All language subtitles for Cone of Silence (1960)_sfxy-mrg

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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.

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