History Main / FighterLaunchingSequence

* ''VideoGame/ZeroWing'' for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis has sequence of launching. Captain is said "Take off every Zig!" Zig move for great justice as the base which somebody set up the bomb explodes behind them.

* The opening cinematic of ''VideoGame/{{Silpheed}}'' for the UsefulNotes/SegaCD.

* A (very) low-tech case could be made for ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' when the Wicked Witch of the West sends her flying monkeys after Dorthy and Co, and we see the monkeys swarming in the sky from the window of her castle.

* [[Series/BattlestarGalactica1978 Both]] ''Battlestar Galactica'' [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 series]]. Each have their Vipers housed in individual launch tubes as their thrusters fire for maximum acceleration as they roar out.
** Subverted in season one "Hand of God" [[spoiler:the true attacking force is hidden nearby, rather than launching from Galactica]]
** Also subverted in the first episode. Starbuck is in the tube, prepping for launch when a fuel system malfunction is detected, and her Viper is ejected back onto the flight deck amid much cursing.

[[caption-width-right:256:[-"Emergency! Emergency! Incoming enemy fighters! Prepare for launch!"-] ]]

* ''VideoGame/StarFox'' in most games, (the original being pictured above) shows the team taking off before the first mission. In the original, they launch from a base on Corneria, but later games launch them from the Great Fox.

* The first opening sequence of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' did this using Nanoha and Fate in the place of planes and HumongousMecha, complete with flight strip lined with lights and [[TheCaptain Hayate]] gesturing for them to launch. HumongousMecha series [[MixAndMatch disguised as a]] MagicalGirl series, remember?

* Used repeatedly in ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' (another Creator/MichaelBay film -- yes, he loves this trope). Each time airplanes are called for an air strike, the camera will cut from the battle taking place to show the air planes take off. Happens first when the A-10s are called in to attack Scorponok, and later, when the Secretary of Defense manages to get an air strike order out, we are treated to F-22 Raptors taking off. Both times the sequences are covered with voice-over of the operators giving the air strike orders.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarcomTheUSSpaceForce'' is another opening sequence example.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS1E19StormOverRyloth , "Storm Over Ryloth"]]: The audience is introduced to Blue Squadron as they do their final checks and launch their fighters from the hanger for the initial attack led by Ahsoka.

* The ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' anime has a scene several episodes into the first series where Kurtz and Mao launch their [=M9s=] off the catapult on the deck of the Tuatha De Danann. This sequence is repeated with the Arbalest in the opening credits of ''The Second Raid''.

* ''VideoGame/MetalWarriors'' featured this for the player's GiantMecha as part of the first mission's opening cutscene, complete with dramatic switch-flipping.
* ''VideoGame/TerminalVelocity1995'' had the launch scene (complete with caution sirens, and launching from out of a rotating space station) when the game is first started (since the player continues flying between each mission without returning to base or even docking).
** Its spiritual successor ''VideoGame/Fury3'' had a similar scene for when the game is first launched (the ship is prepped and launched from a space station), while the next sequel, ''Hellbender'' had its launch scene at the start of the first level (where the player's ship is launched from a carrier, where it never returns to after each mission - both the player's ship and the carrier warp independently to each succeeding mission).

* ''Series/{{UFO}}''. When [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EkR2GlzEFg Moonbase interceptors]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxNHMz5lSTA Sky One]] launched to fight incoming UFO's.

** ''Film/TopGunMaverick'' reproduced almost the exact same opening scene with a modern aircraft carrier and [=F-18s=], and the exact same Music/KennyLoggins music. In the climax, Maverick and Rooster escape from enemy territory by stealing a F-14 tomcat and taking off from a reduced airstrip that was battered by Tomahawk missiles, only losing the front wheel.

Compare EngagingChevrons, TransformationSequence, StandardEstablishingSpaceshipShot, EpicLaunchSequence.

* ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit'':
** Parodied and subverted in ''WesternAnimation/ACloseShave''. Wallace uses a visual feast of overly-elaborate TechnologyPorn, a clear AffectionateParody of the sequence from ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'', to get on a bike to go and clean windows. Gromit achieves the same end result by walking through a door.
** Then there's the very impressive rocket launch from the first film, which is played more like an actual rocket launch -- complete with massive roar, blinding engine flare and slow launch before blasting into the sky.

** Also features a subversion: throughout the film the pilots at the main viewpoint squadron are repeatedly shown trying to kill time while staying within earshot of the office with the telephone, because reacting to that buys an extra few seconds before the main alarm goes off. Near the end everyone is extra nervous, because [[ItsQuietTooQuiet the Luftwaffe should have launched their first raid of the day by now]]. The telephone rings, everyone jumps up... and it's just the canteen announcing that [[SpotOfTea the Tea's ready]].

* Invoked in ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' when the kids take off in their spaceships crafted from amusement park rides, lead by Jimmy Neutron

* ''VideoGame/TerminalVelocity'' had the launch scene (complete with caution sirens, and launching from out of a rotating space station) when the game is first started (since the player continues flying between each mission without returning to base or even docking).

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiden_%28series%29 Raiden series]]