Thunderbird 3 is kept in a silo in the refuelling hangar on Tracy Island. Thunderbird 3 is primarily launched by Alan Tracy on his own, but is occasionally joined by other members of International Rescue.
Primary Launch Sequence[]
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 wrist mounted holographic displays and chestplate are attached to him by robotic arms with him personally putting on his space suit, gloves and sash 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. He is taken onto the loading arm, which lifts him into Thunderbird 3’s cockpit. Thunderbird 3’s loading arm lowers out of the way, out of the rocket’s silo. The pilot and co-pilot seats move into place at Thunderbird 3’s control console, while the rocket’s silo encloses. Alan launches Thunderbird 3 out of the silo and through the middle of the roundhouse, into the air and towards space.
- First seen in: EOS
Thunderbirds Are Go - Thunderbird 3 Launch
Launches With Single Co-Pilot[]
Scott Tracy[]
Alan sits on the pilot seat in the lounge, with Scott in the co-pilot seat on his right. The two seats lower to the Thunderbird 3 and Thunderbird S launch tube, which Alan and Scott are taken along via a trolley. At the end of this launch tube, the seats are rotated 90° clockwise so that Alan and Scott are facing the two separate launch tubes at the end of the one they are 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. While this is happening, Scott’s flight suit, gauntlets and boots are attached to him by robotic arms with him personally putting on his sash, all while the seat is being rotated 180° so that he exits the launch tube backwards. Alan and Scott rejoin as they exit the launch tube. They are taken onto the loading arm, which lifts them into Thunderbird 3’s cockpit. Thunderbird 3’s loading arm lowers out of the way, out of the rocket’s silo. The pilot and co-pilot seats move into place at Thunderbird 3’s control console, while the rocket’s silo encloses. Alan launches Thunderbird 3 out of the silo and through the middle of the roundhouse, into the air and towards space.
- Episode: Relic
Thunderbirds Are Go - Jetpack Launch
Virgil Tracy[]
Alan sits on the pilot seat in the lounge, with Virgil in the co-pilot seat on his right. The two seats lower to the Thunderbird 3 and Thunderbird S launch tube, which Alan and Virgil are taken along via a trolley. At the end of this launch tube, the seats are rotated 90° clockwise so that Alan and Virgil are facing the two separate launch tubes at the end of the one they are 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. While this is happening, Virgil’s flight suit, gloves and boots are attached to him by robotic arms with him personally putting on his sash, all while the seat is being rotated 180° so that he exits the launch tube backwards. Alan and Virgil rejoin as they exit the launch tube. They are taken onto the loading arm, which lifts them into Thunderbird 3’s cockpit. Thunderbird 3’s loading arm lowers out of the way, out of the rocket’s silo. The pilot and co-pilot seats move into place at Thunderbird 3’s control console, while the rocket’s silo encloses. Alan launches Thunderbird 3 out of the silo and through the middle of the roundhouse, into the air and towards space.
- Episode: Life Signs
Thunderbirds Are Go - Dragonfly Pod Launch-2
Gordon Tracy[]
Alan sits on the pilot seat in the lounge, with Gordon in the co-pilot seat on his right. The two seats lower to the Thunderbird 3 and Thunderbird S launch tube, which Alan and Gordon are taken along via a trolley. While the two are being transported along the launch tube, Thunderbird 4 is transported into Thunderbird 3’s cargo bay by robotic arms. At the end of this launch tube, the seats are rotated 90° clockwise so that Alan and Gordon are facing the two separate launch tubes at the end of the one they are 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. While this is happening, Gordon’s drysuit and gloves are attached to him by robotic arms with him personally putting on his sash, all while the seat is being rotated 180° so that he exits the launch tube backwards. Alan and Gordon rejoin as they exit the launch tube. They are taken onto the loading arm, which lifts them into Thunderbird 3’s cockpit. Thunderbird 3’s loading arm lowers out of the way, out of the rocket’s silo. The pilot and co-pilot seats move into place at Thunderbird 3’s control console, while the rocket’s silo encloses. Alan launches Thunderbird 3 out of the silo and through the middle of the roundhouse, into the air and towards space.
