Ricochet
Alan's easily-raised jealousy picks a new target: the quintessential mile-a-minute talking DJ of the mid-60s (2060s, that is!)---Rick O'Shea.
As they work feverishly on the upgrade to Thunderbird 5, John and Gordon meld into one Tracy: John's mouth moves...but it's Gordon's voice which comes out. This makes John the only character to have three different voice actors: David Graham (in this episode only), Ray Barrett (the rest of the series and "Thunderbirds Are Go") and Keith Alexander ("Thunderbird 6").
The flaps and underside of Thunderbird 2 feature the number "2" and the designation "T2" on the port wing.
The song heard at the episode's end, "Flying High," was originally written to be heard over the closing credits during the series, but thankfully the decision was made to use Barry Gray's stirring march instead.
As a precaution should it be necessary, all of the Tracy boys can pilot all of the main crafts, hence we see Virgil in his one and only outing as an astronaut in Thunderbird 3. He's seen flying into space in the comics of the 1960's, though, in a refitted Thunderbird 2.
While the famous catch phrase "F.A.B." didn't really mean anything more than "message received," Stingray's phrase "P.W.O.R" meant "Proceeding With Orders Received" and Captain Scarlet's "S.I.G." meant "Spectrum Is Green."
Earlier Thunderbirds episodes were shot on a budget of around �22,000 each, but with the success of the series the budget shot up to �40,000 per episode.
Bicycle lamps bought at a local store near the Slough studios were used for the headlights on FAB 1.
There were two characters in the series with the same name: Richard (Rick) O'Shea in this episode and Richard (Dick) O'Shea in "Atlantic Inferno."
Lady Penelope's family are famous for the many priceless jewels they have collected over the years, but her ancestors have also been appreciative of fine art and have gathered many rare, museum-quality pieces.
Some of the lyrics to "Flying High," including "...feeling high as Thunderbird 5..." were too easily interpreted to have a broader, less innocent meaning. Beyond that, the line was rather silly in the context of the series since no one outside of International Rescue was supposed to know that the satellite was even up there!
Thunderbird 1 is highly identifiable even though no picture has been printed of it. It has the designation "TB1" on all sides of the ship and "Thunderbird 1" stenciled along the top side of the fuselage.
Also heard on O'Shea's show is a song by Michelle And The Asteroids; it's actually a reworked version of a tune from the episode "The Man From MI 5."
In keeping with the explosive nature of the series, what could be more natural than a falling space projectile and a huge refinery right in its path...?!
Tin-Tin and Virgil aren't too far apart, musically-speaking. After all, they both loved the tune "Dangerous Game," but just at different tempos.
The distinctive pink Rolls Royce, FAB 1, sadly meets an untimely end as Skyship One bites the dust, crashing to the ground in "Thunderbird 6."
Many letters were received by the producers of the series asking when Alan and Tin-Tin were to be wed, but Alan is adamant in "Thunderbird 6" that he wouldn't be down on one knee before Tin-Tin anytime soon.
This is the only story within the second season of the series in which neither Penelope or Parker appear.
Station KLA was inspired by the popularity of off-shore pirate radio stations in the UK, such as Radio Caroline.
Lady Penelope and Parker had become so popular during the run of the series that they starred off-screen in numerous comics and annuals published in the UK, Europe and Australia.
Jeff may sound rather sanctimonious as he rambles on about rogue satellites with his own cloaked ship floating above Earth, but IR's commander-in-chief received official permission to launch his "ears-in-the-sky" and it is registered with International Space Control.
The set for the ISC building was used in both "Cry Wolf" and "The Impostors" as satellite headquarters.
Unlike "F.A.B.," Tin-Tin's cute teenage-like hyperbole "minty" does not catch on as the catch-phrase of the Thunderbirds generation!
If there are any bets that Alan doesn't enjoy having trounced the object of Tin-Tin's girlish affections, his expression at the finale is a dead giveaway!