Thunderbird 4 is kept in a storage tank in the refuelling, underneath the house on Tracy Island. Thunderbird 4 is primarily launched by Gordon Tracy on his own from Tracy Island, though often uses Thunderbird 2 (or, on occasion, Thunderbird 3) to be transported to the danger zone. Gordon is also occasionally joined, or replaced, by other members of International Rescue.
Island Launch Sequence[]
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. Gordon stands against the back wall of the lift, which rotates and drops him into Thunderbird 4’s storage tank once the lift has stopped at the end of the launch tube. Gordon swims into Thunderbird 4 and enters the cockpit using the underside airlock hatch. He rotates the submarine 180° so that it is facing away from the tank’s window to the refuelling hangar and to the closed launch tunnel. Both ends of this launch tunnel open up while the tunnel lights up, giving Thunderbird 4 access out of Tracy Island. Gordon launches Thunderbird 4 out of the storage tank and into the ocean.
- First seen in: Deep Water
Thunderbirds Are Go - Thunderbird 4 Launch
Launch From Thunderbird 2[]
Primary Launch Sequence[]
Virgil stands with his back against the painting of Saturn V, rotating him into the harness in his launch tube. 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 Virgil is taken down his launch tube backwards, his flight suit, gloves and boots are attached to him by robotic arms, with him personally putting on his sash. After Virgil has been suited up, he is rotated 180° so that he is facing downwards. 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. While Virgil and Gordon are suiting up, Thunderbird 4 is transported into Thunderbird 2’s Module 4 by a combination of autopilot controls and robotic arms. In Thunderbird 2’s hangar, the rail that holds Virgil’s hangar is extended from the tube in the ceiling to above the craft’s cockpit. At the end of the rail, Virgil grabs the handlebars in front of him as he is released from the harness so that he drops into Thunderbird 2’s cockpit, onto the platform. Virgil then manually closes the hatch above that he has just dropped through. 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, which he walks along, through the cavern. Thunderbird 2’s six modules move across the hangar until the Module 4 is positioned underneath the empty hole in the middle of the craft. Gordon walks into Thunderbird 2’s hangar and is transported to the underneath of the craft’s cockpit. Once Thunderbird 2 has been lowered over Module 4, Gordon gets onto the lowered platform and is raised into Thunderbird 2’s cockpit. As Gordon takes a seat, Thunderbird 2 rotates 45° clockwise and the hangar doors open, allowing the craft to exit onto the runway. Once the palm trees are lifted out of the way, Virgil can taxi Thunderbird 2 to the other end of the runway. Now on the lowered launch ramp, Thunderbird 2 is raised into launch position. As it is being raised, Thunderbird 2’s wings fold out, and the blast pit opens. Virgil launches Thunderbird 2 off of the launch ramp and into the air. To launch Thunderbird 4, Gordon steps on the platform in Thunderbird 2’s cockpit, which lowers him into the module. This allows Gordon to walk into Thunderbird 4 using the large airlock doors at the back of the submarine. Once Gordon is in the cockpit, Virgil deploys the module onto the water. Module 4’s door opens and Thunderbird 4 is raised into launch position. Gordon can then launch Thunderbird 4 out of the module and into the water.
- First seen in: Ring of Fire Part 1
Thunderbirds Are Go - Thunderbird 4 Launch From Thunderbird 2
Tanusha Kyrano[]
Virgil stands with his back against the painting of Saturn V, rotating him into the harness in his launch tube. 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. Kayo sits on the co-pilot seat in the lounge, with the pilot seat on her left. The two seats lower to the Thunderbird 3 and Thunderbird S launch tube, which Kayo is taken along via a trolley. At the end of this launch tube, the seats are rotated 90° clockwise so that Kayo is facing the two separate launch tubes at the end of the one she 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.
As Virgil is taken down his launch tube backwards, his flight suit, gloves and boots are attached to him by robotic arms, with him personally putting on his sash. After Virgil has been suited up, he is rotated 180° so that he is facing downwards. 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. With Kayo now in her own launch tube, her 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 rotated 180° so that she exits the launch tube backwards.
