“Cone of silence” is a blind flying term signifying the correct approach position for an aircraft directed by radio control when weather conditions make it impossible for a pilot to see.
Bernard Lee plays Captain George Gort, a reliable, veteran, “fly by the book” pilot who is blamed when the (fictional) Phoenix jet airliner he is flying crashes at Ranjibad.
He insists that it was not his fault but is put through a gruelling flight test by Training Captain Dallas (Michael Craig) before he is allowed to resume his job.
Gort finds himself saddled with a verdict of “pilot error” which satisfies everyone except himself and his daughter Charlotte (Elizabeth Seal).
Nevertheless, certain employees of the airline are dubious about Gort’s ability even when he is officially commended for the way in which he brings a plane back safely after his windscreen has been shattered in a hailstorm.
Dallas, meanwhile, has fallen quite heavily for Charlotte and when Gort’s reputation as a pilot is once more unfairly at stake – following another crash, this time fatal – he does his utmost to exonerate him and finally establishes a fault in the plane’s flight instructions, narrowly averting another disaster.
It’s a fascinating and exciting suspense story with an exemplary cast.
Released in some markets as Trouble In The Sky.
Captain Dallas
Michael Craig Captain Clive Judd
Peter Cushing Captain George Gort
Bernard Lee Charlotte Gort
Elizabeth Seal Sir Arnold Hobbes QC
George Sanders Captain Manningham
André Morell Captain Bateson
Gordon Jackson Captain Braddock
Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell Nigel Pickering
Noel Willman Stewardess Joyce Mitchell
Delphi Lawrence Mr Robinson
Marne Maitland First Officer Joynson
William Abney First Officer
Jack Hedley Navigator
Simon Lack Navigator
Hedger Wallace Steward
Charles Mylne Steward
Howard Pays Commissioner
Ballard Berkeley Commissioner
Charles Lloyd Pack Controller
Homi Bode Controller
Anthony Newlands Aircraft Controller
Geoffrey Bayldon Miss Wright
Olga Dickie Sir Henry
Frederick Leister
Director
Charles Frend
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He insists that it was not his fault but is put through a gruelling flight test by Training Captain Dallas (Michael Craig) before he is allowed to resume his job.
