The Taiyo Aero Super Jet is a 1:16 scale radio control car released onto the Japanese market in 1987. It’s a 4WD off-road vehicle, with shocks all round, and off-road tires.
Intended as an Off-Road Basher, it’s suitable for mud, rocks, dirt, etc., with a higher speed, but less capable off-road than its 4WD predecessor.
Performance
Powered by 9.6V ‘Turbo’ 8xAA batteries, and with a 1:16 scale, it’s both faster and larger than it’s successor, the Taiyo Super Jet II, plus it has the addition of 4WD.
With a top speed of 23km/h, it matches the Jet Hopper MK1 , a 2WD vehicle released a year earlier.
History
The Super Jet series has a slightly naming history, with this original being known as both Super Jet 4WD, and Aero Super Jet 4WD depending on country and packaging, per photo below.
Adding to that, it’s successor released in the same year, the Taiyo Super Jet II looks nearly identical on the box, however it’s smaller at 1:18 scale (vs 1:16), slower with 7.2V (vs 9.6V), and only 2WD (vs 4WD).
Much of this isn’t immediately noticeable when looking at both cars.
The most obvious giveaway that you’re looking at an original Super Jet 4WD is the battery compartment which is sectioned off to allow the drive shaft of the 4WD to go through the centre. The successor Super Jet II has a regular open battery compartment.
Recommendation
The Aero Super Jet 4WD / Super Jet 4WD is a high quality, fairly quick, off-road four wheel drive radio control model which has everything you need to have fun in the dirt, grass, sand, or mud.
If you can manage to locate one, we’d highly recommend getting it, especially if you’ve been put off by the weaker ‘Super Jet II’ which does’nt do its namesake justice.
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