30 Coolest Toy Airplanes for the Future Aviator in Your Life

Toy airplanes aren't just for kids. There's one for every age group, from toddlers to adults.

30 Coolest Toy Airplanes for the Future Aviator in Your Life

Kids and toy airplanes just go together. As many kids grow up dreaming about flying, their imaginations soar as they pretend to pilot a fighter jet or a passenger plane. Playing with toy airplanes is also a game that kids can share with siblings or friends.

But playing with toy planes has more benefits than just being fun. By running and launching or flying a plane, kids develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, physical development and visual tracking skills. These toys can also stimulate imagination and creativity as kids develop and carry out action stories.

Today, toy airplanes come in a wide variety of choices. There are basic models for babies, brightly colored, kid-safe ones for toddlers and young children, and more challenging remote-controlled toy planes for older kids and even adults. You can find toy planes made of wood, plastic or alloy metal; planes that open up to load cargo or passengers; or sets that include airport buildings, vehicles, passengers and crew. Some of them, including LEGO sets and Wonder Wheels Take-Apart Plane, give kids the extra challenge of assembling toys first.

Here’s our list of the 30 coolest toy airplanes for kids of all ages, from toddlers to adults, ranked by age appropriateness as well as a coolness factor.

30. Green Toys Fire Plane

Year released: 2020

Manufacturer: Green Toys

Age: 6 months to 6 years

The bright-orange Green Toys Fire Plane sprays water just like a real fire plane. Kids can easily grip the built-in handle to scoop up water through the front of the lightweight plane and let it stream out the back. The toy is perfect for the bath or pool. The fire plane is made from 100 percent recycled plastic milk bottles, so it’s environmentally friendly, easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Green Toys donates a portion of sales of this model to organizations that support people and communities affected by the California wildfires.

29. Hape Little Copter Wooden Toy

Year released: 2012

Manufacturer: Hape

Age: 10+ months

The Hape Little Copter wooden toy has a spinning rotor and wheels and is sized just right for a toddler's hands. Young children can roll the toy on the ground or make it fly through the air. The toy helps toddlers develop fine and gross motor skills as well as their sense of play and imagination. The copter is made with solid wood construction, child-safe paint and lots of round edges, so it’s safe for even very young children. The wooden copter is the perfect first toy plane.

28. Cool Toys My First Airplane Toy

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: Cool Toys

Age: 1+ year

The Cool Toys My First Airplane is both fun and educational for toddlers. The toy provides sensory stimulation with flashing lights, music, engine sounds and buttons that are easy to push. The plane has a learning mode that teaches toddlers ABCs, counting and simple words and phrases, and a music mode that plays melodies. Children can develop fine and general motor skills as they push the plane and manipulate the oversized kid-friendly buttons. The toy is made of non-toxic, BPA-free plastic and doesn’t have any small parts that might be a choking hazard.

27. Tegu Jet Plane Magnetic Block Set

Year released: 2017

Manufacturer: Tegu

Age: 1+ years

The Tegu Jet Plane Magnetic Block Set consists of six magnetic building blocks that can be made into a plane or rearranged into other shapes. The durable solid wood blocks are kid-safe, have magnets hidden inside and are sealed with non-toxic, water-based paints in bright colors. The set is easily portable and kids can play with the blocks when traveling, in the car, at a restaurant or at home. The toy maker Tegu is a for-profit social enterprise that sources products and creates jobs in Honduras.

26. Kiddieland Mickey Mouse Ride-on Airplane

Year released: 2016

Manufacturer: Kiddieland

Age: 1 to 3 years

Young children can ride the Kiddieland Mickey Mouse Ride-On Airplane and pretend to fly a plane. They can operate cockpit controls, including an ignition button to hear an engine start, a stop button for braking noise and controls for lights, music and words. The plane’s propellers are made from soft foam and spin with button control. Kids can use the steering wheel to turn the plane in any direction and a rear handle stops them falling off or can be used to push the plane. The wings fold up for compact storage.

25. Liberty Imports My First Remote Control Airplane Toy

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: Liberty Imports

Age: 18+ months

The Liberty Imports My First Remote Control Airplane Toy is an easy-to-use, remote-controlled toy for young children. The plane comes in bright, kid-friendly colors with controls shaped like a steering wheel. Kids can easily make the plane go forward or back, turn on the light or play beeping noises and music, using simple oversized buttons. The plane also comes with a removable pilot and pet figures. The playset is made with non-toxic ABS plastic and soft edges that stand up to rigorous play.

24. Green Toys Helicopter

Year released: 2019

Manufacturer: Green Toys

Age: 2+ years

The Green Toys Helicopter is fun, sturdy and kid-safe, with no sharp edges. The brightly colored helicopter has front and rear rotors that rotate, skids on the bottom for easy landings and includes a pilot bear figure. The toy is made from 100 percent recycled plastic milk bottles, so it’s also environmentally friendly, easy to clean and dishwasher safe. The helicopter stands up to active play, so kids can pass it on to younger siblings later. The toy is available in blue or green.

