Thunderbird 1 is kept in the middle of the refuelling hangar, underneath the house on Tracy Island. Thunderbird 1 is primarily launched by Scott Tracy on his own, but is occasionally joined, or replaced, by other members of International Rescue.
Primary Launch Sequence[]
Scott goes to the light brackets to the right of the portraits in the lounge, and pulls them over his shoulders like a harness. This causes the wall to rotate 180° clockwise into a secret compartment containing his flight suit, gauntlets and boots. Scott stands with his back towards the suit, causing the lift to descend. During the descent, Scott’s gauntlets and boots are attached to him by robotic arms with him personally putting on his flight suit, gloves and sash. At the end of the launch tube, the doors open revealing Thunderbird 1 standing-by directly in front of him. Scott walks out of the lift onto the platform which extends towards Thunderbird 1. Once it has stopped, Scott gets into the craft’s pilot seat which is lifted into the cockpit by its hydraulic arm, with the cockpit windows closing during this action.
Thunderbird 1 is then taken out of the refuelling hangar and into its launch bay on a set of rails. As Thunderbird 1 enters the launch bay, the swimming pool above retracts under the house, leaving space for the craft to launch. Once Thunderbird 1 is in place, Scott can launch the craft into the air.
- First seen in: Ring of Fire Part 1
Thunderbirds Are Go - Thunderbird 1 Launch
Launches With Other Pilots[]
Alan Tracy[]
Alan sits on the pilot seat in the lounge, with the co-pilot seat on his right. The two seats lower to the Thunderbird 3 and Thunderbird S launch tube, which Alan is taken along via a trolley. At the end of this launch tube, the seats are rotated 90° clockwise so that Alan is facing the two separate launch tubes at the end of the one he is currently in. The pilot seat is taken into the launch tube on the left, while the co-pilot seat is taken into the launch tube on the right. With Alan now in his own launch tube, his space suit, wrist mounted holographic displays and chestplate are attached to him by robotic arms with him personally putting on his sash, all while his seat is being rotated 180° so that he exits the tube backwards. Alan is rejoined by the co-pilot seat as he exits the launch tube. Before they reach the loading arm, the seats stop, allowing Alan to stand up and walk up the stairs under Thunderbird 1’s rails. Alan walks up the stairs that lead to Thunderbird 1’s extendable platform, which Alan steps onto, causing it to extend towards Thunderbird 1. Once it has stopped, Alan gets into the craft’s pilot seat which is lifted into the cockpit by a hydraulic arm, with the cockpit window closing during this action.
Thunderbird 1 is then taken out of the refuelling hangar and into its launch bay on a set of rails. As Thunderbird 1 enters the launch bay, the swimming pool above retracts under the house, leaving space for the craft to launch. Alan launches Thunderbird 1 out of the launch bay through the swimming pool opening and into the air.
- Mentioned in: Breakdown
Gordon Tracy[]
Gordon runs to the fish tank, placing his hand on the glass, revealing it to be a handprint scanner on a screen. This causes the floor around him to rise up and surround him with a hidden wall, revealing his drysuit and diving equipment. The floor Gordon is standing on descends into his launch tube, bringing the risen wall and fish tank with it. As Gordon is descending, his drysuit and gloves are attached to him by robotic arms, with him personally putting on his sash and diving equipment. Once the lift has stopped at the end of the launch tube, the screen of a fish tank in front of Gordon lowers, allowing him to walk onto the pathway on top of Thunderbird 4’s storage tank. Gordon walks down the pathway on top of Thunderbird 4’s storage tank to the refuelling hangar, with the platform next to the storage tank lowering him to the floor of the hangar. Gordon walks up the stairs that lead to Thunderbird 1’s extendable platform, which Gordon steps onto, causing it to extend towards Thunderbird 1. Once it has stopped, Gordon gets into the craft’s pilot seat which is lifted into the cockpit by a hydraulic arm, with the cockpit window closing during this action.
Thunderbird 1 is then taken out of the refuelling hangar and into its launch bay on a set of rails. As Thunderbird 1 enters the launch bay, the swimming pool above retracts under the house, leaving space for the craft to launch. Gordon launches Thunderbird 1 out of the launch bay through the swimming pool opening and into the air.
- Episode: SOS Part 1
Thunderbirds Are Go - Gordon Launching Thunderbird 1
Co-Pilot Launches[]
Alan Tracy[]
Scott goes to the light brackets to the right of the portraits in the lounge, and pulls them over his shoulders like a harness. This causes the wall to rotate 180° clockwise into a secret compartment containing his flight suit, gauntlets and boots. Scott stands with his back towards the suit, causing the lift to descend. Alan sits in the pilot seat in the lounge, with the co-pilot seat on his right. The two seats lower to the Thunderbird 3 and Thunderbird S launch tube, which Alan is taken along via a trolley. At the end of this launch tube, the seats are rotated 90° clockwise so that Alan is facing the two separate launch tubes at the end of the one he is currently in. The pilot seat is taken into the launch tube on the left, while the co-pilot seat is taken into the launch tube on the right. During the descent, Scott’s flight suit, gauntlets and boots are attached to him by robotic arms with him personally putting on his sash.
