Thunderbird 2

Thunderbird 2 was the heavy-equipment transporter owned and operated by International Rescue. It was piloted by Virgil Tracy.

As its primary function was to transport other required equipment and technology to the danger zone, Thunderbird 2 had an active role in most rescue missions on Earth. The middle of the craft was hollow, allowing it to carry one of a selection of pods, each built for a variety of different rescue vehicles. Thunderbird 2 could also fly without any pod at all, meaning it could deposit the needed equipment at the danger zone and retreat to a safer place if necessary. Gordon regularly accompanied Virgil on his flights as Thunderbird 4, the submarine which he piloted, was unable to traverse land on its own and was usually transported in Pod 4. (TV: The Man from MI.5) When its capacity for heavy lifting was needed to rescue the stranded Thunderbird 3 on Venus, Virgil and Tin-Tin were able to install extra booster reactors to modify the craft for successful space flight, although these alterations severely hampered its thrust, speed and manoeuvrability. (COMIC: Solar Danger) It was also once reported that Thunderbird 2's pods were being adapted to act as animal cages. (PROSE: Thunderbird Two)

When alarms went off in the Torchwood Hub, Gwen Cooper had expected the imminent launch of Thunderbird 2, as if they were "some absurd warning of doom". Instead, the bells and sirens simply rang out like a missed call. (PROSE: Risk Assessment)