Episodes
1. The Volunteer
January 2, 1977
50 min
In 1915 18-year-old Alan Farmer, a country blacksmith, joins the Royal Flying Corps, and meets Charles Gaylion, an upper-class officer who transferred in. Mistaken for an seasoned pilot, Alan is taken up in a training plane he cannot land.
Guest Stars:
Terrence Hardiman
2. Never Turn Back
January 9, 1977
50 min
Alan's training advances well, but he has to learn both military and flying skills, while Charles has already completed his pilot's training. On a training flight, Alan's engine fails on take-off, and he crash-lands the plane in a field.
3. Welcome To France
January 16, 1977
50 min
May 1915, and Alan arrives in St Marie, France. Some officers resent his lower class background. Alan and his friend Charles are reunited. On his first mission a German plane machine-guns them, and his observer, Bravington, is wounded.
4. Business As Usual
January 23, 1977
50 min
The old CO, Captain Dornish, is shot down. He is replaced by Captain Triggers. Enroute to the unit, Triggers learns the horrible truth of Dornish's fate, from a wounded Infantry Officer.
Guest Stars:
Richard Reeves
5. Speaking From Experience
January 30, 1977
50 min
Seeing the inadequacies of the planes, Triggers encourages the pilots and NCOs to put forward ideas for improvement.
Guest Stars:
Richard Reeves
6. Over The Top
February 6, 1977
50 min
Gaylion gets a taste of the horrors of life in the trenches when his plane is forced down and he must wait overnight for the arrival of a replacement propeller.
7. Time Out Of War
February 13, 1977
50 min
Alan and Charles are sent back to England to pick up a new plane, but on arrival they discover the plane is not ready. They stay at Charles' family home in London, and Alan learns more of the class differences between them.
8. The Hunters
February 20, 1977
50 min
Charles devises a method of fitting a Lewis gun to their plane, and Alan makes it a reality, but in their first aerial combat they find the design still needs work, when they shoot out some struts in their own plane.
Guest Stars:
Charles Rogers, Christian Rodska
9. New Deal
February 27, 1977
50 min
Alan helps Charles to capture a German plane and its crew. Entertaining the captured officers does not go to plan. The captured plane may be the perfect choice for a covert mission.
10. The Burning Question
March 6, 1977
50 min
A new German monoplane is causing massive losses and the British military hierarchy do not believe their planes are being so outclassed. The reason for their success is found from an unlikely source.
11. The Prisoner's Friend
March 13, 1977
50 min
On a reconnaissance mission with observer Conrad, Alan disregards Conrad's order to move closer to a German Eindecker, turns for home and avoids a confrontation. Conrad insists Alan be court-martialled for disobeying an order and cowardice.
Guest Stars:
Tim Pigott-Smith, Jeremy Child
