Sex: Male
Age: Late 20's to early 30's
Height: 5' 7�
Occupation: Chief model airplane designer for Sizemore and Pratt/ Eventually works for NASA
Appearance: Short, whitish-blonde hair with average build. Dresses casually but will dress nicely for certain special events. Enjoys wearing black sunglasses with metal/silver rim
History: He showed up at a Mongolian desert oil Rig and stayed with a bunch of oil workers. The oil workers thought it was strange that he 'blew in' without notice and said little of where he came from but thought that was best left alone and that was his own, personal, business. He said that he was supposedly taking a year off work to explore the world. Has been with them for a while, waiting to get a ride elsewhere, like China, but it never came.
He wanted to take a ride on Frank's airplane but him and A.J. Didn't see him on the crew list and didn't want to bring him along but asked the crew. The crew backed him up and said that they knew him and stated that it was 'a long story'. In the end Frank agreed to take him aboard. Elliot said he wanted to go to Beijing, and said more or less that in a sense he would prefer to ride instead of walk.
When everyone was fighting over water and how to get out of the desert he had been carefully examining the wrecked airplane. He got everyones attention and told them of his plan. Everyone was skeptical as to whether they would be able to pull it off or not and questioned him as to what he did and who he worked for. After Elliot explained who he worked for and who he was everyone decided to get to work. He didn't divulge the whole truth of his occupation, instead choosing to keep it a secret. All the crew was proud of their accomplishments with building the airplane but eventually everyone had their doubts as to whether it would actually fly. Elliot continued his efforts to assure them that it will fly but found it harder to do so as the water supply grew less and less. He also grew more and more irritated with the 'incompetence' of the workers and with several close calls that nearly cost not only his life but nearly ruined the plane.
The relationship between Elliot and Frank Towns continued to tense as both of them wanted to assume total control of the team. This was worsened when Elliot stole water and the proclaimed that everyone else was dispensable but himself, and perhaps Frank. This was the hard truth but it seemed harsh to everyone for him to say it to their faces.
After the team brought over a local Mongolian nomad everyone argued over whether to keep him alive or not. Everyone argued...except Elliot, who picked up a gun and shot the man dead. After words he refused to oversee the plane-building project unless everyone pitched in and begged him to do it. He forced them to say 'please' and asked them if they would follow his every word, much to his amusement. Everyone did so, begrudgingly, as they were tired of staying in the desert...even Frank.
Mr. Towns finally accepted his place as just being a pilot and Elliot accepted his place as the manager of the project, the Alpha, with near full control over the team. Satisfied with the team groveling at his feet, he set out to oversee the project. Elliot, however, was careless and let Frank rummage through his backpack. Not hiding the 'truth' well enough the team panicked when they found out that he created 'toy' airplanes and not 'full-sized ones that carry people'. Knowing that the team was onto him and that he couldn't hide the truth anymore, he let the cat out of the bag.
Disappointed, frustrated, and suffering from dehydration, the team takes their anger out on him. Elliot, in a move to keep what dignity and self-worth he has left, lectures the team on how perfect the plane is and that it would fly.
Ian, having doubts and being to the point of homicide, takes a gun and points it at Elliot's head. Now Elliot pleads for his life and assures everyone that his pane will fly. Ian, doubtful and needing someone to take the blame, still holds the gun but eventually breaks down, and lefts Frank take it.
Disheartened, the team becomes lethargic, until, that is, they see the wind lift the plane off the ground. The only saving grace that it would not go anywhere was that it was tied down.
Emotionally struck in awe, Elliot sheds a tear at the beautiful sight but a fierce windstorm comes and everyone is forced to go to the remains of the plane. Frank helps Elliot by literally grabbing him by the scruff and making sure he makes it inside. The storm covers the Phoenix with sand which worries Elliot. The wind flips the remaining hull of the plane wreckage, now just a useless metal shell, and everyone piles on top of each other.
After the storm clears, the team has renewed strength and determination. The team digs the Phoenix out and they then drag it to it's launching site.
After the plane is set they then attempt to start it but only have five cartridges. Elliot and Frank become friends and thank each other for getting this far. Elliot offers his good wishes and Frank heads off and attempts to start the plane.
On the last cartridge the plane finally starts. Relieved, they take off but realize they are being followed by angry Mongolian nomads via horseback. The nomads shoot at the plane with automatic guns and unintentionally shoot the rudder line.
Frank can't fly the plane with no rudder and tells Elliot to 'stop talking and fix it'. In an amazing show of courage Elliot climbs out and fixes it even with the nomads riddling the plane with bullets.
The plane approaches the cliff that Elliot chose to use as a takeoff point for proper lift. It goes over the edge...and flies straight up in the air. The nomads are unable to follow and look on.
Everyone is happy and laughs and cheers with each other. The sun begins to set as they approach an oil rig.
After words, Elliot eventually goes to work for NASA and is seen as 'NASA's new hope' and is interviewed in a magazine.
Personality: Usually somewhat quiet and meek but can be mouthy when angered. He is bossy and feels a strong need to show everyone how capable he is and how great abilities are. He can get quite self defensive at times and doesn't take rude comments against him lightly. Can be boastful and put other people down and his arrogant nature gets on peoples nerves quickly. He can seem cold-hearted and preform acts [like shooting a man in the head] nonchalantly and still not lose sleep at night but this is mostly due to his sense of self-preservation. Can be temperamental and seems to care little of the feelings of others. He is the type of person that can say harmful things to those he loves and regret it later. It is likely he might have been picked on as a kid. He is openly selfish but sometimes keeps secrets. He is grateful to anyone who does good to him, but generally won't go far out of his way to respond in kind. He is direct and can be a bit of a bully. He has shown a fair amount of bravery and steadfastness in emergency situations. All in all he, is a hard worker and when one sets aside their dislike of his nature than they can find a good friend.
Unlike Heinrich in the original Flight of the Phoenix movie, he is not physically aggressive and lets people shove him around. Instead he turns to verbal and psychological warfare. This is due to him being a very intellectual man, the know-it-all snooty bookworm type, in a sense.
