| It wasn't long after the invention of the plane that the | | | | being done with them. Anyone with any money, fame |
| first toy planes started to be produced. To begin with, | | | | or power was travelling by plane. It is hardly surprising |
| they were hand-crafted from wood or metal, and | | | | that planes took on a mixture of glamour and heroism, |
| hand-painted to resemble the planes of the time, | | | | which boosted their popularity as a toy immensely. |
| whether it was the original Wright Brothers plane, the | | | | By the 1950s, toy planes were an established item, and |
| first passenger planes, or Second World War fighter | | | | were starting to go into mass-production. These new, |
| jets. | | | | cheaper toys were available to more people than ever |
| The toys were a hit straight away, both with children | | | | before, and their popularity has endured ever since. As |
| whose imaginations had been captured by real planes | | | | plastics became available, toy planes could be |
| and adults who were amazed at the invention. It was | | | | mass-manufactured even more cheaply, and more |
| not uncommon for a gentleman of the time to keep his | | | | imaginative designs started to take over from the |
| toy planes in a glass display case for visitors to look at, | | | | ultra-realistic ones of the past. |
| especially if he had been in one of the wars or made | | | | Today, toy planes are a hobby that is still enjoyed |
| his money from the aviation industry. | | | | worldwide by both kids and adults. There are many |
| The First and Second World Wars were fought | | | | different kinds of toy planes: there are |
| largely with planes, and both did a lot to increase their | | | | mass-manufactured plastic planes, hand-painted planes, |
| fame. Suddenly, the world seemed to be all about | | | | planes that you can make from kits, remote controlled |
| planes - war was being done with them, business was | | | | planes that really fly, and much more besides. |