Eagle Transporter [Space:1999]: Century 21 Tech Talk [2.8] | Hosted by General Ed Straker [UFO]

Welcome to Series 2 of Century 21 Tech Talk, hosted by the former commanding officer of SHADO and head of the World Security Service - General Ed Straker!
In this briefing we’ll be learning about the Eagle Transporter, one of the most versatile spacecraft ever developed!
Starring Jon Culshaw as General Ed Straker
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[@jervishorton7372]

The most realistic and practical sci fi craft ever built. Its beauty and design still holds up TODAY.

[@moparchallenger749]

Agreed 👍

[@L8rCloud]

Yes. Why the lack of Gravity get in the way of a good 70s sci fi Space 1999 OR FLAIRS-IN-SPACE....space....space!

[@chrisgriffith1573]

That's funny you say that... I was just thinking the very same thing, until... they figured it would be powered by nuclear reactor jets... with no visible means of heat dissipation... then I was like, damn this thing is impossible!

[@Spacejockey426]

Hear, hear - agree completely! It's also very cool that the design has become a challenge for those that do animation renders in 3D in our digital age . . .

[@anathardayaldar]

Except for the part about it going 15% the speed of light.

[@iandeeley9033]

The Eagle Transporter is, without doubt, the BEST thing about Space:1999! Great design by Brian Johnson!

[@cswint21]

Definitely ! Especially Year 2 with more details design.

[@tedferkin]

I remember having a passenger module and lifter model when I was young. Probably my favourite toys.

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

I was watching videos of a convention of model spaceship builders, and noticed a few ships that share a design cue with the Eagle, noticeably the transporter Floyd and his team travel above the Moon's surface in (from 2001: A Space Odyssey), which has those distinctive triangular front windows with black painted panels beneath. I assume this is Brian Johnson's doing. He also worked on Alien. I bet the Narcissus shuttle is his design too!

[@dorkangel1076]

I loved the Eagle models.

[@johnbower7452]

I'd argue that maybe; just maybe Maya was; but the Eagle was awesome; and this explains how they had so many despite constantly losing them.

[@Rorschach.]

I have a fleet of 6 Eagles in my office, courtesy of Product Enterprise/Sixteen12. They give this old little boy much pleasure. Great video.

[@varanid9]

6?? All different configurations?

[@Rorschach.]

@@varanid9 Happily, yes. Transporter, Laboratory, Freighter (cannisters), Freighter (winch), Rescue & VIP. The transporter is an original PE release - still got the sticker on the box: £34.99 from Forbidden Planet.

[@varanid9]

@@Rorschach. Awesome. I remember back in the day trying to modify those MPC model kits. I had one with red stripes, one with a booster pack I had kit-bashed, a regular one and one without the passenger model where I had kit-bashed a winch assembly.

[@varanid9]

@@ooneybird27 MPC is still selling that?? Wow! I had 2 of them, one to build and another to use the side boosters to kit-bash a rocket pack for one of my eagles.

[@miguelrivera3383]

I have the VIP Eagle, the standard passenger Eagle, two Medical Eagles, two Laboratory Eagles (one with Booster), and another passenger eagle en route. These are a mix of Product Enterprise and 16/12. Im also working on obtains two freighter Eagles. These are timeless craft and I’ll never tire of them…

[@stephenpochly7003]

The models and effects were the Anderson team at their very best.There has not been any better on any other sci fi tv show

[@AllThingsFilm1]

So, you've never seen the recent Star Trek shows? Or Battlestar Gallactica? Or The Expanse? Or The Mandalorian? Yes, for their time, the effects for Space:1999 were good. But, not better than more recent shows.

[@brianartillery]

Modern effects are generally CGI today, and ironically, they age far quicker than real, physical effects. CGI of five years ago looks dated. Physical effects look ageless. I'd rate Brian Johnson's 'Space: 1999' effects over modern CGI any day.

[@stephenpochly7003]

@@brianartillery I definitely agree there is just something about using models rather than CGI that just gives it a stronger look

[@brianartillery]

@@stephenpochly7003 The brilliant 2009 movie 'Moon' used physical effects and models, as director Duncan Jones (the artist formerly known as 'Zowie Bowie') had a limited budget, and had been a fan of the work of Gerry Anderson. Indeed, I think that some of Anderson's FX guys worked on the movie.

