The Taiyo Aero Jet Fighter is a radio controlled model manufactured by Taiyo (Japan), and released into the Japanese market in 1987.
Features and Performance
In direct competition with the Taiyo Max Hopper 4WD for the ultimate off-road Taiyo RC, the performance and features are as follows:
- 9.6v 8xAA (12V Alkalines)
- Large Scale 1/14
- Dual Mabuchi 280 Motors
- Rear Wheel Drive (2WD)
- Top Speed 31km/h (19mph)
- Pistol Grip Controller with Handguard
- All Round Shocks
- Large Front Adjustable Wing and Super Large Rear Wing
- Rear Differential
If the Taiyo Lamborghini Countach is the king of on-road racers, then surely the this Aero Jet Fighter is the king of off-road racers, both with top speeds of 31km/h, the fastest of any Taiyo / Tyco radio controlled car, thanks to the dual Mabuchi 280 motors and 2WD system.
Speed vs Traction
The Aero Jet Fighter’s Dual Drive 2WD system provides for a higher top speed (31km/h), compared with the Max Hopper’s Dual Drive 4WD which offers increased traction but a reduced top speed due to the increased friction of driving 4 wheels.
Driving the Aero Jet Fighter feels much like a modern brushless RC – pressing the throttle indoors is a dangerous proposition as it immediately flies off and heads for the nearest set of ankles.
Overseas Variants
Sold in the US, UK, and other countries as the 1988 Tyco Twin Turbo Hopper, and the 1990 Tyco Twin Turbo Aero Hopper, and in Australia and New Zealand as the 1988 Metro Aero Phantom.
Recommendation
One of our Top 5 Tyco/Taiyo/Metro RC cars, just an incredible leap of technology for Taiyo just one year following the Jet Hopper / Turbo Hopper, it showed what they were truly capable of if they had a decent budget.
We can only imagine what they might be selling today in our local toy or department store had they survived the turmoltuous 90s in Japan/US… quite possibly we’d be picking up a brushless RC car in the same aisle as the Coca Cola and Doritos!
Pick one up in any of the variants you can while they are still reasonably priced (simply because most collectors don’t realise they exist yet!)
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