23. LEGO Duplo Town Airport with Airplane

Year released: 2018

Manufacturer: LEGO

Age: 2 to 5 years

The LEGO Duplo Town Airport with Airplane set includes a buildable passenger plane, a terminal with luggage slide, a boarding gate that opens and closes, a revolving air traffic control tower, suitcase, cargo and three action figures. Kids can lift the plane’s removable roof to load luggage and passengers. The LEGO Duplo kits have larger blocks and simpler designs so toddlers and pre-school children can put them together more easily. Video instructions for assembling the airport and plane are available for kids and parents to watch.

22. 3 Bees & Me Airplane Toys

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: 3 Bees & Me

Age: 3+ years

The 3 Bees & Me Airplane Toys is a set of four different planes in bright kid-friendly colors that provide hours of imaginative and fun play. The planes are designed to be easily gripped by small hands, and the set is perfect for sharing with siblings or friends. The toys are made of sturdy, durable plastic and stand up to rough play. They’ll also keep young kids engaged while traveling, at a restaurant or on a car trip. The set is perfect for birthday parties, goodie bags, stocking stuffers and more.

21. Green Toys Cargo Plane

Year released: 2020

Manufacturer: Green Toys

Age: 3+ years

Kids can load up the Green Toys Cargo Plane with luggage, cargo or the plastic mini-car that’s included. The rear door snaps down to double as a loading ramp. The plane is sturdy and kid-safe, with three wheels, rotors that turn smoothly and a handle for easy gripping. The toy set is made from 100 percent recycled plastic milk bottles, and it stands up to active play.

20. HSOMid Alloy Stealth Bomber

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: HSOMid

Age: 3+ years

The MSOMid Alloy Stealth Bomber is made from sturdy, die-cast metal alloy and has realistic fighter jet details. The plane has a pull-back function that kids can engage to make the plane taxi along the floor. They can also turn on a rear-wheel switch that activates lights and the sounds of a jet taking off. The metal alloy construction ensures that the plane can stand up to active play and bumps and crashes well.

19. Toysery A380 Airplane Toy

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: Toysery

Age: 3+ years

The Toysery A380 Airplane Toy has a number of cool functions that younger kids will love, including flashing LED lights and musical sounds. The plane features a bump-and-go function, which moves the toy up and down at random intervals, so kids can pretend it’s taking off or landing. The Toysery A380 toy features built-in sensors that detect an obstacle and reroutes the plane. The body is made of ABS plastic, which resists knocks, bumps and moderate crashes.

18. Fat Brain Toys Playviators

Year released: 2019

Manufacturer: Fat Brain

Age: 3 to 5 years

The Fat Brain Toys Playviator has a weight that spins the propeller as kids move the plane. The weight and gears are in clear compartments, so kids can watch the mechanical movement as they tilt the plane up and down. The Playviators plane is a great way for kids to learn about basic engineering principles and will stimulate imagination and creativity. The durable kid-safe toy is made of high-quality materials, with no sharp edges and stands up to active play. It's available in blue or red.

17. Lidi RC 25 Pack Transport Construction Airplane Toy

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: LiDi RC

Age: 3 to 6 years

The 25 Pack Transport Construction Airplane Toy set includes a large cargo plane, six construction vehicles, road signs and a construction worker figure. Kids can open the plane to load and unload cargo with the built-in crane and use the fold-out sliding bridges for vehicles. The top of the plane has buttons that control lights and sounds, such as taking off, landing and an airport broadcast. Kids can enjoy playing with the cargo plane or driving the construction vehicles and using the road signs.

16. SAITI Firefighting Car Toys Set With Transport Cargo Airplane

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: SAITI

Age: 3 to 6 years

The Firefighting Car Toys Set with Transport Cargo Airplane comes with a plane, six emergency vehicles and a large printed playmat. Kids can open the plane and load the vehicles using a ramp hidden in the nose cone. The plane features inertia wheels to glide on flat surfaces, lights and jet sounds. The airplane is made of non-toxic ABS plastic, while the fire-fighting vehicles are made from die-cast alloy. The playmat depicts urban roads, roundabouts and buildings. Kids can play with the cargo plane or drive the emergency vehicles on the mat.

15. TEMI Mist Spray Cargo Plane

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: lichenfeng

Age: 3 to 6 years

The TEMI Mist Spray Cargo Plane comes with six die-cast construction vehicles that fit on rails into the cargo hold. The plane emits a mist spray like a jet plume and includes the sound effects of a plane taking off. Kids can also light up the engines and the cockpit with built-in buttons and push the plane to make it glide for a long distance on flat surfaces. The set comes with a large playmat, showing a runway, roads and roundabouts, giving kids the double fun of playing with a plane and with trucks.

