Skyhawks

I feel privileged growing up at a time when, after eons of wishing to, mankind finally sets foot upon the moon. Now it seems to be a ho-hum event which perplexes me. I don't think I can meet the requirements of being an astronaut but always loved to watch aircraft. As a youngster, I loved to watch this cartoon. I liked it so much that I wrote the Mattel toy makers at that time and suggested they make a Skyhawks Picture Maker Kit. After all, Barbie and Hot Wheels, I believe, had one. Of course, they wrote back stating they are happy for the feedback from consumers but could not follow through on my request. I now get my kicks on Microsoft's Flight Simulator and fly "cyber" Cessnas but like to think back to the time, as a kid, when drawing them seemed to be really cool.

I love this cartoon. I was 7 when it was on. I never missed it! Watching it again, I notice how precise the details on the planes were (even the D/G says "Cessna"). That is a REAL 1969 Cessna 310P! I have several hundred hours in P models.

I also liked the flying advise at the end of each episode. Being a flight instructor also, it is accurate if somewhat abbreviated for young minds.

I wish someone did a complete series set of DVD's for this cartoon.

Thsi cartoon fed my flying addiction as a young lad. My dad was in the Army Air Corps (just like Cap Wilson) although as a mechanic.

Dad was able to fly with me several times before he passed. Dad always loved flying with me and watching me fly.

Skyhawks was one of my favorite cartoons, though it was on all too briefly. The producers really knew their stuff, as it was quite accurate and informative for young viewers. Being an aviation nut when this show was on, I couldn't get enough of it. I really hope this show turns up on DVD soon.

Does anyone know where I can get a recording of the theme song? It really ROCKED and to this day I love it. I have a recording of the closing version of the song which I made with a cheap cassette recorder off of the even cheaper three-inch TV speaker. I'd like to find a higher fidelity version, and the version of the opening theme (which included lyrics -- the closing theme was instrumental). Can anyone help me? Thanks.

It's immensely gratifying to see someone besides me remembers these two shows (including the companion "Hot Wheels")...no one I have ever spoken to does. I particularly liked Skyhawks because most of my immediate family are/were licensed pilots (Dad, Mom, me), and it was near unbelievable to see a kids' show devoted to our passion. 35 years later, the signature songs still rings clearly in my mind. If only cartoon Channel re-ran the REAL old classics...

And while we're at it, I'll throw in a comment about "Hot Wheels." Several have commented on that show's page that the makers of the toy saw a marketing opportunity in Saturday morning television. I may well be wrong in this, but I thought the show came before the toys. I certainly don't recall any companion set of toys coming out for "Skyhawks," and according to IMDb, that show stayed on the air longer.

One of the "shorts" this show had was one of the SH characters giving aviation tips to its (presumably) young viewers. Info on aviation weather, license ratings oxygen requirements at altitude ect. Seemed to assume its viewers aspired to become flyers.

A lot of airplane shows & movies seem to have been made by somebody who doesn't know an airplane from a roller skate.They sometimes have pseudo-technical jargon that's almost tatamount to jibberish. Almost like just an attempt to sound technical with enough jargon to indicate they heard some genuine terms, but using them in a way akin to Charlie Sheen/Ditch Brody's attempt at Russian in Terminal Velocity. I mean the part where Brody's being awarded by the Russians & saying "The busses don't work here I'm an @&$ h01e" I think there's some tendancy to assume genuine aeronautical terms would whiz over people's heads.

It was ironic to see a kid's cartoon seem to almost lead the way in bridging the gap between aviation & the viewers of a show about the same. A lead few aviation dramas seemed to have followed since.