While Virgil, Gordon and Kayo are suiting up, Thunderbird 4 is transported into Thunderbird 2’s Module 4 by a combination of autopilot controls and robotic arms. Kayo is rejoined by the pilot seat as she exits the launch tube. Before they reach the loading arm, the seats stop, allowing Kayo to stand up and walk up the stairs under Thunderbird 1’s rails. In Thunderbird 2’s hangar, the rail that holds Virgil’s harness is extended from the tube in the ceiling to above the craft’s cockpit. At the end of the rail, Virgil grabs the handlebars in front of him as he is released from the harness so that he drops into Thunderbird 2’s cockpit, onto the platform. Virgil then manually closes the hatch above that he has just dropped through. Kayo then walks to the platform next to Thunderbird 4’s storage tank which raises her up to the pathway to Thunderbird 2’s hangar, which she walks along, through the cavern. 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, which he walks along, through the cavern.
Thunderbird 2’s six modules move across the hangar until Module 4 is positioned underneath the empty hole in the middle of the craft. Gordon and Kayo walk into Thunderbird 2’s hangar and are transported to the underneath of the craft’s cockpit. Once Thunderbird 2 has been lowered over Module 4, Gordon and Kayo get onto the lowered platform and are raised into Thunderbird 2’s cockpit. As Gordon and Kayo take their seats, Thunderbird 2 rotates 45° clockwise and the hangar doors open, allowing the craft to exit onto the runway. Once the palm trees are lifted out of the way, Virgil can taxi Thunderbird 2 to the other end of the runway. Now on the lowered launch ramp, Thunderbird 2 is raised into launch position. As it is being raised, Thunderbird 2’s wings fold out, and the blast pit opens. Virgil launches Thunderbird 2 off of the launch ramp and into the air.
To launch Thunderbird 4, Gordon and Kayo step on the platform in Thunderbird 2’s cockpit, which lowers them into the module. This allows the two to walk into Thunderbird 4 using the large airlock doors at the back of the submarine. Once Gordon and Kayo are in the cockpit, Virgil deploys the module onto the water. Module 4’s door opens and Thunderbird 4 is raised into launch position. Gordon can then launch Thunderbird 4 out of the module and into the water.
- Episode: City Under the Sea
Thunderbirds Are Go - Thunderbird 4 Launch With Kayo
Hiram Hackenbacker[]
Virgil stands with his back against the painting of Saturn V, rotating him into the harness in his launch tube. 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. Brains and MAX leave the lounge and enter the elevator to the refuelling hangar. As Virgil is taken down his launch tube backwards, his flight suit, gloves and boots are attached to him by robotic arms, with him personally putting on his sash. After Virgil has been suited up, he is rotated 180° so that he is facing downwards. 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. While Brains is on his way to Thunderbird 2, he has MAX suit him up, similar to how Virgil and Gordon are being suited up by robotic arms.
While Virgil, Gordon and Brains are suiting up, Thunderbird 4 is transported into Thunderbird 2’s Module 4 by a combination of autopilot controls and robotic arms. In Thunderbird 2’s hangar, the rail that holds Virgil’s harness is extended from the tube in the ceiling to above the craft’s cockpit. At the end of the rail, Virgil grabs the handlebars in front of him as he is released from the harness so that he drops into Thunderbird 2’s cockpit, onto the platform. Virgil then manually closes the hatch above that he has just dropped through. Once Brains is in the refuelling hangar, he walks to the platform next to Thunderbird 4’s storage tank which raises him up to the pathway to Thunderbird 2’s hangar, which he walks along, through the cavern. 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, which he walks along, through the cavern.
Thunderbird 2’s six modules move across the hangar until Module 4 is positioned underneath the empty hole in the middle of the craft. Gordon and Brains walk into Thunderbird 2’s hangar and are transported to the underneath of the craft’s cockpit. Once Thunderbird 2 has been lowered over Module 4, Gordon and Brains get onto the lowered platform and are raised into Thunderbird 2’s cockpit. As Gordon and Brains take their seats, Thunderbird 2 rotates 45° clockwise and the hangar doors open, allowing the craft to exit onto the runway. Once the palm trees are lifted out of the way, Virgil can taxi Thunderbird 2 to the other end of the runway. Now on the lowered launch ramp, Thunderbird 2 is raised into launch position. As it is being raised, Thunderbird 2’s wings fold out, and the blast pit opens. Virgil launches Thunderbird 2 off of the launch ramp and into the air.
