In the first ever episode of The Flintstones, Barney builds a flying machine in his backyard, much to Fred's disbelief. His doubt turns to awe, however, when he sees that thing actually works. Unfortunately, Barney hadn't designed it for a heavy pilot, and Fred's first attempt to fly results in him crashing. That turns out to be the least of Fred and Barney's worries, however, when they learn that Wilma and Betty expect them to take them to the opera on the night of their big bowling tournament. To get out of it, Fred pretends to be sick so the girls will leave him and Barney home. However, in order to get to town and back before the girls do, Fred and Barney need to rely on Barney's upgraded flying machine, which is put to the ultimate test when the pair is eventually caught by their wives.
Tropes appearing in this cartoon:
- Agony of the Feet: Barney drops his bowling ball on Fred's feet twice.
- Alliterative Title: The Flintstone Flyer.
- Aside Comment: Fred upon seeing that Barney's flying machine works.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Fred openly fears how Wilma and Betty will react to him and Barney lying to get out of going to the opera. The off-screen assault before they get to the Flintstone Flyer proves he was right to be afraid.
- Bowling for Ratings: In this episode, when Fred finds out that Barney bought tickets for them and their wives to go to the opera, he pretends to be sick so Barney can look after him while Wilma and Betty go to the opera by themselves. Then, they can sneak out to go bowling.
- Contrived Coincidence: Fred and Barney's scheme starts becoming undone all just because the bowling alley happened to be across the street from the opera house.
- Determinator: When Fred and Barney escape their wrath in the Flintstone Flyer, Wilma and Betty actually set up a table outside and play a game of Gin for hours while waiting for them to come back down. Shows just how much they wanted to get their hands on them.
- Didn't Think This Through: While Fred's plan to get him and Barney out of the opera by playing sick works, he realizes there's a snag he overlooked: namely how they were going to get to town, bowl, and beat the girls back to the house if they had the car. Fortunately, the Flintstone Flyer provided the solution.
- Emergency Cargo Dump: When Fred and Barney initially had trouble getting into the air, Barney halfheartedly suggested dropping their bowling balls.Fred: Yeah, on your head!
- Hope Spot: Fred and Barney almost succeed in tricking Wilma and Betty with their Identical Stranger get-up, even beating them back to the house, but Barney gave the game away by stupidly keeping on his fake mustache and using the goofy voice.Both wives: It was them!
Fred: (glowering at Barney) You dope! - Identical Stranger: Invoked by Fred and Barney in order to fool Wilma and Betty. It initially works, until Barney idiotically blows their cover.
- Innocently Insensitive: Barney practices golf and then hammers his machine together, blissfully unaware of how much he is infuriating Fred.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Barney caused the wives to find out what they did. Escaping in the Flintstone Flyer, Fred tells him to keep peddling no matter how tired his legs are getting.
- Match Cut: At the moment Barney drops his bowling ball on Fred's foot and causes him to yell, it transitions to the opera where a Viking woman is singling.
- Playing Sick: When Fred finds out that Barney bought tickets for them and their wives to go to the opera, he does this to avoid going.
- Right for the Wrong Reasons: Barney is right that Fred needs to relax, unaware that his loud antics are the reason why Fred is having so much troubling relaxing.
- Smart Ball: Fred's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he points out to Barney the various issues with their plan (e.g. getting into town without the car, having to get home before the wives do) and runs with the Identical Stranger scheme on the spot.
- Wig, Dress, Accent: Fred and Barney deceive their wives using some broom hair for fake mustaches and speaking in Scandinavian accents. It succeeds...at first.
- You Fool!: Fred calls Barney a "dope" after he idiotically blows their cover in front of their wives.
