Jimmy Jet – Nostalgia Central

This innovative battery-powered flight simulator toy was manufactured by the New Jersey-based Deluxe Reading toy company (the manufacturer of the Johnny Seven OMA) in the early 1960s.

The large tabletop cockpit console gave children an immersive experience of piloting a jet, using mechanical and electrical components to simulate flight (this was before the widespread adoption of personal computers).

A 6×8-inch illuminated screen featured a silhouette of a jet flying over a rolling landscape, and a throttle allowed the junior pilot to speed up or slow down the moving landscape.

A built-in motor produced a “growling” acceleration sound that varied with throttle position.

Unlike most toy brands of the era, Deluxe Reading did not sell through traditional department stores, and Jimmy Jet was sold primarily in food markets and supermarkets (such as A&P).

The toys were packaged in massive, eye-catching boxes and placed on the very top shelves of grocery aisles (in typically unused space) to grab children’s attention while their parents shopped.

The Jimmy Jet is considered a “holy grail” for many vintage toy collectors due to its size and the complexity of its moving parts.

Finding one in working condition with its original missiles and box is extremely rare.