Galactic fountains and galactic winds

The development of galactic fountain theories is reviewed with special emph asis on the different approaches and concepts that have been used in the pa st. In particular the outstanding contribution of Franz Kahn to our physica l understanding is appreciated. It is argued that galactic outflows represe nt an essential phase during galaxy evolution. The dynamics of the outflow imprints its signature on the emission spectra of soft X-rays, which may we ll be observable with AXAF and XMM. Finally, some remarks about winds in st arburst galaxies and AGN are made.