Air Raiders (Toyline)

Manufactured by Hasbro
Released in 1987
Via In The 80s, Retroland, and Air Raiders Tripod page

Air Raiders was a failed but very fleshed out toyline with 2 inch action figures with air powered, missile firing vehicles. Air Raiders was obviously a new big thing for Hasbro at the time, complete with a comic book series, coloring books, etc. The toyline featured warring factions (The Air Raiders and The Tyrants of Wind) with information inserts featuring a large background story on the factions and characters.

According to The Air Raiders Tripod page, "Among the flurry of toy ideas in the 1980's, Hasbro came up with the line of the Air Raiders.  It was quite an interesting concept, utilizing air firing missles, unique vehicles, and 2 inch figures.  The line was unsuccessful, probably due to under exposure with no cartoon or other merchandise to compliment the toy line.  Air Raiders only lasted one series, but they remain a neat facet in the history of the 80's action figure boom."

According to Retroland, "If Hasbro’s noteworthy ensemble of air and land vehicles with their aerodynamic designs didn’t impress, the names and accoutrements certainly did. Toys such as Wind Razor and Twin Lightning not only offered fantastic monikers, but features that took them beyond the tried and tossed hand-pushed toys of the past. The secret to Air Raiders was found in the name itself as designers implemented air-powered missile launchers into other flying vehicles such as Thunderhammer, Man-O-War, and Wind Seeker. The Tyrants of the Wind flagship Dragonwind featured an air-launched glider and the Air Raider land cruiser Storm Dagger could even be launched from its very own air-compression platform. Adding two-inch tall poseable action figures gave you the beginnings of your very own fleet. These drivers and pilots could be purchased separately in packs of five, with more Raiders found in the Battle Squad pack and the Enforcer pack unleashing more Tyrants. Perhaps no accessory was quite as cool as the Command Outpost, the Air Raider base. Along with twin missile launchers and six action figures, the Command Outpost also had an air-activated avalanche, useful for crushing the occasional incursion of pesky Tyrants. Hasbro even rewarded fans with mail-in offers that included maps, gliders, extra missiles, and even… Aerozar himself!"

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