Hugo and the Airship

"It's much quieter than a helicopter or airplane. It's a bit like a big balloon."

- Emily and James, discussing the airship

Hugo and the Airship is the twenty-fourth episode of the twentieth series.

Plot
One day, the inspectors are inspecting Hugo, questioning his safety. Later, Henry sees a Zeppelin and thinks Hugo is flying. He tells the other engines but they question how Hugo is able to fly. When Hugo learns about it, he decides to go off after the Zeppelin. While Hugo follows it, he accidentally makes Skiff and Captain Joe go backwards with his propeller. Skiff compares Hugo's wish to fly to him being able to go on rails and sea. Thomas tells Hugo he has also had dreams of flying, but knows he is too heavy. Later, Hugo goes up Gordon's hill attempting to take off, but when he gets to the top, he goes down the other side. He keeps going over Gordon's hill again and again until the sun sets and he learns that Thomas was right. Later, he arrives in Knapford Station and asks the Fat Controller why he could not fly. The Fat Controller then explains to Hugo that he was built to be on the ground and is perfect for travelling by land. Hugo then thinks that might be right after all. He then gives an extra blast of his propeller to make Skiff and Joe fly down the track again.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Emily
 * Hugo
 * Skiff
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Captain Joe
 * The Three Railway Inspectors
 * The Welsh Bird Watcher
 * The Bird Watcher
 * A Schoolboy
 * The Lady with the Big Hat
 * Albert's Wife
 * The Female Puppet Show Entertainer

Locations

 * Island of Sodor
 * Wellsworth
 * Knapford
 * Knapford Station Yard
 * M.C. Bunn
 * Vicarstown Bridge
 * Kellsthorpe Road
 * Sodor Suspension Bridge
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Arlesburgh Harbour
 * The Mainland

UK

 * John Hasler as Thomas
 * Keith Wickham as Henry, Gordon, James, the Fat Controller, two Railway Inspectors and the Welsh Bird Watcher
 * Nigel Pilkington as Percy
 * Teresa Gallagher as Emily, Annie, Clarabel and the Little Boy
 * Rob Rackstraw as Hugo
 * Jamie Campbell Bower as Skiff
 * Bob Golding as a Railway Inspector
 * Steven Kynman as the Knapford Station Speaker

US

 * Joseph May as Thomas
 * Kerry Shale as Henry and Gordon
 * Rob Rackstraw as James and Hugo
 * Christopher Ragland as Percy
 * Jules de Jongh as Emily
 * Jamie Campbell Bower as Skiff
 * Teresa Gallagher as Annie, Clarabel and the Little Boy
 * Keith Wickham as Sir Topham Hatt, two Railway Inspectors and the Welsh Bird Watcher
 * Bob Golding as a Railway Inspector
 * Steven Kynman as the Knapford Station Speaker

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the fourteenth episode of the twentieth series.
 * As the episodes air out of production order, this episode, along with The Missing Breakdown Train, which likewise lacks the mermaid figurehead on the pirate ship, and Skiff and the Mermaid, in which the figurehead is added, aired after Blown Away and The Railcar and the Coaches, in which the figurehead is visible on the ship.
 * A reference to Engine of the Future is made.
 * Some sound effects are omitted in the UK version.
 * Thomas says that he sometimes wished and dreamed that he could fly, which is a reference to the nineteenth series episode, The Other Side of the Mountain.
 * On the Nick Jr. US broadcast of this episode, it was paired with Engine of the Future.
 * While looking at the zeppelin, James makes a indirect reference to the sixth series episode, James and the Red Balloon.
 * This marks Hugo's last appearance in an episode and speaking role, with his last appearance overall being Journey Beyond Sodor.

Goofs

 * Rasmus Hardiker is credited in the UK credits despite none of his characters speaking in that dub.
 * When Hugo pulls into Knapford near the end of the episode, the Fat Controller's hat is missing, but reappears in the next scene.

UK

 * Extraordinary Engines
 * The Complete Series 20

US/AUS

 * Extraordinary Engines

US DVD Boxsets

 * Extraordinary Engines and Railway Friends Double Pack

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway - Airship Hangar
 * TrackMaster - Hugo and Skiff

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