[@pendarpr]

@@brianartillery Just see the Babylon 5 CGIs

[@darrensmith6999]

Love the Eagle has to be one of my favourite space craft. Remember watching Space 1999 as a kid when it came out and i was convinced they were real they looked so convincing superb special effects by Legend Brian Johnson. I actually have a sighed autograph of him holding a model of an Eagle.

[@marcogallostampino2063]

🤝 anch'io per un piccolo periodo ho sperato che le creavano veramente.Sono stati capaci di creare lo Space Shuttle e la Buran dell'Unione sovietica.👏👏💪👍

[@epiendless1128]

0:59 "Eagle production facility beneath the Lunar outpost". I always believed that one of Alpha's roles was as a manufacturing base, because manufacturing things outside Earth's gravity well is a damn good reason to have a Moonbase. It's a pity that such an obvious answer to "why don't they run out of Eagles?" was never made clear onscreen. Thanks for finally mentioning it!

[@nuk1964]

Star Trek:Voyager had similar problem in explaining the seemingly inexhaustible supply of shuttlecraft. While it would be natural to assume that there must've been some manufacturing capacity to exist on Moonbase Alpha, can't say the same for the starship Voyager. It would be natural to assume that manufacturing capacity (as well as mining/refining/processing facilities) would also be in place for Moonbase Alpha to exist. Although one could say the matter replicators on Voyager could do the same -- but that would require tremendous amounts of energy (and I'd estimate that it would far exceed the energy required to operate food replicators and holodeck -- although the point of needing to ration the use of them was made early in the first season, this story aspect was quickly abandoned by the writers).

[@jamesricker3997]

There was an episode where they mentioned that they had just completed manufacturing a completely brand new Eagle

[@mayo250]

The show lost 19 Eagles in total, out of 29.

[@crimsondynamo615]

As it turns out the moon is actually hollow and it is full of eagles

[@Moondog-wc4vm]

@@crimsondynamo615 PMSL. Best internet ever!

[@jakedee4117]

I can only hope that General Ed Straker gives us a full briefing on the advanced technology that fused orchestral and funky to create the music for both Moon Base Alpha and SHADO

[@nordicson2835]

I had a model of the Eagle , my uncle was a model railroad fan. He built me a bunch of pods for a birthday , they were awesome.

[@TeargasHorse]

My absolute FAVORITE toy I had! Watch the show and act out the scenes with it, it was great!

[@directeducation2890]

When I was young, in the 70s, I wanted an Eagle. I don't mean a model -- I mean a real one! Great for travelling to school and inspiring awe and wonder in my peers. It displaced the Star Trek shuttlecraft as the object of my tech lust.

[@stardude2006]

The Eagle is a brilliant design , so well thought out I’m sure with the proper funding and research we could build a craft like it today I think Brian Johnson is a genius !

[@anthonybranch4712]

I have thought the same thing for decades.

[@stardude2006]

@@anthonybranch4712 Thank you

[@stardude2006]

@SnappyJon You’re such a Buzzkill.

[@monicabello1962]

They will, it's a matter of time, probably we will see the beginning of a real moonbase by the end of this decade.

[@stardude2006]

@@monicabello1962 That would be awesome I’m not giving up on that dream

[@OdeeOz]

I love it that the Anderson Legacy lives on. Please keep these tidbits and more coming. 💯👍🏼👏🏼

[@Juan_V_Herrera]

I've been playing Empyrion Galactic Survival for some time, and I was having problem thinking how to build (model) my own Capital Vessel, and this video popped up among my "recommended". Now the nostalgy hits by watching this, I was a kid when this series was broadcasted in my country. The simple design makes it an easy model to craft in my game. Thanks.

[@evablouseblanche112]

Good idea, and I assume it has been carried out allready, though if I may suggest the similar video game Space Engineers could allow you to build on such ship even closer to the "real" ones, I don't believe Empyrion allows you to switch out the module and cockpit at will does it ? Been a while since I played it ^^

[@RichardinSiam]

I remember getting two of the diecast models as a child. They were like treasure!

