Commander Norman

"This I must see. International Rescue, you are cleared to land. Use Runway Two-Nine."

Commander Norman is the director of London International Airport. He has been present for several rescue operations carried out by International Rescue, including their very first (Trapped in the Sky).

Trapped in the Sky[]

In the first episode, Fireflash is sabotaged by The Hood, leaving the plane unable to land.

Commander Norman and his staff watch on helplessly as International Rescue saves the plane from disaster.

Operation Crash-Dive[]

Commander Norman was in the control tower of London International Airport for the launch of Fireflash 3, destined for San Francisco. When radio contact with its pilot was lost, Norman launched a major air-sea search effort, "Operation Seahawk" - but nothing of the missing airliner was ever found. Before the test-flight of Fireflash 4, Norman held a briefing with the crew and other guests.

Later on Commander Norman and the airport staff collaborated with International Rescue in a joint operation to uncover the causes of the FireFlash accidents.

Having previous experience with International Rescue from the events in Trapped in the Sky they were all very willing to work with them openly, including the Pilot Captain Hanson 1 of the 2 pilots from that incident in Trapped in the Sky(whom expressed gratitude towards IR and considered it a "privilege to pay you guys back this way")

In the end the results bore fruit as the news reported on the unmasking of an international gang of aircraft saboteurs the authorities had uncovered.

Edge Of Impact[]

Commander Norman was assigned to the "World Space Control Project" in order to assist Colonel Tim Casey in the Red Arrow aircraft trials. (The Central Control is based in the control tower at London and overlooks the Military side of the Airport.)

Alias Mr Hackenbacker[]

Commander Norman was present, along with Captain Saville and members of the press, at the test flight of Skythrust - a revolutionary new airliner, designed by Brains. The demonstration was witnessed from the roof of Building 67.

After the Skythrust demonstration, Captain Saville tells Commander Norman that "the plane is ready to go into service," and Norman agrees that the test "was most satisfactory."

The Mighty Atom[]

Commander Norman makes a cameo appearance at General Speyer's press meeting, in The Mighty Atom.

Trivia[]

JohnBlundall — Norman, under construction

The Commander Norman marionette appears earlier in the episode as a passenger in the Departure Lounge - London Airport.
Norman makes a cameo appearance in the film Thunderbirds Are Go, where he appears to have been promoted to the Space Exploration Board. He can be seen sitting to the right of Space Colonel Harris at the Space Exploration Center meeting.
He also appears briefly at the Press Conference (Australia) in The Mighty Atom, and as a gambler at the French Casino in The Duchess Assignment.
Norman's facial features look as though they were based on the late actor and novelist, David Niven.
The only person who ever calls him Norman is Colonel Tim Casey in Edge Of Impact. Everyone else calls him "sir".