Flying is a symbol of freedom. (Duh.) While most things on Earth are stuck down here on the ground (thanks a lot, gravity), some lucky creatures—like birds and bees and hang gliders—get to soar through the clouds and taste the sky.

We can't help but be a little bit jealous.

Of course, this is exactly how Buzz Lightyear thinks of himself when he first arrives in Andy's room. This guy knows he's not a toy—he's a space ranger. It's his mission to save the universe and fight evil.

Plus, he can fly:

HAMM: Oh, impressive wingspan. Very good.

WOODY: Oh, what? What? These are plastic. He can't fly.

BUZZ: They are a terillium-carbonic alloy, and I can fly.

WOODY: No, you can't.

BUZZ: Yes, I can. […]I tell you, I could fly around this room with my eyes closed!

WOODY: Okay, Mr. Lightbeer, prove it.

BUZZ: All right then, I will…

And, of course, Buzz does fly around the room (with a little help from some happy accidents), but his image of himself is preserved. Woody's not impressed—"That wasn't flying! That was falling with style!"—but all the other toys think Buzz is just the greatest.

He Will Go Sailing No More

But this all goes down the drain when Buzz accidentally sees a commercial for himself on the television at Sid's house. It's as if his creators are trying to rub it in when they declare that he's "not a flying toy."

Poor Buzz. He tries one last ditch effort to fly out the window, but falls to the bottom of Sid's staircase and snaps his arm off instead. It hurts in more ways than one.

Eventually, Buzz figures out that he doesn't need to fly to be important to one very awesome kid named Andy. And then he does fly—kind of. As Buzz is soaring into the sky with a rocket taped onto his back, he springs out his wings, cuts the rocket loose, and soars into Andy's car. Even Woody has to admit it's pretty impressive, but Buzz knows the truth. He's just falling with style—and that's okay with him.