About this season
Sky King is an American radio and television adventure series. The title character is Arizona rancher and aircraft pilot Schuyler "Sky" King. The series was likely based on a true-life personality of the 1930s, Jack Cones, the "Flying Constable" of Twentynine Palms in San Bernardino County, California, although this claim is unverified. Although the series had strong western elements, King mostly captured criminals and spies, and found lost hikers with the use of his plane, the Songbird. Though the planes used changed during the course of the series, the later model was not given a number, but was still known as the Songbird. King and his niece, Penny, lived on the Flying Crown Ranch, near the town of Grover, Arizona. Penny and Clipper were also pilots, though still relatively inexperienced and looking to their uncle for guidance and mentoring. Penny was an accomplished air racer and rated multi-engine pilot, whom Sky trusted to fly the Songbird. In the third TV episode, Penny refers to Clipper as "my brother", so they are siblings. The musical score was largely the work of Herschel Burke Gilbert.
Episodes (20)
1. The Neckerchief
Aired 2 January 1956 • 30 min
Sky attempts to help a young man recently paroled from prison get started again, but the ex-convict's former friends frame him for a bank robbery.
2. Manhunt
Aired 2 January 1956 • 30 min
3. The Plastic Ghost
Aired 9 January 1956 • 30 min
4. The Rainbird
Aired 9 January 1956 • 30 min
5. The Crystal Trap
Aired 30 January 1956 • 30 min
6. Red Tentacles
Aired 30 January 1956 • 30 min
7. Boomerang
Aired 6 February 1956 • 30 min
Sky King and Penny turn the tables on foreign agents conspiring to blackmail a refugee scientist.
8. Geiger Detective
Aired 27 February 1956 • 30 min
9. Golden Burro
Aired 27 February 1956 • 30 min
10. Rustlers on Wheels
Aired 5 March 1956 • 30 min
A young rancher is losing cattle fast so Sky King investigates.
11. The Silver Grave
Aired 5 March 1956 • 30 min
12. Uninvited Death
Aired 12 March 1956 • 30 min
Sky and Penny unwittingly become involved in sabotage when they visit their friends Major Dave and Denise McKay. An enemy agent has attached a time bomb to Major McKay's car, setting the fuse to explode while the Major is working at an army special-projects base. When Denise and Penny borrow the Major's car, they are placed in grave peril.
13. Fish Out of Water
Aired 19 March 1956 • 30 min
14. Diamonds on a Sky-Hook
Aired 26 March 1956 • 30 min
15. Flood of Fury
Aired 2 April 1956 • 30 min
During a major flood, Sky, Penny and Bob assist the authorities in their rescue efforts. Unfortunately, three of the men they rescue are murderous escaped felons who force their rescuers to help them rob a flooded bank.
16. Rocket Story
Aired 2 April 1956 • 30 min
17. Rodeo Round-Up
Aired 23 April 1956 • 30 min
A mock holdup paves the way for a real holdup and Sky King comes to the rescue.
18. Showdown
Aired 23 April 1956 • 30 min
19. Land o' Cotton
Aired 23 April 1956 • 30 min
20. Dust of Destruction
Aired 30 April 1956 • 30 min
Someone has sabotaged a young rancher's harvest and Sky King sets out to find the culprit before any more damage is done.