[@Spacejockey426]

One of my favorite spacecraft designs of all time, as it genuinely seems to be utilitarian.

[@stephenfarthing485]

The manufacturing process on Alpha can replace lost Eagles ! As long as there's materials available to replace them. I suspect that was possible due to the underground facilities under part of the base.

[@oldschool1928]

I just turned 52 years old, now I'm getting flashbacks from when I was 7. I had the large Eagle 1 toy and the Space: 1999 lunch pail. Great sci-fi TV memories before the Star Wars era began.

[@sartainja]

Superb. Excellent spacecraft only behind the ships of Star Trek. Have the Mattel Eagle made in 1976. Got it for Xmas. Still in the box with the majority of the accessories.

[@rcschmidt668]

I received that Eagle for Christmas that year and enjoyed playing with it for a year or so, until one of my friends made it fly, and it broke.

[@rosalindacaseley6996]

Excellent!!! We need a reboot of this 😎

[@ACtheLegend]

Check out the Big Finish series!

[@whos-the-stiff]

One of the most practical ships in the whole of science fiction. Have loved the eagle all my life. Such top notch special effects for its time.

[@average_joe4558]

This video is definitely a labor of love for the Eagle Transporter. Even today I can’t take my eyes off of it when I see it.

[@davidweaver4702]

Always loved the Eagles. Just wish I could afford one of the BIG Eagle replicas 😔 Thanks for another great Tech Talk guys. Looking forward to receiving my Special Supercar pack in March 😀 Keep safe and healthy all. Best wishes, Dave W 😊

[@nuk1964]

At least the injection-molded plastic kits are in the affordable range (for most folks). The old MPC/Airfix (approximately 1:96 scale) one wasn't bad for its age. The 22" one from Polar Lights is indeed a gem (though obviously more expensive), and the new tool 1:72 scale is quite nice (and corrects the number of the deficiencies in the old MPC/Airfix kit -- e.g. incorrect framework in the engine section, the "cage" structures aren't open framework -- you painted the "open" sections black, the oleo section of the landing gear wasn't depicted). The new tool 1:72 is a nice companion piece. All of these are still available (as are the numerous accessory kits like turned aluminium engine bells and detail parts, a nuclear waste disposal site diorama accessory set in scale with the 22" model, etc.) The model kit from Imai (approximately 1:110) comes in a nice box. Also it has the best in play potential (the different parts -- the superstructure, the passenger pod, nose, and engine section could be detached and re-arranged in different combinations). From there it goes downhill. Older versions of the kit have rubber tires. The (long out of production) Eagle model form Centuri Engineering was a blow-molded nosecone for a model rocket. www.ninfinger.org/rockets/catalogs/centuri76-2/762cen16.html speaking of Centuri Engineering... there's another kit that could be of inerest to fans of Gerry Anderson -- the X-24 Bug www.ninfinger.org/rockets/nostalgia/72cen018.html (there's something about the geneeral shape that seems.. familiar. Instructions indicate that it could indeed fly without the fins -- so you could potentially build it with only a reduced-size vertical tail) Although the X-24 Bug is long out of production, there's a recent version of it available from Squirrel Works www.squirrel-works.com/catalog/xrv/xrv.html

[@nuk1964]

Would also be nice to have a model of the NASA Hyper III ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Hyper_III ) -- I think it might look good painted in red.

[@circuitsandcigars1278]

Still got my big Eagle minus one engine nozzle. No box or figures

[@nuk1964]

@@ooneybird27 The Mark IX Hawk appears in the season 1 episode "War Games"

[@nuk1964]

@@ooneybird27 Some mysteries of the Mark IX Hawk: 1. There doesn't appear to be any hatch for entry/egress of the crew. 2. It appears to lack any form of landing gear -- perhaps there's a special "cradle" from which it would launch and land?

[@Neo_Rane]

I grew up watching Thunderbirds, Stingray, Joe90, Captain Scarlett, U.F.O. and Space 1999. These shows always captivated me. In 1977, I went to the cinema to see Star Wars and I just couldn’t get into it,... no disrespect to George Lucas but it just did’nt do it for me. I guess I just preferred Gerry and Sylvia Andersons style of genius! Thank you for the memories.