To launch Thunderbird 4, Gordon, Brains and MAX step on the platform in Thunderbird 2’s cockpit, which lowers them into the module. This allows the three to walk into Thunderbird 4 using the large airlock doors at the back of the submarine. Once Gordon is in the cockpit, Virgil deploys the module onto the water. Module 4’s door opens and Thunderbird 4 is raised into launch position. Gordon can then launch Thunderbird 4 out of the module and into the water.
- Episode: Lost Kingdom
Thunderbirds Are Go - Thunderbird 4 Launch With Brains
Scott Tracy[]
Scott Tracy 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. Virgil stands with his back against the painting of Saturn V, rotating him into the harness in his launch tube. Lady Penelope leaves the lounge and enters 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. As Virgil is taken down his launch tube backwards, his flight suit, gloves and boots are attached to him by robotic arms, with him personally putting on his sash. After Virgil has been suited up, he is rotated 180° so that he is facing downwards. While Virgil and Scott are suiting up, Thunderbird 4 is transported into Thunderbird 2’s Module 4 by a combination of autopilot controls and robotic arms.
In Thunderbird 2’s hangar, the rail that holds Virgil’s harness is extended from the tube in the ceiling to above the craft’s cockpit. At the end of the rail, Virgil grabs the handlebars in front of him as he is released from the harness so that he drops into Thunderbird 2’s cockpit, onto the platform. Virgil then manually closes the hatch above that he has just dropped through. 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. Once Penelope is in the refuelling hangar, she and Scott walk to the platform next to Thunderbird 4’s storage tank which raises them up to the pathway to Thunderbird 2’s hangar, which they walk along, through the cavern.
Thunderbird 2’s six modules move across the hangar until Module 4 is positioned underneath the empty hole in the middle of the craft. Scott and Penelope walk into Thunderbird 2’s hangar and are transported to the underneath of the craft’s cockpit. Once Thunderbird 2 has been lowered over Module 4, Scott and Penelope get onto the lowered platform and are raised into Thunderbird 2’s cockpit. As Scott and Penelope take their seats, Thunderbird 2 rotates 45° clockwise and the hangar doors open, allowing the craft to exit onto the runway. Once the palm trees are lifted out of the way, Virgil can taxi Thunderbird 2 to the other end of the runway. Now on the lowered launch ramp, Thunderbird 2 is raised into launch position. As it is being raised, Thunderbird 2’s wings fold out, and the blast pit opens. Virgil launches Thunderbird 2 off of the launch ramp and into the air.
To launch Thunderbird 4, Scott steps on the platform in Thunderbird 2’s cockpit, which lowers him into the module. This allows Scott to walk into Thunderbird 4 using the large airlock doors at the back of the submarine. Once Scott is in the cockpit, Virgil deploys the module onto the water. Module 4’s door opens and Thunderbird 4 is raised into launch position. Scott can then launch Thunderbird 4 out of the module and into the water.
- Episode: Signals Part 1
Thunderbirds Are Go - Scott Launching Thunderbird 4 From Thunderbird 2
Launch From Thunderbird 3[]
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. Once Thunderbird 3 has landed at the danger zone, Alan and Gordon leave the cockpit through the door at the back, and enter the cargo bay. After selecting Thunderbird 4’s modifications, robotic arms attach the snow skis to the top and bottom of the submarine, the jet thrusters to the back, and put the heat cone in place so that it can be held by the robotic extension arms. Once fully modified, Gordon and Alan enter the cockpit, and Thunderbird 4 is carried out of Thunderbird 3 cargo bay and lowered to the ground.
- Episode: Deep Search
Thunderbirds Are Go - Thunderbird 4 Launch From Thunderbird 3
Trivia[]
- Thunderbird 4's island launch bears remarkable similarity to that of Stingray from its eponymous television series, produced by AP Films in 1964.
- In the fish tank used in the island launch a miniature replica of the Stingray submarine can be found.