'm not in a position as I was last time

to prove categorically

that there was no mechanical failure.

And now, Mr. Robinson, in your official capacity,

you watched many Phoenix takeoffs from Aurangabad.

I have, yes.

And did you notice any peculiarity

in Captain Gort's takeoff technique?

He seemed to lift the nose wheel off the ground

sooner than the others.

Yes?

And at the end of the run,

he appeared to be more tail-down.

Thank you.

And in this particular takeoff,

did it seem to you that the same nose-high technique

was again employed?

Yes.

Did the aircraft appear to leave the ground?

It did not seem to. It carried on to the end of the runway...

Yes, yes,

with the nose still high in the air.

Yes.

And you can still hear as loud as ever

the high whining engine note at full takeoff power?

Oh, yes, just the same as usual.

Thank you, Mr. Robinson, that is all.

Sir Arnold, please proceed.

Well, sir, it was my intention at this stage

to call Captain Manningham, the fleet superintendent.

Unfortunately, he's ill,

suffering from a complete breakdown,

from which I'm sure we all wish him a speedy recovery.

I don't deny that there were certain questions

I wanted to put to him,

but in the circumstances, I have no option

but to call Captain Dallas.

Captain Dallas and I know one another, do we not?

We do, yes.

Now, Captain, on the occasion of our last meeting,

you said, if I remember correctly,

that the Phoenix is the most technically reliable aircraft

you'd ever flown. That right?

Yes, I did.

And I take it that nothing has changed your opinion.

Basically, no.

Uh-huh. Then you will agree,

I'm sure, that the crash of Victor Mike

bears a remarkable resemblance to that of Victor Fox.

There are certain similarities.

Certain similarities? Both were on the same runway,

both were at full load, and both were on a very hot night

and both were piloted by Captain Gort.

Now, surely you mean "remarkable similarities."

However, would you agree that the similarities

were such that you would assume

a cause common to both accidents?

In the case of Victor Mike,

I don't think you can assume anything.

We just don't know what happened.

But we've just heard from Mr. Robinson

that Captain Gort alone among the Phoenix pilots

habitually assumed a nose-high attitude on takeoff.

I'm afraid I can't accept that.

It's quite impossible to judge from navigation lights,

particularly on a wet night.

Yes, well, let's go back to the time

where after the first accident,

Captain Manningham

asked you to check Captain Gort out on the Phoenix.

That's right, isn't it?

Yes.

Now, officially, of course, this had nothing to do with you,

but privately didn't you think that it would be much wiser

to take Captain Gort off the Phoenix?

I don't see why,

if a pilot wants to go on flying and is checked out

as perfectly satisfactory.

Yes, well, here's your check report from 65 items.

It appears Captain Gort did very well.

Exceptionally well.

But however well he did, wasn't there a chance,

however slight, that he might make

the same sort of mistake again?

No, a pilot never makes the same mistake twice.

Never? That's a very sweeping statement.

It's what I believe to be true.

Captain Dallas,

how old was Captain Gort?

I'm not sure.

Would it surprise you to know that he was 51?

Yes, it would.

He was young for his age, extremely fit.

In fact, on one occasion

it was his strength that undoubtedly saved...

Yes, yes, well, after reading this very flattering report,

it was plainly your considered and expert opinion

that he was safe to go back on the route.

Yes, it was.

Captain, are you the only instructor on the Phoenix?

Yes.

So if the necessity arose for a second check

on Captain Gort, there would've been no question

of it being carried out by anyone but you.

No.

But if Captain Manningham had asked someone else

to do the check,

I suppose everyone including yourself

would've thought that he didn't trust your judgment.

I suppose so, yes.

But, of course, nothing like that entered into it.

Did it?

No, it didn't.

Thank you.

Thank you, Captain Dallas, that is all.

Charlotte.

Charlotte, I think they'll blame him again.

They can't...

They can't.

I can't bear it, Hugh. It makes him look such a fool,

making the same mistake twice, but he didn't.

You know that. They've no right to blame him.

It's like boshing out all his life, everything he lived for.

If he is blamed, then I'm to blame, too.

I checked him, I said he was all right.

He was all right.

And he was right the first time, too.

I don't believe he made a mistake.

He was a wonderful pilot.

Everyone said so.

He'd never have done anything

that wasn't 100% accurate.

He had a mania for it, everything had to be done

according to the book.

It used to be a family joke.

Games I had when I was a child,

he'd take out the instructions

and we'd play them word for word.

No variations allowed ever.

They more or less proved

it wasn't the Phoenix or the weather.

It must have been the man.

He must have done something wrong.

Perhaps something that wasn't in the book.

Why couldn't the book be wrong?

That's it! The book was wrong.

Don't you see that's what it was?

That can't be. You don't know what you're talking about.

All right, I won't say any more now.

Hugh, I want to go home alone. Sorry.

Announcing departure of flight 339 to Rome,

Cairo, Aurangabad, Calcutta and Singapore.

Well, here's your big moment.

I remember the first one I took out. Good luck.

Oh, Captain Bateson?

Yeah?

You're wanted on the telephone.