- Episode: Deep Search
Thunderbirds Are Go - Thunderbird 4 Launch From Thunderbird 3
Tanusha Kyrano[]
Alan sits on the pilot seat in the lounge, with Kayo in the co-pilot seat on his right. The two seats lower to the Thunderbird 3 and Thunderbird S launch tube, which Alan and Kayo are taken along via a trolley. At the end of this launch tube, the seats are rotated 90° clockwise so that Alan and Kayo are facing the two separate launch tubes at the end of the one they are 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. While this is happening, Kayo’s flight suit and boots are attached to her by robotic arms with her personally clipping in her belt and putting on her jacket and gauntlets, all while the seat is being rotated 180° so that he exits the launch tube backwards. Alan and Kayo rejoin as they exit the launch tube. They are taken onto the loading arm, which lifts them into Thunderbird 3’s cockpit. Thunderbird 3’s loading arm lowers out of the way, out of the rocket’s silo. The pilot and co-pilot seats move into place at Thunderbird 3’s control console, while the rocket’s silo encloses. Alan launches Thunderbird 3 out of the silo and through the middle of the roundhouse, into the air and towards space.
- Episode: Ring of Fire Part 2
Thunderbirds Are Go - Halo Glyder Launch
Hiram Hackenbacker[]
Alan sits on the pilot seat in the lounge, with Brains in the co-pilot seat on his right. The two seats lower to the Thunderbird 3 and Thunderbird S launch tube, which Alan and Brains are taken along via a trolley. At the end of this launch tube, the seats are rotated 90° clockwise so that Alan and Brains are facing the two separate launch tubes at the end of the one they are 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. While this is happening, Brains’ rescue suit, gloves and boots are attached to him by robotic arms, all while the seat is being rotated 180° so that he exits the launch tube backwards. Alan and Brains rejoin as they exit the launch tube. They are taken onto the loading arm, which lifts them into Thunderbird 3’s cockpit. Thunderbird 3’s loading arm lowers out of the way, out of the rocket’s silo. The pilot and co-pilot seats move into place at Thunderbird 3’s control console, while the rocket’s silo encloses. Alan launches Thunderbird 3 out of the silo and through the middle of the roundhouse, into the air and towards space.
- Episode: Night and Day
Thunderbirds Are Go - Thunderbird 3 Launch With Brains
Launches With Two Co-Pilots[]
Scott and Lee Taylor[]
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 on the pilot seat in the lounge, with Lee in the co-pilot seat on his right. The two seats lower to the Thunderbird 3 and Thunderbird S launch tube, which Alan and Lee are taken along via a trolley. At the end of this launch tube, the seats are rotated 90° clockwise so that Alan and Lee are facing the two separate launch tubes at the end of the one they are 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. At the end of the launch tube, the doors open to reveal Thunderbird 1 standing directly in front of him. Scott walks out of the lift and down the stairs next to the extendable platform. While this is happening, Lee’s rescue suit, gloves and boots are attached to him by robotic arms, all while the seat is being rotated 180° so that he exits the launch tube backwards. Scott walks down the stairs under Thunderbird 1’s rails and sits on the passenger seat that is currently on the Thunderbird 3 loading arm. While Scott is being lifted into the cockpit, Alan and Lee rejoin as they exit the launch tube. They are taken onto the loading arm that has just come back down from the cockpit, which lifts them into Thunderbird 3’s cockpit. Thunderbird 3’s loading arm lowers out of the way, out of the rocket’s silo. The pilot and co-pilot seats move into place at Thunderbird 3’s control console, while the rocket’s silo encloses. Alan launches Thunderbird 3 out of the silo and through the middle of the roundhouse, into the air and towards space.
- Episode: Colony
Thunderbirds Are Go - Pod Explorer Launch