THUNDERBIRDS - 6 episodes, 1965/66. First hour long series produced by Anderson, it was also the first series to be aimed at the family and not just kids. To this day the series has a cult following and has inspired a big budget screen version due to be released by Universal in the spring of 2004 directed by Jonathan Frakes (Will Riker from Star Trek-The Next Generation). The premise is a wealthy billionaire, Jeff Tracy, has created International Rescue, a secret base on an island somewhere in the Pacific disguised as a luxury resort home to house an array of rescue vehicles to help mankind. His 5 sons pilot the various vehicles, plus his semi-girl friend Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward carry out sometimes necessary undercover work.

Since the series was produced when James Bond was the big hit around the world, vehicles and radios are hidden everywhere, from photos on the wall that are really 2 way video screens to radios hidden in watches and teapots. The most unique item about the series is that an occasional character, an industrial spy and master of disgise called The Hood, is never mentioned by name in the series, never meets any members of International Rescue face to face, but is always trying to steal plans and photographs of the International Rescue vehicles and turns out to be their greatest enemy.

The vehices include:

Thunderbird 1 - Piloted by Scott Tracy, eldest son. Hidden under a swimming pool which retracts, it is the fastest vehicle traveling at 7.5 thousand MPH, it is normally the first ship launched. Similar to a fire chief, Scott usually decides what course of action is needed at the rescue site. Looking like a missile, Scott usually operates from the safety of an array of mobile radar equipment and radio relays at the rescue site while poor Virgil has to do most of the heavy work.

Thunderbird 2 - Piloted by Virgil Tracy. Similar to a "flying boxcar", Thunderbird 2 is housed in a mountain side and carries all the necessary heavy rescue equipment to the site. The entire center section of TB2 is really a portable hangers, called a Pod. There are 6 pods, each with different types of rescue gear depending on what the situation calls for.

Thunderbird 3 - Piloted by Alan Tracy, youngest of the brothers. Hidden under the Round house (a circular shapped building), TB3 is used not only used for outer space rescues but also for ferrying passengers and equipment to TB5. Alan is a one time race car ethusiast and also the love-lorn cry baby of the series.

Thunderbird 4 - Piloted by Gordon Tracy, TB4 is housed in Pod 4 and usually carried to the rescue site by TB2, but if necessary can be launched from TB2's mountain hanger. A small but powerful submarine, TB4 is used for underwater rescues.

Thunderbird 5 - Satellite normally manned by John Tracy (sometimes Alan), it is capable of receiving and relaying almost any radio call worldwide to International Rescue and its various crafts.

Fab 1-Driven by Parker, Lady Penelope's butler and ex-con, it is a pink Rolls Royce capable of fantastic speed and outfitted with enough gadgets to make James Bond jealous. Its bullet proof, can travel on retractable hydrofoils, snow skis, and outfitted with machine guns, cannons, lasers, tracking equipment and tether lines.