[@epiendless1128]

When my mother was forced to take me to see Star Wars, she opined that it wasn't a good as the sci-fi on television. I denied it (to cover up my disappointment), but secretly agreed with her. I preferred Space: 1999!

[@paulspringett7600]

I'm with you Paul....UFO was my favourite though...I'm 58 now but it seems like yesterday

[@Neo_Rane]

@@paulspringett7600 I’m with you as well Paul, even the same age...... 58! UFO was also my favorite of the Andersons shows, I guess at the ripe old age of 8-10 years, I enjoyed the more serious, mature format. The UFO alien craft looked and sounded amazing back then and still does in my opinion. Ed Bishop and the rest of the cast were perfect in their respective roles.

[@sroberts8560]

I liked the Eagles but prefered the Mk IX Hawks more. But as a kid seen Star Wars as well but found myself likening that Japanese cartoon known as Starblazers more. Still like Space 1999 and consider it more hard fiction than Star Wars which is just fantasy fiction. Then I realize my favorite sci-fi are more hard fiction than anything else. And I think Space 1999 should be up there and can't see how I've over looked it in my rankings all these years.

[@Neo_Rane]

@@sroberts8560 Space 1999, also a great sci-fi series, with the Eagles being another of my all-time favourite ships! You are right,.. the Mk IX Hawks were another great looking craft, very similar to the Eagle, but a more aggressive looking pointed nose cone. Really glad that Hollywood hasn’t got its $$ making sights on a remake of Space 1999 and turning it into another piece of rubbish like they did with the 2004 Thunderbirds movie remake. Hopefully they’ll leave this classic alone.

[@reubendobbs8011]

I got a couple of refurbed dinky eagles most of the parts broken or missing so I made all the bits, the pod the cargo and crane still a great model

[@johnashton4776]

Don't remember seeing the bay in so much detail pity a new version of this show hasn't been done again.

[@ACtheLegend]

Check out the Big Finish series, it's great :)

[@volvlov759]

Such a cool ship from a great show. That don’t make sci-fi like that anymore.

[@varanid9]

Sadly.

[@rcschmidt668]

I loved seeing the Eagle fly from Moonbase Alpha as a kid. This video, in this brilliant format, brought back some of that joy. Thanks for sharing!

[@lezking5060]

I'd love to see more pictures (other angles) of the Lunar Transit Module, mentioned at the start of this video!

[@OH8STN]

Thank you for a lifetime of good memories.

[@crazya3466]

This is going to be awesome can't wait,still a geek of the 70s👍 .. cA

[@darrensmith6999]

Me too (:

[@kymmoulds]

Very informative and very well done. Many thanks and BIG thumbs up.

[@stevebridge8668]

Brilliant - some great reference images there - many thanks! 👏

[@stephenrobertson6025]

I love this ship, such a classic design. I have one of the Product Enterprise 12" versions on display on my bookshelf and it's one of my favourite models. I wish I'd had more money when they first released and grabbed the labratory eagle set and the freighter variant too. All these models go for silly money now!

[@kvnvk8947]

I splurged and got both the rescue and laboratory eagles when they were available, debated for awhile about also getting the transport eagle, but they were already a bit pricey even back then. I did actually run across a transport module for sale a few years later and kind of kick myself for passing on it.

[@Trek001]

General Straker forgot Simmonds' shuttle in Breakaway - that had different external markings and appeared to be in a VIP configuration.

[@ACtheLegend]

Didn't forget it, it's in there near the start, just not terribly different from regular pod :)

[@varanid9]

@@ACtheLegend Important differences: the seats had naughahyde covers and 14 karat gold trim with reclining backs, electric massage capability and Dolby speakers. Also, a hot stewardess served alcoholic drinks and caviar. The toilet came with a paper strip across the seat.

[@davidvanniekerk356]

Dankie/ Merci for this video Gerry Anderson. I recall this op South African TV. The program was in the Afrikaans languedge. It was here in 1978/ 1980 about. It was fantastic. (The country and the movie. I was glue to the TV, as a kid!!!!)

