Q: How old is Launchpad?
A: Like Darkwing, this is never shown for certain. I'd guess... Late twenties to early thirties. My reasoning here (which echoes Kim McFarland's reasoning quite a bit might I add) is, between DT and DWD he obviously bulked up quite a bit. That would take a few years. Probably something like, say, five? (Fenton Crackshell didn't appear to have changed much when he was on DWD, so it can't have been too long.) The only thing left is to figure out how old Launchpad was on DT, and that's a harder question to answer. I'd say something like his early twenties (22 or 23, maybe?), since we do see in a flashback episode that he's been working with Scrooge since he was a teenager. A rather scrawny teenager in fact. ;) We can guess that he was at least sixteen then, and if six or seven years passed between that flashback and the beginning of the series, this makes sense. I don't think it would be more than 6 or 7 years, personally, but that's just me. :)

Q: How did he come to St. Canard from Duckburg?
A: This is never explained. I guess they leave it up to our imaginations. But the two cities are neighbouring, and considering that in the last season of DT he had almost nothing to do (and eventually did disappear), it makes sense that he'd strike out on his own eventually...

Q: Does Launchpad have a family?
A: You bet! In fact he really, really looks up to his family. However, when he was younger he ran away from home, and spent most of his teenage years worrying about not living up to their standards. Launchpad's family [Pic] is actually incredibly warm and supportive (if not too bright), but the problem is that they're a sort of traveling performance group. The whole family flies; they call themselves "The Flying McQuacks" and they go around doing air shows. They're really good. Launchpad, like the rest of his family, loves flying; it's just that he has this tendency to crash. Constantly in fact- his mother Birdie carries around baby pictures of his first crashes. In any case, this tendency embarrassed the heck out of him, and he felt like he was just bringing shame to the family, so he left. *sniffle* Sad story! But there's a happy ending. Eventually the Flying McQuacks came to Duckburg to fly in a show for Scrooge, so Launchpad was reunited with his family and found out that they were proud of him all along.

Q: So then, this inability to fly isn't genetic?
A: Nope, not in the least. Although it should be said that Launchpad can fly. It's just that he's even better at crashing.

Q: Wow, I think Launchpad is pretty cute.
A: Heh heh. Join the club. ;)

Q: Yeah... Anyway, does he have a girlfriend?
A: Officially? No. In the past? He's had a few, but never any that lasted more than a couple of episodes. In DuckTales, he was quite the flirt at first. And yet somehow he never seemed to get the girl... Until Sen-Sen, that is. Of course, she lived centuries in the past... And then there was Feathers Galore. We don't talk about her. In any case, since starting DWD, Launchpad's interest in the ladies seems to have diminished- probably because he's gotten a bit older, and, since he's helping to raise Gosalyn, he sort of has a family to take care of now. Still, I've heard buzz that states that, had there been a third season of DWD, Launchpad would have gotten a girlfriend- Sara Bellum, a "mad scientist" at SHUSH. Also, in "U.F.Foe" he came very close to marrying- er, "Oompah"ing- Tia, the Queen of the Galaxy. But in any case, officially, he is unattached.

Q: Now hang on. What's up with that picture you linked to from Feathers Galore? Is that her? And who's that guy who looks like LP?
A: Oh. The guy who looks like Launchpad is Launchpad, in disguise on a secret spy mission. The woman is indeed Feathers. And we don't talk about her.

Q: Oh, come on, why not? Please? Please?? She's hot!
A: I thought you said you liked Launchpad!

Q: I'm representing the male population now!
A: Oh, okay, fine. Fair enough. *sigh* You dragged it out of me. Actually, it's sort of an interesting story. Feathers Galore is a female spy who works for the Foreign Organization for World Larceny (F.O.W.L.). Her boyfriend and fellow spy is a dead ringer for Launchpad, only with a different hairdo. So the "good" spy team (actually called SHUSH, but it appears to be a different version than the one that later shows up in "Darkwing") picks up Launchpad to do some undercover work for them and take down F.O.W.L. Feathers finds out about Launchpad's purpose, but takes a liking to him and helps him anyway. She's got a Russian accent, Miss Piggy karate skills, and some lethal lipstick. In the end, she tries to get Launchpad to wait for her, but he refuses. (Yay!) All of this happened in the DuckTales episode "Double-O Duck", which had a bit of inspiration for DWD- the beginnings of SHUSH, J. Gander Hooter, and the Fiendish Organization for World Larceny (the FOWL Darkwing fans know) are here. And, originally DW was going to be called Double-O Duck. And now you know... the rest of the story.

