What was the first set to include "Flick-Missles"?

[Greedo24]

They seem to be included in EVERY set nowdays, but I am curious what the first set to include them was?

[88high]

I remember them as far back as some of the Agents sets, but I belive they came out in some indiana jones sets...

[TimeCruiser]

According to Bricklink, it was first available in 2008, in these sets:

Castle:

#5618-1, #7037-1,

Indiana Jones:

#7626-1, #7627-1,

Star Wars:

#7669-1, #7669-2, #7670-1, #7670-2, #7673-1, #7674-1, #7676-1, #7679-1, #7680-1,

Mars Mission:

#7647-1,

Batman:

#7885-1, #7886-1, #7888-1,

Agents:

#8632-1, #8633-1, #8634-1, #8636-1, #8637-1

[LEGOman273]

They first appeared in the Batman line in 2006.

[Destroydacre]

According to Bricklink, it was first available in 2008, in these sets:

Castle:

#5618-1, #7037-1,

Indiana Jones:

#7626-1, #7627-1,

Star Wars:

#7669-1, #7669-2, #7670-1, #7670-2, #7673-1, #7674-1, #7676-1, #7679-1, #7680-1,

Mars Mission:

#7647-1,

Batman:

#7885-1, #7886-1, #7888-1,

Agents:

#8632-1, #8633-1, #8634-1, #8636-1, #8637-1

I know that's not right because some of the 2007 Star Wars sets had flick fires, though they were the old type that just had a cone on an axle and it would slide right out if you held it vertically. Since it's based on the same design, can these be considered flick fires? They weren't intended to be (at least I don't think they were), but they can still be used as such.

Edited June 16, 2012 by Destroydacre

[LiamM32]

They first appeared in the Batman line in 2006.

I think that's true. Batman is where I first found out about them. Back then they used technic axles (see set 7779), instead of element 61184.

I agree that flick-missiles are now overused. When they were first released, I thought that they were a great idea, as they made it possible for small models to have firing projectiles. I didn't like them as much when later on when larger sets had flick-missiles. Larger sets should have blunts and other things. I have seen other examples of this with new Lego innovations;

-Flexible train track: At first it was good because it allowed builders to have train tracks exactly in the shape that they wanted where previous geometry didn't work. Later on, they were advertising them as replacements for both straight and curved, which both became scarce. The problem is that they make trains derail at fairly high speeds when in large lengths.

-Technic Linear Actuators: These cylinders extended with a screw-like design when an axle hole is rotated. They allowed crane arms to be stronger than ones using pneumatics. Pneumatics were still better for many things (but not all), and were often more fun. Now, there are quite a few sets with Linear actuators, but only one with pneumatics, which costs $250 Canadian.