[@TheJoefussGarage]

Why yes, it does still hold today, quite well... A sequel to this story, would a great fun exercise!!

[@frankberry6220]

I wonder if anyone considered a series based around what would have happened on Earth if the Moon left so hurriedly?

[@peterjf7723]

That would have been a dramatic disaster series. Serious disruption of climate and tides.

[@frankberry6220]

@@peterjf7723 Indeed, but assuming nation-states that are mostly or entirely land-locked would not suffer as much as those with coastlines, there could be a rich political aspect to portray as well.

[@mshnman]

Interesting question. I'm not sure more than a movie or perhaps a mini-series would need to be made. It might take some time to adapt to the changes, or we die out. Without tides, the oceanic currents would probably slow or stop altogether. The core would begin cooling at an alarming rate, since the gravitational pull of the moon wouldn't be causing geothermal friction. Mars is a prime example of that, and we know how important that is for the magnetisphere protecting us from solar radiation. However the thing that would kill us the fastest would probably be large meteors or small asteroids. The moon is our flypaper, and it pulls objects to it, saving us from frequent collisions. It's likely near constant strikes could eject debris into the atmosphere, and a "nuclear" winter could set in. If there was a show/movie made, perhaps it could be about putting a replacement Moon into orbit around the Earth in order to save it.

[@peterjf7723]

@@mshnman Realistically the amounts of energy required to blast the Moon from orbit would result in its destruction, I doubt that after such an event that the Earth rwould remain intact and compatible with life. Both Earth and Moon would likely be left as molten rocks.

[@frankberry6220]

@@mshnman Probably not a comedy then.

[@licencetoswill]

reboot this !! and the Jetsons !!

[@ricardoterreroslazo8017]

1999 was one of my favorite Sci-Fi TV series, seen on the 70's I like the models and specially the Eagles

[@anthonybranch4712]

Have always loved the practicality of this design. (Yes, I understand about the fuel storage issues.) For my money, this craft, the Starfuries from Babylon 5, and the ships from the Expanse (which I am only now starting to watch), are craft that, from a physics standpoint, we COULD BUILD with current technology. And if we did, the spaceframe would (basically) perform just as it does in the show.

[@lenzielenski3276]

Actually, NASA/JPL did consult on Star Furies and were said to believe the design very practical and functional.

[@seankayll9017]

Best scifi ships: Eagle, TOS Enterprise and 2001 Discovery.

[@chrischeshire6528]

I'll agree with that. The Eagle was very realistic, so much that NASA is working on building one.

[@LoneBrowncoat]

@@chrischeshire6528 ......Proof please.

[@chrischeshire6528]

@lone browncoat. The article was written in InterestingEngineering. "NASA working on Space 1999 Eagle."

[@varanid9]

I'd replace Discovery with the Jupiter 2; Discovery just hits too close to home.

[@youtubeshowedmehow7546]

I still have my toy Eagle. Its a metal cast with a storage module. But the command module is green? What was the significance of that? I still think that of all sci-fi space ships this is the one that looks like it could actually be a possibility if it were real.

[@mtrich8113]

I never looked at the Eagles with this perspective before. They are so many that you don't notice have different configurations.

[@stephenfarthing1522]

The Eagles could serve in a defence capacity. But was not a fighting craft. Eagles could be equipped with laser cannons and high explosive missiles. But yes. Exploration and transport was their principle role. The Mark 9 Hawks were stripped down versions of the Eagles. With a top speed of twice that of the Eagles. Equipped with pulse phased lasers. The Hawks were considered frontline fighters.

[@TommygunNG]

I was going to make the same note. Big omission in video.

[@notfeedynotlazy]

@@ooneybird27 S1E4 "War Games" - you even have a Hawks vs Eagles battle (which goes as well as you'd expect it to be).

