Hubley Plastic Airship

[Tone]

I have a Hubley plastic airship; it was not expensive, and I have had it since about mid-1990s.

Toy airships of any kind are uncommon. This one closely resembles the NC9A Pilgrim of 1925, the gondola of which is preserved in the Smithsonian Institution. The Pilgrim was the first advertising airship for Goodyear. (Of course there were many earlier advertising airships, and many earlier Goodyear airships). The Pilgrim was derived from a 1920 Goodyear design for the US Army, the OA-1 / OB-1 observation airship, also known as the "Pony blimp." The USAF label on the sign is interesting. The shape of the insignia is molded into the envelope as a guide for the label.

I would like more information on this toy - time era, model number, etc. if possible.

[Tone]

Here is a Chinese plastic airship that measures 8 1/2". This one is based on the AD-500 that made its maiden flight in 1979. Though battery-powered, its action is similar to that of the European tin toy dirigibles made before World War One through the 1930s: it flies in a circle when suspended from the ceiling.

My notes tell me that I purchased it in a long-gone toy shop called Play Things on December 17, 1993. The manufacturer has three names: Botoy, Tai-Way and Shing Kee. Check out that glittering silver paint job, perfect for reflecting the sun's rays and preventing the lifting gas from overheating. Real AD-500s and AD-600s were often white, not silver.

[hovermd]

This airship was part of a set released by Woolworth's.

I'm guessing it's from the late 1950s or early 1960s.

The set featured a cool Hiller Hornet style helicopter which I've featured under a different post. See:

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1021&p=4843&hilit=hubley+helicopter#p4843

Here is a photo of the "Air-Sea Rescue Set" below:

Hubley Air-Sea Rescue Set by Woolworth's

By the way, this Hiller Hornet helicopter was featured in at least one other toy set that was released on a blister card...

[Tone]

Excellent! Thank you for the photograph and the great information. I did not know Hubley manufactured special sets for Woolworth.

[sampittes]

Fabulous,design of toys are very nice.Image show that you make nice quality toy product.I purchase your models as soon as possible.

[grwebster]

Sampiites
when people post images of toys here on the forum, they are not generally for sale. Don't ask the price by post, send a PM or email in the future.
There is a for sale section, all items there are for sale.