The cad prepared to take off (6)
I believe the answer is:
detach
'take off' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'the cad prepared' is the wordplay.
'prepared' indicates an anagram.
'the'+'cad'='thecad'
'thecad' anagrammed gives 'DETACH'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for detach that I've seen before include "Disengage (something) and remove it" , "Split off" , "Take away -- the cad (anag)" , "Remove from something else, say a coupon" , "free" .)