[@tryarunm]

By far the best designed space craft ever. The command module exterior actually does resemble the eyes and beak of an eagle. What I remember most is my heart leaping into my mouth every time an Eagle had to manoeuvre desperately to evade attack, engines winding up in that sexy turbine whine! She seemed so vulnerable then, like an impala dodging a cheetah. I wonder how much mileage they accumulated. It would have been interesting to have had mentions in the odd episode of the challenges of maintaining the Eagles, retrieving and rebuilding crashed Eagles, and the Alphans having to mine the moon for minerals, rare elements or metals essential for the engines or sensors. P.S. Her trellis frame seems to have later inspired Ducati.

[@stevebushell4810]

Keep 'em coming 😊. Please try not to crash this one.

[@ryanstephenkristoferkearns1319]

Awesome vehicle and I have got a diecast model of one of Eagle transporters that appeared in season 2 episode 1 made by product enterprise/sixteen16.

[@free-birdrocker8809]

Eagles are some really sharp looking space craft. I wish our gang at nasa would develope one for a moon base up there, we were headed in the right direction with the space shuttle, but now we are going backwards with the cone and cylinder capsul, so I may never see anything close to an eagle in my life time, oh well, i still have a couple of highly detailed models on my book case and 1 hawk...Bravo Gerry Anderson on your eagle space craft design, home run bro!!!

[@Kaiserzeit1871]

Der Adler ist einfach ein Meisterwerk.

[@tonyrobinson362]

Well done, Commander Straker.

[@robertflynn7416]

I thought this was very well done and I would love to see more! My only surprise was that Jon Culshaw’s voice didn’t sound like Ed Bishop - Jon’s ability to mimic voices is nothing short of amazing so I wonder it was a conscientious choice to use more of his own natural voice?

[@ACtheLegend]

Bear in mind Straker is 40 years older than he was in UO in this video, which is what Jon's matching, and doing a darn good job :)

[@DJ_Sonic09]

I thought it was a decent impression (though admittedly it has been a while since I last watched UFO)

[@wescarr1526]

Jeff Ruble did a Mars Station Delta Manual with updated versions. Available at Barnes & Noble books.

[@timmitchell3870]

I'm not knocking Star Trek - but TOS ships look incredibly dated today. From the exterior, the bridge of the Enterprise and the platform it sits on always remind me of a 1960s model canister vacuum cleaner. 47 years later - and the 1999 Eagles still look awesome.

[@matt0044]

I like how Ed speaks in the hypothetical because of how the events of Space 1999 would not be privy to anyone on Earth and he only go over what had been done prior to the breakaway.

[@ACtheLegend]

Thank you for noticing, very much written that way on purpose :)

[@matt0044]

@@ACtheLegend You're welcome. It's a good detail. Though... what was the event Ed mentioned involving Earth surviving the Moon's departure towards the end? Feels like something that would link it to Terrahawks.

[@tonyp8427]

Love the Eagles thank you...Wasn't there a combat/armed Eagle variant as well?.. I remember there were also Swifts although I don't think they had any based on Alpha.

[@ACtheLegend]

Yup, there were indeed a few combat Eagles, armed with lasers and on one occasion a missile, though these modifications happened after the Breakaway event, so the General would be unaware of them :)

[@stephenfarthing485]

Eagles had a defence capacity. But the main roles were as defined. However, the Mark 9 Hawks were stripped down cousins of the Eagles and these were genuine warcraft. I would hope that we have a look at those, as well! Swifts were basically long range recon craft. With a huge engine configuration. I would say that looking at the Hawks would be a distinct possibility.

[@ACtheLegend]

@@stephenfarthing485 while the Hawk is cool and I prefer it to the Eagle, there's not really enough material to fill a Tech Talk briefing on it sadly :(

[@stephenfarthing485]

Well! There's no harm in being disappointed! But there's still enough technical information about the Hawks. Like for instance! It had a shorter range than the Eagles and had pulse laser weaponry. Crew was limited to 3. But a top speed of one third the speed of light. Which was just over twice the top speed of the Eagles. These were probably intended to replace the Shado Interceptors. And might have been a Shado Inspired fighter craft. So Andrew C ! There was just barely enough data to allow for a technical talk of Century 21 on it! After all!

[@ACtheLegend]

@@stephenfarthing485 yeah but try spinning that paragraph out to 5/6 minutes with very little footage to work with. I did consider it but had to drop the idea in the end.

