After being buried under a dessert for who knows how long

I dunno about the sigh, but you're spot on with the desert. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1jsrOqlGSk

dang it mispelled ahh, started noticing that happening I'm aware of differentiation between the homonyms but yeah I still use affect/effect correctly at least.

That doesn't really narrow it down. They do take off into space.

Something similar happens in the original Macross as well.

You mean initial SDF-1 liftoff and the gravity generators rip from the fuselage?

Yep, that's what I mean. :)

Followed by using the barely understood jump drive, resulting in SDF-1, two nearby aircraft carriers and the entire island being transported behind the orbit of Pluto. :D

I also really liked the part where a couple of the main characters got stranded in an isolated part of the humongous ship right after the jump & had to fish for a frozen tuna floating in front of airlock to get some food while waiting to be rescued. :)