Oh, thanks. Have a good trip.

Yeah.

There's something wrong somewhere.

Knowing Gort, it doesn't add up.

There must have been how many Phoenix takeoffs,

what, 10,000?

Oh, something like that.

But the only two at full load in very high temperatures

both resulted in crashes, both piloted by George.

Seems inconceivable.

He couldn't have made the same mistake twice.

Unless it really was getting too much for him.

No, he was the steadiest pilot we had.

It makes you wonder if the results

of the first inquiry were right.

Wasn't there something about a ropy landing

somewhere recently?

I thought it was funny Gort making that kind of rumor.

Well, Judd may have had a hand in that.

There was a ropy landing, all right.

He hit the hedge at Calcutta.

They took this off his wheels when he pulled up.

The short runway, I suppose.

The short runway? At Calcutta?

That's why Judd was so steamed up.

Well, there's no hedge on that side of Calcutta.

There's a fence.

You sure?

Well, of course I'm sure.

I was stuck there for a couple of weeks once

for an engine change.

Used to walk around the place twice a day for exercise.

Now, just a minute, let's get this straight.

Do you know what you're saying?

If this didn't come off the hedge at Calcutta,

it must have come...

Aurangabad. Yeah.

There's a hedge there, all right.

Now, Braddock was on that trip.

He told me Judd did the takeoff at Aurangabad.

That means he must have hit the hedge.

Taking off, yeah.

You know, this could make a hell of a difference.

The thing they got Gort for last time

was that he was the only pilot to have trouble taking off.

Looks now as if he wasn't.

Yeah, and how many near-misses have there been?

The pilots never report them, you know that.

Sometimes we don't even know we've had them.

You know, Jock, if we're right about this,

it could happen again.

You're duty crew, aren't you?

Yeah.

Now, Captain Judd, I won't keep you very much longer.

Shortly after Captain Gort returned to the route,

a fact of which you did not entirely approve...

I didn't say that.

You instituted a system of route checking

for pilots on service, and among others,

you checked Captain Gort.

Yes.

And found him, I expect, as Captain Dallas had done,

perfectly safe to fly the Phoenix.

That's very much a matter of opinion.

Yes. And now, since you didn't write a report,

I must ask you if anything happened to confirm your belief

that picked men... only picked, new men... should fly the Phoenix.

Well, Captain Gort did come in a bit low at Calcutta.

Does that mean dangerously low?

I think his wheels must have brushed the hedge because...

Yes, yes.

Captain Gort hit the hedge coming in to land at Calcutta.

Now, when you returned to England,

you asked the company to give Captain Gort another check.

That's right.

And they agreed?

Yes.

But before it could take place,

Captain Gort had flown out again, rather unexpectedly.

Yes.

Am I right in supposing that Captain Dallas

was going to do this new check?

Captain Judd, will you please answer my question?

Captain Judd, I must insist upon your answering.

Not Captain Dallas.

No, Captain Bateson.

Thank you, Captain Judd. I'm very much obliged.

But what are you going to do?

I've taken a room.

I can't stay here.

I'm going to store all the things until I can sell them.

I've tried to call you here this afternoon.

I went to the.

It's six o'clock, miss.

We'll have to come for the rest in the morning.

Yes, all right.

Goodnight, miss. Goodnight, sir.

Sure there's nothing I can do?

No, Hugh, no thank you.

There are times when I feel

I don't even want to see you.

I'm trying to forget,

but you make it all come back.

The moment you're gone... I'm sorry.

That's part of what I've tried

to make you understand about father.

Everything planned to the last detail.

But you have made me understand.

Poor father... I never did keep them up to date.

I'll go. That'll be Bateson. I hope you don't mind,

I told him I was coming around here.

I'd rather not see him.

You don't have to.

You stay here.

Hi, Jock.

I've seen all the pilots who were in, seven of them.

They were all a bit cagey about it,

but five of them admitting

they don't fly quite to the book for takeoff.

How?

Not every time,

but always when it's hot and they're really heavy.

Seems they keep the nose wheel on the ground longer,

and unstick later than it says.

Five out of seven.

Oh, of course, I don't know about the others

out on the route... except Braddock.

Yes, you're right.

Gort did most of his training.

He'll fly strictly to rule for certain.

That's only 20 percent who follow the book.

Why didn't the others tell me about it?

You wait till I have a chance to talk to them.

And what about you?

Me? Oh, well, to tell you the truth...

Well, when it's hot and we're heavy,

I hold it down to the end of the runway, too.

Oh, you do, do you?

I do it by feel.

Oh, you know how it is. Instinct, if you like.

Yes, well, maybe you're right.

Because those who don't are damn lucky

they never had maximum weight on a hot night.

If it hadn't been Gort, it could have been any of them.

The inquiry will have adjourned by now. I'm meeting Judd.

I'll be with you in a minute.

Thank you, Matty.

Ah, I got you a beer.

Thanks. Need one.

Cheers.

Look, let's go over here.

How was the inquiry?

As you'd expect.

I was there this morning, heard part of your evidence,

then I had to leave.

You're lucky. Went on quite a bit.

