Fans Hobby VE-01 Air Eagle (G.i. Joe Classified Sky Hawk)
Like Transformers Third Party figures, this one comes with an outer plastic baggie.
Optional stickers included.
A mini screw driver is included. While there are no actual screws that are need to be tightened, you will need this to pop open the locks on the toy when you plan to return it back to the packaging. The screw driver actually functions as a spudger.
A short-range VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft used by G.i. Joe for short range reconnaissance and air support, the Sky Hawk is one of the Joe team’s more versatile vehicles. Highly maneuverable and armed with powerful weaponry, the Sky Hawk can traverse most environments with great speed, providing critical tactical support in and out of combat.
When fully assembled, the toy spans roughly 15.5 x 8 inches in dimension.
To recreate the Sky Hawk’s VTOL gimmick, the horizontal airfoil with deflection panels and twin rotating turbofan engines on the Air Eagle are on ratchet joints. They make a very satisfying click whenever you rotate them. It can be a bit tricky to assemble the wings though, due to the ratchet joint design.
The toy features light up LEDs. You plug them into the tail section of the toy. It requires 3xAG13s (aka LR44s) to run. Batteries NOT included.
LEDs can be located on several areas on the underside of the vehicle.
The control panel is also supposed to light up. It’s a shame I didn’t have any batteries on hand to demonstrate how cool the lighting effects are for this piece.
Fans Hobby also included this little detail, an optional line runner so you can tie the vehicle up on a string and have it “glide” through the air while on a track. Pretty nifty.
For armaments, the Air Eagle comes with missile pods above its canopy, missiles attached to the underside of its wings, twin larger Sidewinder air-to-surface missiles located on its landing skis, as well as twin Vulcans on its sides and a minigun underneath its carriage.
Naturally, the canopy opens up to allow most 6 inch-scaled figures to ride inside.
Some really nice detailing on the seat and interiors.
A second flight stick is on the side of the c0ckpit.
I decided to use G.i. Joe Classified Dial-tone here since I was already working on his review.
He fits quite perfectly!
I really love how clearly you can see the pilot inside through the windows!!
Overall, I love it! A pretty amazing set! The size, details and light-up gimmicks all make this vehicle super impressive to look at!
The downsides are probably all the plastic baggies you have to take out to get the vehicle together, plus assembling the vehicle also takes some patience when it comes to the wings, as they are somewhat tricky to get in right. Oh, you can also take the vehicle apart to return to the box if you wish, just remember to use the screwdriver as a spudger to help pry certain connections loose (the landing skis and battery cover mostly).
Price-wise, it’s also a bit on the pricey side, but I think it’s worth it when you see it fully assembled and all lit up. I somehow don’t see Hasbro doing the Skyhawk to this level of detail.
Gold
