- “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 twentieth episode of the twentieth season.
Plot
When Hugo arrived on Sodor, he could not believe why none of the engines liked him. 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. James thinks it looks like a a hot air balloon. While Hugo follows the Zeppelin, 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 fly down the track again.
Characters
- Thomas
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Emily
- Hugo
- Skiff
- Annie and Clarabel
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Railway Inspectors
- The Welsh Bird Watcher
- Captain Joe
- A Schoolboy (cameo)
- The Lady with the Big Hat (cameo)
- Albert's Wife (cameo)
Locations
- Wellsworth
- Knapford
- MC BUNN
- Vicarstown Bridge
- Kellsthorpe Road
- Sodor Suspension Bridge
- Gordon's Hill
- Arlesburgh Harbour
- The Mainland (mentioned)
Cast
UK
- John Hasler as Thomas
- Keith Wickham as Henry, Gordon, James, the Fat Controller, a Railway Inspector and the Welsh Bird Watcher
- Nigel Pilkington as Percy
- Teresa Gallagher as Emily, Annie and Clarabel
- Rob Rackstraw as Hugo
- Jamie Campbell Bower as Skiff
- Bob Golding as a Railway Inspector
- Steven Kynman as a Railway Inspector
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 and Clarabel
- Keith Wickham as Sir Topham Hatt, a Railway Inspector and the Welsh Bird Watcher
- Bob Golding as a Railway Inspector
- Steven Kynman as a Railway Inspector
Trivia
- A reference to Engine of the Future is made.
- Some sound effects are omitted in the UK version.
- Thomas says that sometimes he dreams that he flies, that may have been a reference to the tenth season episode, Sticky Toffee Thomas and the nineteenth season episode, The Other Side of the Mountain.
Goofs
- Rasmus Hardiker is credited in the UK credits despite none of his characters speaking in that dub.
- When Hugo pulls into Knapford on the evening, the Fat Controller's hat is not rendered properly as it is invisible.
In Other Languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ヒューゴとひこうせん | Hugo and the Airship |
| Spanish | Hugo y el avión | Hugo and the Airplane |
| Polish | Hugo i Statek Powietrzny | Hugo and the Airship |
| Romanian | Hugo şi Dirijabilul | Hugo and the Dirigible |
| Turkish | Hugo ve Hava Gemisi | Hugo and the Airship |
| Czech | Hugo a vzducholoď | Hugo and the Airship |
| Portuguese | Hugo e o Dirigível | Hugo and the Airship |
| Russian | Мечты о небе | Dreams of the Sky |
| Hebrew | הוגו וספינת האויר | Hugo and the Airship |
| Italian | Hugo e il Dirigibile | Hugo and the Airship |
| German | Hugo und das Luftschiff | Hugo and the Airship |
| Dutch | Hugo en het Luchtschip | Hugo and the Airship |
Home Media Releases
UK/US
US DVD Boxsets
- Extraordinary Engines and Railway Friends Double Pack
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway - Airship Hangar
- TrackMaster - Hugo and Skiff and Winged Thomas
Episode
| #01 Sidney Sings | #11 Letters to Santa | #21 Henry in the Dark |
| #02 Toby's New Friend | #12 Love Me Tender | #22 Three Steam Engines Gruff |
| #03 Henry Gets the Express | #13 The Railcar and the Coaches | #23 Engine of the Future |
| #04 Diesel and the Ducklings | #14 Mucking About | #24 Hugo and the Airship |
| #05 Bradford the Brake Van | #15 Cautious Connor | #25 The Missing Breakdown Train |
| #06 Saving Time | #16 All in Vain | #26 Skiff and the Mermaid |
| #07 Ryan and Daisy | #17 Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks | #27 The Christmas Coffeepot |
| #08 Pouty James | #18 Tit for Tat | #28 Over the Hill |
| #09 Blown Away | #19 Mike's Whistle | |
| #10 The Way She Does It | #20 Useful Railway | |