Where did they get that idea from?

[Marion]

Flicking through my TV21 Annual for 1969 (as you do), I came across this snippet in a section called 'Designs Unlimited'. It had 5 'new' machines for Spectrum, the WASPS, the USS, SSEC and IR (although it looks more like that is a Spectrum officer riding the bike rather than a Tracy brother!) The Spectrum machine was a vehicle with inflatable tyres for rescuing people from swamps, so it would appear that the annual compilers paid as much attention to continuity as the TV show producers
Anyway, I digress.
It occurred to me that maybe someone working on NCS saw this picture and then devised that motorbike that flies off Cloudbase... eh - Skybase (sorry, force of habit) I can't remember what it's called. Skyrider bike, is it? What do you think?

[Isabelle]

Yes, it looks like a Stallion a lot:



Thankfully, the designers made it so that the rider is not as cramped into the seat/cockpit! Imagine having to get up from that first design after riding for a while and having to run after a baddie!

[Marion]

I suppose the 1960s were the age of the miniature... everything from transistor radios to bubble cars But yes, I don't imagine the concept was popular with the colour captains, most of whom were 6 foot tall or there abouts... better stick to a proper plane.

[Carrie]

LOL, about the only thing they couldn't envisage in miniaturisation was the computer, or abandoning reel tapes...

[Marion]

No, they never quite got the hang of cassettes and tiny tape recorders did they?
I sometimes think the careful labelling of all the switches on the machinery would be a useful adaptation these days - I can never find the on/off switches any more!

[Carrie]

Oh, yes, the old HUGE sign on every switch and knob and button, looked so ridiculous at the time!

[chrisbishop]

Not to mention the sign over DYNAMITE or BOMB...

[Carrie]

Yes, the classic one of those had to be the bomb in Fireflash in Thunderbirds Trapped in the Sky!