At-a-glance information:

You may remember the anecdote I mentioned before wherein there is always a toy that you had as a kid that really looked good on the box, but when you got it home and played with it, it was not quite what you thought it was.

So it went for me, when I was 7 and my parents bought me a Voice Control Kennedy Airport. Now, you imagine you are 7. You can read, but you are awfully impressionable. Look at the box to the left and tell me what you think this thing would have done. For me, it was obvious, you spoke into the mike, and somehow controlled the planes....right? I mean, it IS voice control, right???!!!

Well, not exactly. As the fun value of this toy was very limited (about one afternoon), it is very interesting from a collectable standpoint.

What you got was a record player built in to the control tower. This played tiny records with (supposedly) real tower radio transmissions on them. The sounds went out a hollow tube to the headset. It really did work, you can hear them telling weather reports, giving take off clearance, etc. Every time you tipped the tower back a little, a new message would play. However, THAT WAS IT. YOU controlled the planes, which were just molded plastic and didn't even have wheels.

To add to the cheeseyness, the "field" was basically like a large game board that folded open. They threw in a hanger too.

It seems that in the late sixties, Remco had a lot of stuff on the market in which product descriptions really kind of stretched the truth about the item. Hard to believe that this came from the same company that made the Barracuda Submarine.

Ok, ok, I still kind of like it, and wanted it back for the collection.

	Here is the complete view of the set. Notice my simulation of the jet taking off. This is the closest one would ever get to having something 'take off'.
	Here is the Lear Jet parked in the holding area.
	Here is some detail on the tower and its cardboard inserts. I am glad the radar antennae is there, but it does nothing but freely spin.
	A plastic hanger can accomodate some of the planes. This is a single plastic unit. Notice the old airline logos. American Airlines, United and TWA 60s logos are on the hanger top and on the planes. Planes are one piece of plastic, with nubs for wheels.
	The helicoter helipad snaps into the front of the airliner terminal.
	The top of the tower is hinged. By opening it, it reveals the hidden record player. There is a needle in the lid that is suspended and on a hinge, and when the lid closes, it plys the record below. There is a diaphragm in the arm, and a hollow tube connects to the back of it and runs out the back. This is where the black tube of the headset connects.
	Here is a close up of the suspended needle.
	The headset connects to the hollow tube allowing the user to hear the recorded messages from the player.
	The set comes with one black and one red record. They have an alignment hole. Each side plays, and by lifting the lid slightly, another recorded message will be heard.
	Servicing may include replacing the rubber drive belt. To do this, remove the battery panel cover.
	Carefully remove the cardboard surround.
	This exposes the turntable and driver motor. The rubber band degenerates and weakens. This is my original one, but will slip. So I just don't close the lid all the way and it plays fine, probably saving wear on the records. You can replace this with a rubber band or other drive belt, but make sure it is not too tight a fit, as it will bind the little motor.
	With a little imagination......!

Other interesting notes:

Mine still works after all these years, and the sound is not bad!

Remco also maid a version of this with a space theme. God Forbid.

Take me back home