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This Page is Dedicated to the Mattel Dareplane and other great toys of the 70's
The 70's...
- Disco
- 8 Tracks
- Bell bottoms
- Toot-a-Loops and Take-n-Tape's
- Lava Lamps
- Black Lights
- Creepy Crawlers
Hot Wheels, Sizzlers- Marine Boy, Prince Planet
- Dareplane's and Vertibird's
Some of the worst fads belonged to the 70's. But some of the best toys where made back then as well. Back in the days when we weren't so worried about law suits. Back in the days of real toys <Arrrg>, like the Dareplane. With it's prop whirring away, this sucker flew fast and furious with you in control. I got in it's way a few times. Sure it stung a little. I still have two arms, 10 fingers and two eyes. I also have a boatload of fond memories.
The Dareplane was produced around 1972. It was the greatest toy I ever had. Predecessor to the popular Vertibird, the Dareplane was manufactured by Mattel.
The Dareplane was a small plastic biplane that flew in a circle around a central pylon. The pylon was connected to a control box that sat outside the flying circle. The operators controlled all plane functions from the control box.
The amazing thing about the Dareplane is that it was, in essence, a real plane. You didn't just fire it up and fly it. It took some time to develop your skills. Once you mastered it, you could loop, dive, and fly it like a real plane. In many ways it was the next best thing to having an RC plane in your house. I remember playing with my Dareplane endlessly for weeks. Like the Vertibird, this was an addicting toy.
Unfortunately, my plane broke a few weeks after I got it. It looks like that was the story for other people as well. I have heard that many planes broke on Christmas day! Mattel recalled the planes. I remember going with my dad to return my Dareplane. Boy was I sad! It turns out that Mattel never fixed or released the plane again. They all just disappeared into oblivion....
Anybody know what happened to www.vertibird.com, Airdevils.com, and www.robofly.com? If you know, please let me know!
Visit Whirlybird Central. Another great Vertibird/Chopper Command Site
* It appears that Robofly is now "Skybot." Skybot is a souped up Vertibird. It is very expensive, but has some really cool new features. I believe that Robofly was invented by Sam Rizzo. Mr. Rizzo ran the Robofly web site for a few years, and sold the Robofly directly. The latest incarnation can bee seen/purchased at Draganfly. Click on products and scroll down to Skybot.
Spoke to the guys at Draganfly. Looks like the inventor decided to sell the rights to Robofly. Draganfly seems to have picked up manufacture and distribution of the product. They have since renamed it Skybot (same product, different name).
It now appears that the Skybot is being sold on ebay. This may spell the end of Skybot. With the advent of Chopper command ($15.00) Skybot may have lost its luster.