Q: So, if Launchpad's done all this, why is he the sidekick and not the hero?
A: Well, several reasons. First of all, he's still something of a bumbler a lot of the time. I mean really... his intelligence is rather short of stellar. In some episodes, Darkwing makes reference to "making a hero" out of Launchpad, as though LP were in training. Secondly, Darkwing has trained, for years. He's got the combat skills, the agility, the skulking in the shadows, and the weaponry. In the instances when LP has tried to emulate Darkwing, he's pretty much failed; he can't even get the hang of the introductions. And thirdly, there is an episode in which Launchpad asks this same question of Darkwing ("Water Way To Go"). They end up switching places, and Launchpad as the hero surprises the heck out of Darkwing by more-or-less getting the job done. With a little help, of course. ;) So the main answer here would seem to be... Darkwing's ego is what keeps Darkwing as the hero. For Launchpad to upstage him would be quite the upset... And Darkwing is prone to holding grudges.

Q: Why does Launchpad wear pants (and boots), when Darkwing and Gosalyn don't?
A: Why, one would almost think we have some sort of strange obsession with pants... (stare off into space, eyes glazed) Yes... But, anyway, the answer here is probably because Launchpad wears a uniform- the flight cap, the bomber jacket, the pilots scarf, the boots, and the jodpurs (or however ya spell that! ^_^). Also, to maintain the mystery. Hee hee. ;)

Q: Do any of the planes that LP flew have a specific name? (submitted by stbennet@umich.edu)
A: Aside from the ThunderQuack, no, I don't think they do. Unless you count the Hindentanic (which was actually a dirigible) on an episode of "DuckTales"... :)

Q: Did Launchpad ever have his own cartoon? (submitted by Dallas)
A: No. Launchpad has only been a regular on "DuckTales" and "Darkwing Duck". I think he did make an appearance on "Raw Toonage" (I know Gosalyn did). However, the original thought for "TaleSpin" when Jymn Magon and Mark Zaslove were dreaming it up was to possibly have Launchpad be the main character. Then they changed their minds. *G* That's about as close as LP ever came to having his own series...

Q: Why is Launchpad so unproportional? I mean his upper body is huge while his legs are rather skinny. I think it is very admirable, do you think he gets a lot of girls because of it? (submitted by Ryan)
A: Well, he got my attention. ^_~ Er, yes... um...*blush* What I mean is, at least speaking of his days on "DuckTales", LP used to be rather the ladies' man there and I'm guessing it wasn't his sparkling wit and high intellect that drew them in. Not to say that he's not charming and sweet, but I figure that his physique kinda helped his chances. Also, LP was designed in a sort of traditional "heroic" manner, at least on DuckTales, being one of the tallest characters, rather muscular, cleft in the chin etc. He was, however, more evenly proportioned at that point; when "Darkwing" rolled around I'm figuring they sort of reworked his design a bit, emphasizing the upper body over the legs, to sort of de-emphasize his "heroic" appearance and make him more of a "big, goofy sidekick guy". But still good-lookin', as a matter of opinion. ^_~

Q: Just wanted to let you know I love Launchpad and I miss watching Ducktales and Darkwing Duck (sublime smile) I've got a question (don't know if you are still answering them) Why did Launchpad get dumber (hard to believe but true) in Darkwing? (submitted by Meag0728@aol.com)
A: Yay for Launchpad admirers! ^_^ Okay, as for LP's actual decrease in intellect between the two shows... I noticed that too. *g* Although if you'll notice, he got dumber in a sort of a strange way - this may sound odd, but he seems to be more "sweetly" dumb now than he was before. I'm of the opinion that Launchpad was sort of gentled by the time this series started up, and in an odd way I think he's sort of more childlike than he was in DuckTales - there he was just kind of an adventurous guy who didn't really think things through. In Darkwing he's more of a team player and family member who just isn't too bright. Maybe he mellowed with age? Dunno. :) Interesting question, though!