With Alan now in his own launch tube, his space suit, wrist mounted holographic displays and chestplate are attached to him by robotic arms with him personally putting on his sash, all while his seat is being rotated 180° so that he exits the tube backwards. Alan is rejoined by the co-pilot seat as he exits the launch tube. Before they reach the loading arm, the seats stop, allowing Alan to stand up and walk up the stairs under Thunderbird 1’s rails. Alan can then step onto Thunderbird 1’s passenger platform, which raises him up to Thunderbird 1’s fuselage so he can sit in the passenger seat which is currently lowered outside of the fuselage. Once the passenger seat has been raised into the craft, the bay doors begin to close. Scott walks out of the lift onto the platform which extends towards Thunderbird 1. Once it has stopped, Scott gets into the craft’s pilot seat which is lifted into the cockpit by its hydraulic arm, with the cockpit window closing during this action.
Thunderbird 1 is then taken out of the refuelling hangar and into its launch bay on a set of rails. As Thunderbird 1 enters the launch bay, the swimming pool above retracts under the house, leaving space for the craft to launch. Once Thunderbird 1 is in place, Scott can launch the craft into the air.
- Episode: Designated Driver
Gordon Tracy[]
Scott goes to the light brackets to the right of the portraits in the lounge, and pulls them over his shoulders like a harness. This causes the wall to rotate 180° clockwise into a secret compartment containing his flight suit, gauntlets and boots. Scott stands with his back towards the suit, causing the lift to descend. Gordon runs to the fish tank, placing his hand on the glass, revealing it to be a handprint scanner on a screen. This causes the floor around him to rise up and surround him with a hidden wall, revealing his drysuit and diving equipment. The floor Gordon is standing on descends into his launch tube, bringing the risen wall and fish tank with it. During the descent, Scott’s flight suit, gauntlets and boots are attached to him by robotic arms with him personally putting on his sash. Once the lift has stopped at the end of the launch tube, the screen of a fish tank in front of Gordon lowers, allowing him to walk onto the pathway on top of Thunderbird 4’s storage tank. Gordon walks down the pathway on top of Thunderbird 4’s storage tank to the refuelling hangar, with the platform next to the storage tank lowering him to the floor of the hangar. Gordon can then step onto Thunderbird 1’s passenger platform, which raises him up to Thunderbird 1’s fuselage so he can sit in the passenger seat which is currently lowered outside of the fuselage. Once the passenger seat has been raised into the craft, the bay doors begin to close. Scott walks onto the platform which extends towards Thunderbird 1. Once it has stopped, Scott gets into the craft’s pilot seat which is lifted into the cockpit by a hydraulic arm, with the cockpit window closing during this action.
Thunderbird 1 is then taken out of the refuelling hangar and into its launch bay on a set of rails. As Thunderbird 1 enters the launch bay, the swimming pool above retracts under the house, leaving space for the craft to launch. Scott launches Thunderbird 1 out of the launch bay through the swimming pool opening and into the air.
- Episode: Attack of the Reptiles
Thunderbirds Are Go - Thunderbird 1 Launch With Gordon
Brains and MAX[]
Scott goes to the light brackets to the right of the portraits in the lounge, and pulls them over his shoulders like a harness. This causes the wall to rotate 180° clockwise into a secret compartment containing his flight suit, gauntlets and boots. Scott stands with his back towards the suit, causing the lift to descend. Brains and MAX leave the lounge and enter the elevator to the refuelling hangar. During the descent, Scott’s flight suit, gauntlets and boots are attached to him by robotic arms with him personally putting on his sash. While Brains is on his way to Thunderbird 1, he has MAX suit him up, similar to how Scott is being suited up by robotic arms. Once Brains is wearing his suit and is in the hangar, he and MAX step onto Thunderbird 1’s passenger platform, which raises him up to Thunderbird 1’s fuselage so he can sit in the passenger seat which is currently lowered outside of the fuselage. Once the passenger seat has been raised into the craft, the bay doors begin to close. Scott walks onto the platform which extends towards Thunderbird 1. Once it has stopped, Scott gets into the craft’s pilot seat which is lifted into the cockpit by a hydraulic arm, with the cockpit window closing during this action.
Thunderbird 1 is then taken out of the refuelling hangar and into its launch bay on a set of rails. As Thunderbird 1 enters the launch bay, the swimming pool above retracts under the house, leaving space for the craft to launch. Scott launches Thunderbird 1 out of the launch bay through the swimming pool opening and into the air.
Thunderbirds Are Go - R.A.D Launch