- For the cloud structure, see Cloud base.
Cloudbase is the fictional skyborne headquarters of international security organisation Spectrum, from Gerry Anderson's science fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967).
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Appearance in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Resembling a large aircraft carrier, complete with flight deck, Cloudbase hovers continuously at a height of 40,000 feet and can be moved above any point on Earth as needed. Its altitude theoretically renders it invulnerable to attack, but the Mysterons are always looking for ways to penetrate its defences. Because of its altitude, the entire structure is pressurised; pilots entering or leaving aircraft on the flight deck do so inside airtight capsules.
Layout
Rooms onboard Cloudbase include:
- The Control Room, containing Colonel White's circular desk and Lieutenant Green's computer, which is used to operate the base's PA, thrusters and other systems
- The Lounge, for relaxation
- The Conference Room, where Colonel White holds important meetings with his officers
- The Sick Bay, manned by Dr Fawn
- The Amber Room, the standby post for the Angel pilots
- The Room of Sleep, where the personnel rest
- The Radar Room, the security centre from which craft approaching or leaving Cloudbase are tracked
- The Generator Room, supplier of the base's power.
Angel fighters and other aircraft
Cloudbase's primary defence is its squadron of three Angel interceptor fighter aircraft, flown by five female pilots (who have faster reflexes than men). One fighter is manned around the clock, while the others are on permanent standby. Other aircraft housed on Cloudbase include Spectrum Jets and Magnocopters, which are launched from a separate part of the flight deck.
Cloudbase model
In reality, Cloudbase was a six-foot model designed by Derek Meddings and filmed by his special effects unit, in front of a painted sky backdrop. Too heavy to be supported by wires, the model was held in the air by metal supports, which were concealed behind it. Larger sections of the flight deck were built for scenes showing aircraft taking off and landing.
Appearance in Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet
In the CGI series Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet (2005), Cloudbase is replaced by Skybase. The updated headquarters resembles the original Cloudbase both in appearance and function. Robotic deckhands are stationed on Skybase's flight deck to assist in the take-off and landing of aircraft. Skybase is protected by a fleet of Falcon Interceptors and, in addition to the previously-featured facilities, is now also equipped with squash courts.
References in popular culture
- The mobile airstrip from Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, was also based on Cloudbase.
- A secret project in Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri's expansion pack is called the Cloudbase Academy.
- In the Doctor Who episodes "The Sound of Drums" and "Last of the Time Lords", the UNIT airborne aircraft carrier Valiant bears a close resemblance to Cloudbase.