[@atomsmash100]

The Eagle design was inspired. Anyone looking at this could see its plausibility.

[@brenglover72]

Not enough room for fuel

[@anthonybranch4712]

Not enough room for fuel to have it actually exercise the range depicted in the show, but surely enough for short hops here or there in a few-mile radius.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Great video!

[@DunestrikeMorgan]

this was my childhood. And im only 18

[@rodneykelly8768]

My favorite!

[@lencolgan987]

I've several of the old product enterprise eagles sitting around various locations here in moon base swanage 🖖😉

[@paulhudson8321]

I hope you Anderson folks are going to do a new series based on 1999 and UFO. With man returning to the moon and future Mars excursions we need a series.

[@ACtheLegend]

They are. Check out Space:1999 by Big Finish :)

[@cswint21]

I love the year 2 eagles with more details design.

[@NoMoreMyFriend-S]

This is brilliant,

[@judgegiant8951]

I'd never seen or heard of the Lunar Transit Module before seeing this video.

[@starsiegeplayer]

Do you think we could get an episode on the Hawk?

[@ACtheLegend]

Sadly theres not really enough material

[@riderstrano783]

Seriously, where can we find a full version of the ending song you guys use?!

[@ACtheLegend]

There is no full version, it's an excerpt from an episodic instrumental piece, rather than a variant of the opening theme :)

[@riderstrano783]

@@ACtheLegend thanks for the info, but my argument is still that we need a full version

[@paulaburrows8660]

The green Dinky Eagle was my favourite toy as a kid.

[@fishsquishguy1833]

Now I want to review file #041429! Great job!

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

Honestly besides the music the eagle is the most memorable part of Space 1999

[@colinmacmillan2944]

Nice to see they're still using slide rules in the future.

[@funkydozer]

Elon Musk could build an Eagle Transporter today and it would be accepted as a futuristic and fully feasible spacecraft. The design is so good it just doesn't ever seem to age. Even in metallic green like the toys, it was and is the best looking sci-fi ship ever designed.

[@2fathomsdeeper]

There are similar NASA lander designs, so the Eagle is not so far-fetched. The Eagle as a real craft may need to swap engines for legs, and no engines on the cargo pods. It would never land on atmospheric worlds, as it lacks heat shielding and enough fuel. It would work in low gravity from Earth orbit to lunar/asteroid surface. I disagree with the 102 ft length given, and agree with the 72 ft length. It would make the cargo pod about 30 x 16, which would fit on Starship. Starship would be best as a heavy lift shuttle between Earth and an Orbital Transfer Station in geosync orbit.

[@RobertWilke]

@@2fathomsdeeper from a conventional means yes it would run out of fuel. Now it these are some sort of nuclear fusion rockets they mentioned. Thats a whole other story. With enough thrust they could enter the atmosphere without dealing with friction. Still a great design I'm surprised no one has try to make for space travel.

[@VBaskin2010]

I Can't wait for the SpaceHawk!

[@Odessia-ij5ys]

I have many models of the Eagle

[@ace280671]

Nice Tech Briefing! I didn’t know I was a director....😁 Another time, another place, perhaps

[@ACtheLegend]

You're also an accomplished children's author! :)

[@ace280671]

@@ACtheLegend 😁 Ah, I used to work in a bookshop and I’ve just remembered your books. I’ll have to check them out properly!

[@stevenewman1393]

😎👍Very cool indeed.

[@fallenempire2334]

The eagle one of the best space crafts ever made

[@LordKilchester]

I really hope the mention about how Earth survived actually turns up as a video. UFO was the superior show. I've tried rewatcing Space 1999 but the premise falls flat. Storing nuclear material on the Moon is never a good idea. Jettison it into the Sun. It would've been just as cheap. The Eagle is a cool concept though.

[@lelandhetrick205]

Drama begins with plot weakness such as this. Was it sabotage?

[@anthonybranch4712]

Not to mention the slightly problematic issue that an explosion of sufficient magnitude on the FAR SIDE of the moon would've thrown the satellite TOWARD Earth, not away from it. (And probably broken the moon apart, for good measure.)