Q: How did Launchpad get 2 be so adorable? (submitted by anonymous)
A: Practice? *g*

Q: Was Launchpad ever on Tail Spin? I have a bet going that he was, just not as a main character. (submitted by donotsendmeporn@yahoo.com)
A: Hate to tell you this, but you lose that bet. Launchpad was never on any episode of TaleSpin... I was less obsessive over it than I was over DW, but I have friends who have seen every episode at least five times, and I'd have heard if LP made an appearance. ^_~ Incidentally, does that email address work for ya? If so, I'd like to steal it. Oy.

Q: Terry, did you go to duqesne university? (submitted by fhtemple@yahoo.com)
A: Despite the information page I have for Terry McGovern, I am entirely unaffiliated with him personally (as well as all the other voice actors on the show), so this is not the place to try and get in touch with him. However, thanks to new information that has been presented to me, I can answer your question (yes, he did), and I can also point you a better place to contact him! Terry's webpage is at www.terrymcgovern.com and has a TON of information, plus a contact link. Two birds, one stone! :D

Q: Do you think it's to late for that spin off? It can have all of the chearkters from dwd and duck tales and launchpad be the herow spy!What do you think? (submitted by www.gokogohan6@ol.com)
A: Well, I think it would be great, but it's unlikely at this point. After all, when "Darkwing" started in 1991 Launchpad had been a main character on a show from 1987 until 1990... Now it's 2003 and LP hasn't been seen anywhere since '92. While Disney does sometimes resurrect characters they haven't used in ten or eleven years, it's unfortunately more likely they'll move on and come up with newer ideas. As mentioned in the Gosalyn FAQ, Tad Stones actually pitched a series idea recently to star a teenage Gosalyn/Quiverwing Quack, and Disney rejected it. I think they've moved on from the "duck" format for the time being. :(

Q: Did launchpad ever have a robotic suit that made him a super hero in the Darkwing Duck cartoon or was this a different cartoon character I'm thinking of? (submitted by hayleypayne@hotmail.com)
A: You're thinking of Gizmoduck, on "DuckTales". However, part of your confusion is probably because, in one episode, Launchpad does get mistaken as Giz's secret identity and even ends up wearing the robotic suit at one point.

Q: Does Loopy (Launchpad's sister) have a boyfriend or has ever had one? I'm an avid writer of DW fanfiction and I was curious about her past for a humerous story. (submitted by gosalyngirl@hotmail.com)
A: We know nothing at all about Loopy's past, actually. She's just been in the one "DuckTales" episode, as a cute valley-girl blonde, and other than that her life is a blank page! Er, well, to the audience anyway. ;) Write whatever you want, you have free run of it. ^_^

Q: I have a question, I have this bet going with a friend of mine, he claims up and down that launchpad is a pelican. His whole reasoning for this is because he thinks launchpads bill has the big skin flap underneath like pelicans, where as I try to explain its just the cartoonist giving him a chin. I say Launchpad is a duck, he says he's a pelican, so, be a pal and help me win 20 bucks. (submitted by anonymous)
A: For what it's worth - he's a duck. You win. ;)

Q: I wonder could Launchpad been YOUNGER than 16 when he started flying for "Mr. McDee"? He was awfully thin and and unless I'm going nuts his VOICE WAS CHANGING! Am I the only one who noticed that doing the "flashback" scences of "Launchpad's First Crash"? Forgive Female here for not knowing this, but isn't a guy voice finished changing by 16? And is it me or is Disney down-right MEAN to Launchpad? (submitted by Sharan)
A: Well, a guy's voice isn't ALWAYS finished changing by age 16. I knew a few guys in high school whose voices were cracking right up through graduation :D And a lot of times, a person's voice really can be markedly higher when they're 16 than it would be even ten years later, so just to show the age difference that's a good option. BUUUUUT you make good points, and given that he grew up in a family of pilots and was taught to fly at an early age... not to mention that whole fixation with the harmonica... he could have been as young as 13 in that ep. (I'd still say 15 at the youngest though, but that's me.) I don't think Disney is necessarily *mean* to Launchpad; he is after all a comedy relief as much as a heroic nice guy. So he does dumb things and dumb things happen to him; on the other hand if they were MEAN to him I'd expect them to treat him like Doofus. ;)