I heard what you said about takeoffs,

that no one had any trouble except Gort.

That's right.

I've been thinking about that check you did on him.

You did the takeoff at Aurangabad.

I believe I did. Why?

It was a hot night, wasn't it?

And you were pretty heavy.

I think we were. But what...?

Did you notice anything peculiar?

No, why?

Did you use a lot of runway?

Heavy? Hot? Yes, of course.

You remember that piece of hedge you brought back?

Yes, what about it?

It didn't come from Calcutta. It came from Aurangabad.

What?

There is no hedge at Calcutta.

You're saying I hit the hedge on takeoff.

Yes, I am.

You took that piece of hedge all the way to Calcutta

tucked up in your wheel-well.

What are you driving at, Hugh?

Just that you very nearly didn't get airborne that night.

You're lucky to be here.

Assuming you're right, which I don't...

Now, just tell me one thing.

Was that takeoff according to the book?

Yes, of course. I always...

Don't you see then, if it could happen to you,

it could happen to anybody.

One day, there's going to be another crash.

I'm going to see Pickering.

See him, by all means, but...

Personally, I think the best thing to do

about this business is to forget it.

Or learn from it.

Who's there?

Hello, Nigel.

I heard you were coming. Judd telephoned.

Then you know why.

I know what you're going to tell me

and I think you're wrong.

Then show me something.

What?

Report of the takeoff trials you've been doing

in Khartoum.

What do you know about them?

I saw the file in there, it was empty.

Hot weather trials, weren't they?

I can't show them to you.

They belong to my company.

Anyway, they're highly technical.

But you learned something.

Look, Hugh, I couldn't begin to explain

unless you had a course in aerodynamics

and done years of research.

That may sound like a school master.

What I'm trying to say is you are a pilot, I'm a scientist.

When I give you an airplane, you can fly it.

You forget it's the result of months

and years of grinding work and uncertainty.

Every idea I have has to be checked

and rechecked and then checked again.

Do you realize how many parts there are to a Phoenix?

Over 48,000.

I deal in facts, and you expect me to authorize changes

on a theory. It's not as easy as that.

But there's something wrong, I know it.

Not with the aircraft, but the way we fly it.

And you're worried, I know that, too.

Of course, I'm worried.

I'm always worried, even when there are no accidents.

And that's why you did the trials in Khartoum.

You can forget Khartoum. There's no mystery about it.

That was just one of a dozen tests I have to make.

Look, I can tell you this much.

We're considering the possibility...

The possibility, mind you...

Of raising the unstick speed.

In certain conditions, of course.

And you'll authorize the changes

when the inquiry's over and it can't harm the Phoenix.

That's not fair and you know it. I must be certain.

Why do you think I spent half my life in this tunnel?

It could affect other things.

The nose wheel, for one.

There's a limit to what it can stand.

I want the answer as much as you.

God knows I'm working to that end.

I'm sure of that, but meanwhile, right or wrong,

Gort takes all the blame and his daughter

has to live with it.

And I'm haunted by the fear of someone else

trying to get airborne and failing

because he did what I told him.

I'm sorry. I suppose we all have our private nightmares.

Temperature, density, altitude.

Weight maximum all up.

Man, it's like a Turkish bath out there.

Full load, sir. Need a lot of runway.

What?

It's not all that number of passengers, is it?

It's a full load of freight, sir.

Gives you maximum permissible.

Let's have a look at the book.

The graph says 5,300 feet of runway,

unstick speed 118 knots.

Mr. Roberts.

Sir?

Unstick is exactly 118.

When you call the speeds for lifting the nose wheel and

for the unstick,

give me the exact readings.

Okay?

Right.

Oxygen on.

Brake pumps on.

Booster pumps on.

Yes?

Yes, all right. I'll tell them in the morning.

Can I help you?

Please.

There we are, sir.

Thank you.

Phoenix Victor Extra, clear to take off.

Victor Extra, roger out.

Clear to take off, sir.

Clear to climb on course to Calcutta at 42,000 feet.

Thanks, okay.

RPM check at 10-5 on all engines, sir.

Fuel flow's okay.

Engine pressure's and temperature's normal.

Control tower.

Takeoff check completed, sir.

All set?

Yes, I have it, thank you.

Phoenix Victor Extra, urgent.

Okay, tower, pass your message.

Takeoff technique on Phoenix One aircraft

to be changed forthwith: add eight knots.

I say again, add eight knots to all unstick speeds.

Victor Extra, understand, add eight knots.

Nose wheel to be kept on ground

until just before unstick speed is reached.

Message ends.

Wilco, out.

What do you know? What's all that about?

Don't mind that now, we're late.

What's that give us?

Add eight knots, unstick speed 126.

126, give it to me exactly.

Yes, sir.

Nose wheel off.

126.

Undercarriage up.

Be no doubt, sir,

that the original inquiry must now be reopened.

I'm sure we are agreed that it can only lead

to the complete vindication of the late Captain Gort,

for whose qualities as a pilot

and as a man, we can only have the greatest admiration.

Thank you, Nigel.

Come on, I'll take you home.