[@theturquoisedream9244]

This was fun

[@braderickson9996]

Whoa, wait a minute, Lunar Transit Module? Where did that come from? Has that been mentioned anywhere else? Need more info on that!

[@tonyp8427]

Will there be a tech talk about Alpha like the one we had for UFO moonbase?

[@davidrobertson5700]

Where was the laser equipped eagle , was it the red head eagle ? I will watch the series to recap, back later

[@ExcelsiorsDomain]

I can't add a link, but if you fancy a LEGO Eagle Transporter, have a look at my channel or just head to LEGO Ideas and search for it! Cheers!

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

Lab eagle looks cool.

[@jimavfc68]

The kind of iconic space models that Hollywood (like with their Thunderbirds abominations) just don’t understand.

[@ACtheLegend]

Hollywood had nothing to do with either Thunderbirds reboot and both had seriously cool ships.

[@BIGM-gg9ln]

eagles are very cool, thanks.

[@andrewmontgomery5621]

One of those Eagles were in the Red Dwarf episode Psirens.

[@litoboy5]

Amazing

[@brianmcguinness9642]

The Eagle is very visually appealing, as does pretty much all of the technology in the show. The fuel tanks look way too small for a vehicle designed to take off from an Earthlike world (compare the eagle with the size of the Saturn V for example). And I would think that an Eagle would be significantly weakened structurally by the removal of the central module. But the modular design definitely makes the vehicle far more flexible. I wonder if this idea was inspired by Thunderbird 2.

[@witkocaster]

You didn't mention weaponry of Eagles. I remember that they were equipped with lasers.

[@ACtheLegend]

Not prior to the pilot episode, so Straker wouldn't know that :)

[@gonfishing118]

As much as i love the Eagle , even as a kid in the 70s i could not understand the extra booster piggybacked on top . Would this not have provided thrust away from the main axis causing the poor Eagle to tumble ?

[@morganb6717]

great stuff of nostalgia and, while i appreciate these short but informative videos of yesteryear, i have noted a problem at the very start - the first words of the message instruct the database to "commense recording", yet the database recorded Straker giving said prompt...

[@ACtheLegend]

Dramatic licence :)

[@michielshub]

I love the purposeful design (no matter if it technically would hold up) and I was intrigued as a kid. I recently bought a fake Lego model of it called “Space one” and now it stands next to the Lego Millennium Falcon and the fake Lego Enterprise-D 😊

[@gan9e]

I made some 3D Eagles some years back now and had a blast flying them around the moons surface... I wanted to make a run & gun game from a working moonbase alpha with flyable Eagles and weapons etc... ahh well, back to to the world of dreams.

[@ErstO1]

That was cool

[@gz3zbz]

1:37 15% of the speed of light is about 45,000 km/s and yet they show a 102 foot spacecraft travelling its own length in 54 video frames or 2.16 seconds, not quite 52 km/h.

[@Angelsilhouette]

I always liked to imagine that the models had originally meant for the cross shaped landing gear to retract into the cross shaped recesses in their sponsons and that budget or technical limitations prevented it.

[@ACtheLegend]

That's correct!

[@monicabello1962]

In a vacuum environment a retracting landing gear is a waste of resources. It's more realistic as they made it.

[@IBITZEE]

This always seams to be a well thought and 'possible' ship (for near earth travel at least) according to our 'current' technology (Enterprise, Galactica and 'space-opera x-wings are a bit of a stretch for now) We just need to get those engines working!!!

[@jagdson2701]

Other explanations of the Eagle's transit characteristics mentioned a form of early, limited gravity manipulation. Was that overlooked, or simply not canon? If canon, it would explain the Eagle's range and atmospheric flight abilities. One highly suspects a little bit of leaked SHADO intel.

[@2fathomsdeeper]

Gravity manipulation is canon! It was mentioned in a episode.

[@Gram31435]

it kinda reminds me of thunderbird 2 But we will miss you gerry andreson

[@이호-f1m]

나래이션 담당하신 분 목소리는.... 어디서 많이 들어 본 거 같은데요. 혹시 제 기억이 맞다면 예전에 게임 타이파이터 브리핑 녹음 하셨던 분 아닌가요?