Aviation-Related Toys

The U-Fly-It reminded me of the Airfix Super Flight Deck. which worked on a similar idea except it was British and therefore (a) more complicated, (b) less functional, and (c) inifintely cooler  than it's American counterpart.

You launched the Phantom up a wire, it turned around at the top and you brought it back down to crash on the aircraft carrier deck.

The National Aviation Hall of Fame has a hands-on exhibit that is nearly the same as these toys.  I have to admit I played with it quite a bit last time I was there

I know the one you mean, Zack - I've shot a lot of landings on it while waiting for the computers I was working on there to reboot!

Here's one that's about 10 years before my time (interesting to note the Steve Canyon helmet):

Hal,

I had one of these, and the Steve Canyon helmet too!! 

Joe -

Hopefully everyone will excuse the plug, but, if you haven't seen these, they're must haves for Steve Canyon fans or anyone who has an interest in aviation of the era. Full disclosure: I consider John Ellis, the producer of the restorations, to be a friend of mine ... but I still pay full price for the DVDs! 

I go back a little further Hal, to WWII. I remember my favorite aviation toy was the Kix Airbase. I sent in my Kix boxtops and 25 cents. The airbase had a large foldout tarmac, and cardboard hangers that I had to assemble  There were several cardboard fighter planes as well.  I don't have any pictures to show, but maybe someone else remembers them.

Those look awesome!  If anybody wants to buy me a Christmas present...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160356264922

Gerald - isn't it amazing what you can find on the web these days?

I also had a Kix Airbase and  remember playing with it for many hours.  It was a great toy for it's day and It made you feel like you were part of the action.

Santa brought me this Remco toy one Christmas a long time ago. It was probably around 1964 because the airport was named Idlewild prior to JFK's assasination in '63. Dad would take us on Sunday drives to Idlewild to watch the Connies and DC4s and 707s operate.

You silly old men! Kix are for kids!

X-mas of 1986 after I was hooked on Top Gun, my dad bought me a dozen various Ertl die cast airplanes. I had my own squadron, complete with mom's ironing board aircraft carrier. Good times.....

Wow, Steve - I've never come across one of those! You inspired me to dig in a little bit, and there's a great description and more photos here: http://www.prestonmarketing.com/toys/kennedy/kennedy.html

Hi Steve- 

Can you maybe confirm or deny that an earlier issue of this Remco toy did, or did not have the record and/or headphones, hence no electronic equipment???

On a Wiki search, I did find a slightly different title for this toy, plus a release date of 1965, which would be around when I got an airport playset at age 4:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remco

"1965 Kennedy Airport Air Traffic Control Center"

All sources do agree that the "Remote Control" version appeared in '68, which is a bit after I played with my set.

Also, can you confirm it ever having the title of Idelwild, as this would mean an issue pre-1964, of course???

Possibly, do either of these MARX playsets look more familar as to what you had:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-MARX-1960-AA-INTERNATIONAL-JETPORT-PLAYSET-W-BOX_W0QQitemZ110454184608QQihZ001QQcategoryZ727QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26ps%3D6

Or this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Marx-International-Jetport-partial-set-3931_W0QQitemZ380173332938QQihZ025QQcategoryZ727QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26ps%3D6

Basically, I'm trying to pin down the exact toy I had!

BTW; nice to meet ya'll....I'm Hal's eccentric brother Chris

Christian Bryan

I had the Vertibird Rescue Ship version and flew around picking up astronauts. Man that was the coolest toy of all time back in the Apollo days.
Mine had the space theme a bit more than this pic though.