1 9 8 6 – 1 9 8 7 (UK)
25 x 5 minute episodes
Jimbo was originally intended to be a Jumbo Jet, but his designer mistook inches and centimetres, resulting in his diminutive size.
The series featured various anthropomorphic airport ground vehicles, including Tommy Tow-Truck, Claude Catering, Amanda Baggage, Phil the Fuel Truck, Sammy Steps and Harry Helicopter.
Other plane characters occasionally appeared, such as Old Timer (a Wellington bomber) and Gloria (a female counterpart to Jimbo).
Stories were based around the (fictional) London Airport run by the irate “Chief” who frequently ended episodes screaming, “I want words with you, Jimbo!”
Storylines included Jimbo encountering a flying saucer hovering above London Airport, flying to Hawaii for a holiday, visiting the Australian outback, travelling to outer space to help a stranded astronaut, and being trapped inside the Bermuda Triangle and ending up in World War II.
A Christmas episode – “Jingle bells Jimbo” – featured Jimbo helping Santa Claus deliver presents all over the world in time for Christmas, when Santa’s sleigh was stolen.
In the final episode, the Airfield Administration decide to build another “Jimbo” for their fleet. To avert another mishap, the Aircraft Factory decide to build the new plane using computers – only this time, they mistake centimetres for yards.
Jimbo
Susan Sheridan
Various
Peter Hawkins
Episodes
The Little Big Problem | Trouble at Sea | First Time Fliers | The UFO | April Fools Day | The Old Timer | The Royal Visitors | Jet Lag | Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud | Holiday Weather | Winter Wonderland | Jimbo Down-Under | Jimbo and the Astronaut | Jungle Jimbo | Jimbo and the Whale | Bermuda Triangle | The Chief Gets a Rocket | The Controller’s Apprentice | Chinese Pandamonium | The Pennand Inca Story | Quiet Please | Jinglebells Jimbo | The Great Air Race | The Little Red Devil | The Computer Clanger