Popular Toy Helicopters
The Remco Whirlybird
The Remco Whirlybird (Remco Style number 712) was a very popular toy around
1963-65. It was modelled directed after the US Air Force Piasecki H-21
dual-rotor utility helicopter, used in the earliest years of the Vietnam
Conflict (later it would be replaced by the CH-47 Chinook dual-rotor copter).
The Whirlybird was made of white plastic, and was almost three feet in
length! It took 2 large D cell batteries for the motors, which turned the
2 rotors, made the wheels move forward, and which would operate the cargo
cable. The set came with a platoon of "little green Army men" having a
jeep and a howitzer (artillery).
The Whirlybird typically sells for $200-250, being in excellent
operating condition, with original box, and most of the Army men and their
jeep and howitzer. The copter alone with no box and no Army pieces would
like sell for $100-125.
Update February 2002: Green plastic
Whirlybirds found on Ebay!!!
Thanks to a visitor to this site, I have now discovered there were 2 green
variations of the RemcoWhirlybird:
 |
A "1st Air Cavalry" model apparently commenorating the
"First Cav" division going to Vietnam. Note in the Monkey
Division model below, the triangular insignia is the half-white and
half-red Monkey Division logo. |
 |
A Monkey Division model, part of Remco's popular Monkey Division line
of military toys, clearly taking advantage of the growing Vietnam War
and likely boy's interest in playing "army" Vietnam-style. |
The Mattel Vertibird
The Mattel Vertibird is one of the most requested toys by visitors to my
toy-related web pages. I was all grown up by then, so I never owned one.
The Vertibird was made by Mattel, and appeared on the scene around 1970,
lasting for about 10 years with various special models. Unlike the Whirlybird,
the Vertibird could actually fly, and was controlled by a wire connected
to the base unit.
The Vertibird typically sells for about $200-250, being in excellent
operating condition, with original box, and operating base unit.
Back to the home page