Q: How tall is Launchpad? And what's considered "Average" height for a male duck there? (submitted by Sharan)
A: I don't have an exact height for LP. He is shorter than Comet Guy, and if we sort of assume that Comet Guy is the size of a normal human (well - super-human, so we'd assume CG is maybe a little over 6', but still) that would put LP at closer to 5'. He does seem to be taller than most other ducks, though; but I get the feeling Drake is a little on the short side for a male duck. (Not compared to some though!) So let's assume Drake is around 4', and say that the average height for a male duck is something like 4'6", smack in between LP and Drake. It's a shot in the dark, though, since there are plenty of female ducks who are probably taller than that! :D

Q: To whoever asked about the names of Launchpad's old planes, don't forget the Sunchaser, the first plane to fly thur the center of the earth or the Joyrider, Launchpad's favorite biplane. (Sure thinks up jazzy names for plane, don't he?) (submitted by Sharan)
A: Clearly, it's a skill. *G* Thank you for the info!

Q: why is Launchpad unproportional? That's how ducks are- legs thinner than the rest of them. Launchpad being bigger than most ducks, it's just more obvious. (submitted by Sharan)
A: That's not a question ;) But I'll forgive it, 'cause you're right! They don't do it as much with Darkwing himself, though, so I think that's another reason we notice it more with LP.

Q: I was curious on why Launchpads beak is also part of his chin (submitted by Dilquantis@hotmail.com)
A: Can you prove that the bills of the other duck characters aren't parts of their chins? *G*

Q: Hi! i love Launchpad as much *MORE!* as anyone else,and was just wondering if anyone knows when his birthday is? was it ever mentioned? also,as a HUGE Ducktales fan,(even though DT&DWD haven't been on Australian tv since 1993,sob,sob!)maybe i can mention that Launchpad's own,personal plane in Ducktales (an old red bi-plane)did have a name-the Joyrider. (submitted by nik1980n@kooee.com.au)
A: I can't recall LP's birthday ever being mentioned (or any character's for that matter). Of course, as you showed, I'm not infallible so if anyone remembers otherwise, let us poor LP fangirls know, okay?

Q: About Launchpad's birthday- we know he's an Aries, he said so in "Ducktales Valentine", which gives us the range of March 21- April the 19. I'd guess March 21, Launchpad's VERY hyper. Besides, I think it's some years the first day of Spring, rather than the 20th and maybe that's what gave his parents the idea to name him "Launchpad'? Re: comments on his chin. What can you do about heredity? Have you seen his DAD's chin? Ripcord's chin requires it's own zip code. (submitted by Shaporper@yahoo.com)
A: I like LP's chin. I think it's sexy. ;) And incidentally this information is why it pays to know DuckTales as well as Darkwing, which I do not.

Q: What happened to Launchpad after the final episode of Darkwing Duck? (submitted by fenrock@webtv.net)
A: Who knows? Speculate in fanfic.

Q: I know people think Launchpad chin is sexy. Why do you think Disney hid it every chance they got? Behide his shoulder, behide his hand.... (submitted by Shaporper@yahoo.com)
A: Okay Sharan, but this is the last question about LP's hotness factor I'll answer! ;) (Mainly because between the two of us this site is getting kind of biased...) Maybe because it's cute to only be able to see part of it? Leaves something to the imagination. Heh. *^_^* Then again it might also be because it just gets in the way!

Submit a question!

Alrighty folks, that's it. No more questions. This was supposed to be for people to ask me questions about the show - not to spam me with random words sent by bots, not to ask me to conjecture on what a character's favourite food is or what they do in their spare time, and not to send me a million messages about how you are a character's wife. That's very fun for you, but what am I supposed to do with it? And, to be fair, I haven't updated the FAQ with the few valid questions I've received in something like two or three years. So, I'm afraid, no more submissions but please enjoy the stuff that's already up here. I'll try to get the remaining good ones up someday soon - it's hard with two kids - but if it involved anything like "What does so-and-so do when they're NOT being a villain?", it's not going up here. I can answer stuff from the show. I can't pull magic answers out of my hat. I didn't invent these characters. Sorry to burst your bubble. (And I promise, I'll change this message to be nicer when I'm less annoyed by the spam I've been getting from my good-natured attempt at letting fans have an interactive page. That'll show me, huh? Thanks for ruining everyone's fun, Internet.)