Five, four, three, two, one. Thunderbirds are go! ''It was produced between 1964 and 1966 using a form of electronic marionette puppetry. ''Thunderbirds follows the exploits of the Tracy family, headed by American ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy. Jeff is a widower with five adult sons: Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan. They lived on Tracy Island.''Other characters included Brains, Lady Penelope and her chauffeur Parker.''There were five aircraft: Thunderbird 1: a hypersonic rocket plane used for fast response and disaster zone reconnaissance. Piloted by Scott, IR's rescue co-ordinator.''Thunderbird 2: a supersonic carrier aircraft that transports rescue vehicles and equipment in detachable capsules called "pods". Piloted by Virgil.''Thunderbird 3: a single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft. Piloted alternately by Alan and John, with Scott as co-pilot.''Thunderbird 4: a utility submersible. Piloted by Gordon and usually launched from Thunderbird 2.''Thunderbird 5: a space station that relays distress calls from around the