RTL 2 from ‘Thunderbirds’ (1965) created by Gerry Anderson

Another great looking aircraft created for just a single episode of ‘THUNDERBIRDS’. The RTL2 is a military aircraft - with USAF (United States Air Force) markings. It is a long range transporter and possibly some sort of spy-plane. The episode is mystery with cold war undertones. The plane’s precise role is not clear just that is engaged in top secret missions.

It is not stated what, if anything, RTL2 stands for. (I imagine the RT could be Rocket Transporter…) There are several aircraft depicted in the story and are all referred to as RTL2s, like a B52, and not RTL2, RTL3 etc.

This VFX model was customized and re-used again and again in subsequent Anderson TV shows ‘CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS’, where it appeared in civilian airliner livery and heavily modified. Some of this footage was re-used in ‘JOE 90’.

The design has been attributed as a joint effort between Derek Meddings and Mike Trim and appears to have been scratch built, Most likely created at Space Models who handled a lot of the featured aircraft and vehicles in the series and later feature films.