The Jaws Of Life (referred to as the Power Suit) is Virgil Tracy's signature rescue exo-suit equipment, seen in many episodes of Thunderbirds Are Go!. It is a robotic exoskeleton that covers the upper body, the spine and the legs. They greatly enhance the strength of the user, allowing them to effortlessly pick up heavy items at the scale of tons--weight too heavy to be lifted by even the strongest human beings. They also aid in scaling various structures, and can also allow one to safely pick up items of extreme temperatures harmlessly.
The hands consist of a strong crab-like pincer claw on the right that can crush rock and metal, and a telescopic three fingered claw on the left for more precise and delicate grip. The device has a black and yellow colour scheme, resembling the pattern on typical barricade tape.
There are many Power Suits, Not only did Thunderbird 2 store one inside Module 2 and 3, but one could also be found stored within the Explorer, there is also a variant seen in Inferno and Firebreak configured specifically for fire-related rescues.
History[]
Ring of Fire Part 2[]
Virgil used the Power Suit when several workers were trapped within the Solar Collector Dish in Taipei. Virgil was able to tear down a metal door, and lift up a heavy pipe pinning down one of the engineers using the Power Suit. The workers were able to board the seats on Thunderbird 2's grabs, but with the ground crumbling beneath him, Virgil had to jump and cling on to the grabs using the pincer arm to be hoisted to safety.
Unplugged[]
The Power Suit was used after the Electromagnetic Frequency Device, which wiped out all the power in London, was disabled, thus restoring power to Thunderbird 2 and allowing the Module to be accessed. Virgil was given a choice, between saving a woman trapped inside a crane that was about to fall, or going after The Hood after he stole the Universal Grid Codex. Using the Power Suit, Virgil quickly chose the former.
Heavy Metal[]
After a meteorite crashes to Earth in a very strange way, Virgil investigates the crash site with the Power Suit equipped. It becomes quite clear that it was actually a satellite that crashed as he clears his way through burning metal, a thankfully unmanned satellite belonging to the Global Defence Force.
Breakdown[]
Virgil must evacuate two scientists, Professor Goncharov and Doctor Peck, from deep within a crumbling glacier. Travelling down via the Explorer, Virgil has to get them out one at a time, hauling Professor Goncharov out first. When he returns to pick up Doctor Peck, he is unable to find him. He summons a Power Suit from The Explorer, and uses it to traverse the glacier and find the doctor.
Touch And Go[]
Virgil must get Scott and Jane out of the plane which is about to fall over a ledge in the Arizona desert. He sports the Jaws of Life and carries a cable from Thunderbird 2 to attach to the plane. He fails, but Scott uses a grapple gun to save himself and Jane in time.
Escape Proof[]
The Jaws are used to reinforce the tunnel left by the Mechanic's tunnelling machine for FAB 1 to travel through, and to rescue a plumber named Horse that became trapped when the floor collapsed under the building he was working in.
Bolt From the Blue[]
The Jaws are used to help get Captain Abby, Emma, the co-pilot and the panda out of a flying airliner that malfunctioned and is losing altitude after it got hit by a plasma bolt.
Grandma Tourismo[]
Virgil uses the suit when he goes to rescue the trapped miners and has to use it to hold up the roof whilst they wait for Grandma to arrive.
Inferno[]
Virgil uses the suit when he has to help extinguish the fire on Crystal Spire. This is the first time he wore a fire version of the suit.
Firebreak[]
Virgil use the suit in a much shorter span of time, only using it to remove a burning tree that was between Alan and Gordon and Thunderbird 2's module, used to reconfigure the pods.
Gallery[]
Fire Rescue Variant[]
This variation on the power-suit was seen in Inferno and Firebreak, and as well as the clear change in colour scheme, the laser cutter on the shoulders is shown to be more blocky, and an oxygen tank is strapped on the back of the suit over the top on the power cables, the arm extensions are also modified with thicker and minor component changes. this version is worn over a fire retardant version of Virgil's standard uniform which is dark grey and reflective.
Towards the end of the episode, Virgil was forced to ditch the power-suit, as its battery was required to power the elevator temporarily, making it too heavy for Virgil to wear it without external assistance. It was also to cling to the walls of the elevator shaft in order to help himself and the fire fighters he is with escape.
Trivia[]
'BRNS' is written on the left in red and 'VRGL' in black on the right
- The Jaws Of Life is the only exo-suit that refers to a character's name specifically on the exoskeleton in short hand, 'VRGL' is written in big letters on the right shoulder - it also has 'BRNS' in red on the left, which references Brains, the exo-suit's creator.