History Main / TokenFlyer

* ''Franchise/Transformers'':

** Most of the Combiner teams or other sub-groups, such as the Dinobots, have at least one member capable of flight in alt mode. The Dinobots have Swoop, and the Protectobots get Blades.
** In ''WesternAnimation/Beast Wars'', initially Optimus Primal (in robot mode) was the only flight-capable Maximal. Later on, a more natural flyer, Airazor (who could fly in both modes but used primarily her alt mode — a falcon — for flight efficiency), joined the cast of Maximals, before being replaced by Silverbolt in Season 2.

In a show with a FunnyAnimal cast, the token flyer character will probably be a bird, bat, or flying insect, while a cast of prehistoric animals might use a [[PteroSoarer pterosaur]] instead.

* ''Anime/XMen'': Storm's WeatherManipulation powers make her the only flyer in a team composed of herself, Cyclops, Wolverine, Armor, Beast and Emma Frost.

Contrast with IBelieveICanFly where the power of flight is quite common. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] [[NamesTheSame those little one-page pamphlets]].

[[folder:Web Original]]
* In ''WebAnimation/MinilifeTV'', Snowball the vampire has the ability to transform into a bat, which he first does instinctively when he gets chased by an angry mob and he learns how to do it on command in "How I Got Your Laptops".
[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/Titanfall2'': A villainous version. The [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Apex Predators]] have one pilot of each (multiplayer) Titan class. One of those classes, the Northstar can normally only hover, but Viper has upgraded his to be able to soar through the skies, taking down entire ships with relative ease.

** Matau of the Toa Metru (also a Toa of Air) could use his areo slicers as wings. In ''Legends of Metru Nui'', he's overjoyed to find out that he can - [[WatchOutForThatTree SMACK!]] - [[WeWillUseWikiWordsInTheFuture wind...fly...]] As a [[RetiredBadass Turaga]], Matau can no longer do so, as his powers are considerably weaker and he has long since ditched his aero slicers for his [[ChainsawGood Kau Kau]] [[BladeOnAStick Staff]].

** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRescueBots'': Blades is the only member of the team to have a flying vehicle mode, in the form of a helicopter - though he only gained it after they arrived on Earth (and he turns out to be [[IronicFear afraid of heights]]). While several new Autobots are introduced over the series, none of them can turn into flying vehicles, keeping Blades unique. In season 3, the team gain the ability to transform into dinobot forms, with Blades still being the only one whose new form (a pterodactyl) can fly.

** Swellow comes in for ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesRubyAndSapphire", being the first Pokemon Ash catches in the new region and filling the role quite well.

** ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'': Once again, Falcon is the Token Flyer in a team led by Steve. It consists of Captain America, Black Widow, Ant-Man, Falcons, Hawkeye, and Scarlet Witch.

** ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'': Once again, Falcon is the Token Flyer in a team led by Steve while Vision is the only one with innate flight in his group which consists of himself, Iron Man, War Machine, Black Widow, Black Panther and Spider-Man. Iron Man and War Machine can fly but only due to their PoweredArmor.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': Bumblebee is this among the [[WestCoastTeam Titans East]], being the only one with flight capabilities.

* ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'': Nova is the only one is Spider-Man's team who can fly.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'': The original team consists of two {{Badass Normal}}s, one half-Krytptonian who lacks the power of flight, a speedster, an Atlantean and a Martian whose powers include flight.

* ''WesternAnimation/MonsterForce'': Shelly was the only member of the team whose PoweredArmor allowed her to fly.

* Rainbow Dash from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' was this in the earlier days of the series. Though Fluttershy ''could'' fly, being a pegasus and all, she was a weak flier at best and was most comfortable on the ground with [[AnimalLover her animals]]. So much so that she's actually had to be rescued from falling by other flying characters in the series, and on one occasion received a [[https://derpibooru.org/images/181583 pretty dirty glare]] from her rescuer. This pretty much left Rainbow Dash and her dreams of joining the Wonderbolts flight squadron to be their go-to pony any time they needed someone with a set of wings. Subverted as the series has gone on though, not only with Fluttershy gaining confidence and becoming a stronger flier but also with Twilight Sparkle and eventually Spike gaining the innate ability to fly as well.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': Of the five members in this iteration, only Starfire and Raven had innate flight of the team. Beast Boy can fly too but only by turning into avian animals and wasn't much use for combat. Terra as well when she was briefly a member as she could fly using her Geokinesis.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'': As with ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries'', Harold the Helicopter is the only series regular to fly. There were two planes (Tiger Moth and Jeremy), [[CharacterOfTheDay but they only appeared in a handful of episodes before vanishing]].

* ''Anime/XMen'': Storm's WeatherManipulation powers make her the only able to fly in a team composed of herself, Cyclops, Wolverine, Armor, Beast and Emma Frost.

* Defied in ''Fanfic/WithThisRing''. In Young Justice canon, Miss Martian was originally the only team member who could fly, but here, Paul makes copies of Rocket's kinetic belt for everyone. Rocket is taken aback to find out that everyone now has the same powerset as her, but Paul reassures her that she's still more experienced at using the belt and it's too useful to restrict to just one person.

** ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'': Falcon is the aerial member of Steve's group both of these movies, using a JetPack with wings.

** ''Franchise/Generation1'':

* Out of all the Nommies in the ''VideoGame/CutTheRope'' series, Roto is the only one who can fly.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AnimalMechanicals'', the main characters are robot animals that each have a different talent (the sasquatch has stretchy legs, the Komodo dragon is the techie, etc). The unicorn's talent is that [[WingedUnicorn she can fly]].

