Episode #209 "The Pilot, Not The Pilot"

Griffin is excited about his gig doing the sound for a touring rock band, until he learns they'll be traveling by plane. Hilton, Ruth and Pauline try to reason with him, and Pauline recommends a book on fear of flying. Hilton accompanies Griffin to the airport and takes him onto the plane. He promises Griffin he'll stay at the airport until the plane takes off. Griffin is seated next to Jack, a man who seems to be compulsive liar and who's constant talking does nothing to lessen Griffin's anxiety. Griffin's flight is abruptly cancelled and he returns to the terminal to beg Hilton to take him home. But Hilton is determined to get Griffin to the gig and offers to call Tom Hogan, a friend of his who owns a plane. Jack, overhearing this conversation, offers to pay all expenses if he can tag along; Griffin is horrified. Hogan agrees to fly them and convinces Hilton to go along for old time's sake. Griffin's panic increases mid-flight, when Hogan passes out after taking a pill for heartburn that Jack gave him and Hilton has to take over the controls. He tells Griffin and Jack he's been up with Hogan before and knows a little about flying. Jack makes a few suggestions that lead Hilton to believe that Jack knows how to fly, but Jack says he learned what he knows from watching Hilton. Panicked, Griffin tells Hilton they're with a maniac who poisoned their pilot. Luckily, Hilton manages to make contact with the airport tower and they help him land the plane. Afterward, at the concert, Griffin realizes that as a result of their ordeal, he's completely lost his flying phobia. Later, when Griffin tells Ruth that Hilton risked his life just to get him out of the house, Ruth assures him that Hilton's real motivation was making sure Griffin had a job.