The Token Flyer may or may not have flight as their sole super power but they are the only member of the team capable of flying unaided. Depending on how well this is executed, [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower they can be shown as having advantages over their team mates]], such as superior mobility, being able to see further by flying high or having a better way to escape. [[ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman Expect this character to be very useful for situations which flight is vital]]. {{Flight}} can be a pretty awesome power to depict visually, especially in a fight. This can make the Token Flyer seem special. In some settings, the power of flight can be depicted as rare or unique.

This can lead to issues if the group membership changes -- if all Alice can do is fly, then Bob the FlyingBrick joins it can make Alice look redundant. Writers generally get around this by upgrading Alice in other areas to justify her staying on the team.

When coming up with a team of of heroes, it can be very useful to [[SuperheroSpeciation to give them different areas of specialty]]. You have your [[SuperStrength strong man]], your [[SuperSpeed speedster]], your BadassNormal, your {{psychic|Powers}}, etc. And then you have your Token Flyer.

The Token Flyer may or may not have flight as their sole super power but they are the only member of the team capable of flying unaided. Depending on how well this is executed, [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower they can be shown as having advantages over their team mates]], such as superior mobility, being able to see further by flying high or a better way to escape. [[ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman Expect this character to be very useful for situations which flight is vital]]. {{Flight}} can be a pretty awesome power to depict visually, especially in a fight. This can make the Token Flyer seem special. In some settings, the power of flight can be depicted as rare or unique.

* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'':
** Initially, none of the main five Autobots can fly but Optimus Prime and Prowl both get upgrades that allow them to fly. [[spoiler:In the final episode, Prowl [[HeroicSacrifice dies saving Detroit]] leaving Optimus as the only Autobot main character who can fly]].
** Jetfire and Jetstorm are the first Autobots in this setting to be granted the power of flight. They serve as the Token Flyers to the Elite Guard.
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRescueBots'': Blades is the only member of the team to have a flying vehicle mode, in the form of a helicopter - though he only gained it after they arrived on Earth (and he turns out to be [[IronicFear afraid of heights]]). While several new Autobots are introduced over the series, none of them can turn into flying vehicles, keeping Blades unique. In season 3, the team gain the ability to transform into dinobot forms, with Blades still being the only one whose new form (a pterodactyl) can fly.
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRescueBotsAcademy'': Of the Rescue Bot trainees, Whirl is the only one lacking a ground-based vehicle mode. Like Blades, she becomes a helicopter.
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersWarForCybertronTrilogy'': Jetfire defects from the Decepticons and joins the Autobots as their singular aerial member. One Autobot in season 2 even expresses gratitude that at least one of them can fly.

* ''Anime/TransformersArmada'': Jetfire is the only flight-capable Autobot in the series.
* ''Anime/TransformersRobotsInDisguise'': Ultra Magnus is the only Autobot in the series who can fly. This is even commented on by Scourge in his first fight with the Decepticons.

* ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'':
** ''Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen'': The ex-Decepticon Jetfire is the only Autobot with an aerial alt mode. In the film's climax, he sacrifices himself so that Optimus Prime can use his parts to defeat [[BigBad The Fallen]].
** ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon'': None of the Autobots have a flight-based alt mode but Optimus's truck can transform into a JetPack for him to use.
** ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'': Drift is the only Autobot with a flying alternate mode, although he only uses it twice in the film and it's never seen or mentioned again. Optimus does become capable of flight near the end of the film. Strafe is a straighter example, filling Swoop's role as the Dinobots' resident flyer.

** Swoop is the only member of the Dinobots that can fly since he is a Pteranodon while the others are land-based dinosaurs.
** [[EmergencyServices The Protectobots]] have Blades who transforms into a rescue helicopter. The other four Protectobots transform into land-based vehicles.
** Divebomb transforms into a robotic eagle and is the only only one of the G1 Predacons with an aerial alt mode.

* ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'': Before Airazor and Silverbolt joined the team, Optimus Primal was the only Maximal who could fly. Ironically, his alt mode is a gorilla not a flying creature.

* In ''Literature/HarryAndHisBucketFullOfDinosaurs'', only one of Harry's dinosaurs, Pterence the ''Pteranodon'', can fly.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', Bronx is an inversion; he's the only (gargoyle) member of the [[Characters/GargoylesTheManhattanClan Manhattan Clan]] who ''can't'' fly.

* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'':
** Initially, none of the main five Autobots can fly but Optimus Prime and Prowl both get upgrades that allow them to fly. [[spoiler:In the final episode, Prowl [[HeroicSacrifice dies saving Detroit]] leaving Optimus as the only Autobot main character who can fly]].
** Jetfire and Jetstorm are the first Autobots in this setting to be granted the power of flight. They serve as the Token Flyers to the Elite Guard.
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRescueBots'': Blades is the only member of the team to have a flying vehicle mode, in the form of a helicopter - though he only gained it after they arrived on Earth (and he turns out to be [[IronicFear afraid of heights]]). While several new Autobots are introduced over the series, none of them can turn into flying vehicles, keeping Blades unique. In season 3, the team gain the ability to transform into dinobot forms, with Blades still being the only one whose new form (a pterodactyl) can fly.
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRescueBotsAcademy'': Of the Rescue Bot trainees, Whirl is the only one lacking a ground-based vehicle mode. Like Blades, she becomes a helicopter.
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersWarForCybertronTrilogy'': Jetfire defects from the Decepticons and joins the Autobots as their singular aerial member. One Autobot in season 2 even expresses gratitude that at least one of them can fly.