14. Melissa & Doug Wooden Airplane

Year released: 2016

Manufacturer: Melissa & Doug

Age: 3 to 7 years

The Melissa & Doug Wooden Airplane set comes with nine pieces: the plane, three passengers, a pilot and four suitcases. All pieces are kid-safe with rounded edges, smooth rolling wheels and non-toxic paint. Kids can load the plane with passengers and luggage and put the pilot in the cockpit. The fun and educational toy helps kids develop sorting, matching and counting skills. The Melissa & Doug website has a printable list of suggested games and challenges kids can use with this set to learn through play.

13. UNIH Airplane Transport Plane Set and Military Vehicles

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: UNIH

Age: 3 to 7 years

The UNIH Transport Plane Set includes a cargo plane, with a body that opens to store vehicles and six mini-army vehicles, including a military helicopter. The military vehicles are designed to fit a child’s hand. The plane has friction-powered wheels, which let it glide over long distances on flat surfaces with just a push. The aircraft interior has rails to slide vehicles in and out. Kids can use sand, grass or blocks to make a military base and enjoy double the fun playing with the plane and the vehicles.

12. Super Wings Transform-A-Bot 4 Pack Collection

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71sN8191IQL._AC_SX522_.jpg

Year released: 2016

Manufacturer: Auldey

Age: 3 to 8 years

The Super Wings Transform-A-Bot 4 Pack Set includes four favorite characters from the hit preschool series, Super Wings. The bots transform from robots into a stunt plane, a helicopter, a jet plane and a cargo plane in three easy steps. Kids can follow the storyline of the series and transform the bots to fly off and help kids in trouble. The set is great for siblings or friends to share, and kids can take the bots when traveling or going in the car.

11. Wonder Wheels Take-Apart Airplane

Year released: 2019

Manufacturer: Wonder Wheels

Age: 3 to 8 years

The Wonder Wheels Take-Apart Airplane is both fun and educational. The toy comes in bright, kid-friendly colors. Young children can easily put the plane’s 25 parts together with a simple toy drill, nuts and bolts — and then take them apart. These actions stimulate hand-eye coordination and learning as well as mechanical and fine-motor skills. The cockpit window comes out to reveal a detailed dashboard, while the engines, wheels, wings and fuselage can all be taken apart. The assembled plane has moving parts, including a spinning propeller and rolling wheels.

10. CUKU 2-Pack LED Foam Throwing Plane

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: CUKU

Age: 3 to 9 years

This double pack of CUKU LED foam throwing planes contains two brightly colored foam gliders with LED lights. The toys are made with environmentally safe EPP polymer, which is lightweight, flexible and impact resistant. The planes are also safe to use, with rounded edges and won’t hurt kids in an impact. The flashing LED lights add to the fun and allow kids to play at night. The planes come disassembled and are easy to put together and take apart. Kids can insert the tail wing to fly the plane in either horizontal or reverse mode.

9. Melissa & Doug Decorate Your Own Wooden Plane

Year released: 2020

Manufacturer: Melissa & Doug

Age: 4 to 8 years

The Melissa & Doug Decorate Your Own Wooden Plane lets kids build and paint their own customized wooden airplane. The kit comes complete with wooden parts, wheels, axle, glue, paints, paintbrush and stickers so kids can create their own unique plane. This fun, educational toy helps kids improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and stimulates their creativity and imagination. The kit is perfect as a solo project or for birthday parties, craft classes, school groups and more.

8. Faber-Castell Paper Airplane Squad

https://www.fabercastell.com/products/paper-airplane-squadron-1994000

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: Faber-Castell

Age: 6+ years

The Faber-Castell Paper Airplane Squad kit includes enough colorful printed paper and stickers to make 20 customized paper airplanes. They’re perfect for letting kids' imaginations soar. The kit includes instructions for folding different types of paper planes, including traditional, lion and standard styles. Kids can enjoy making these on a rainy day, on trips, at school, on a sleepover or just on their own. The Airplane Squad is also perfect as party favors or for groups of kids to make and launch together.

7. LEGO City Passenger Airplane Set

Year released: 2020

Manufacturer: LEGO

Age: 6+ years

The LEGO CIty Passenger Airplane set includes a passenger plane, a terminal building with control tower and luggage conveyor, an airport transport vehicle with a car elevator, rolling staircase and nine mini-figures. The set even comes with a Poppy Starr figure, from the "LEGO City Adventures" TV series and her red convertible car. Kids can load the car, luggage and passengers onto the plane, using the removable cargo door and roof. The LEGO instructions are downloadable in digital form, so kids can zoom in and rotate the design visually as they follow the directions.

6. LEGO Ninjago Legacy Boulder Blaster Airplane Toy

Year released: 2021

Manufacturer: LEGO

Age: 8+ years

The LEGO Ninjago Legacy Boulder Blaster set includes a ninja airplane that shoots missiles, a ninja prison and four Ninjago mini-action figures. The figures include ninjas Cole, Lloyd and Kai Legacy and their enemy, Eyezor. Kids can lock up the bad guy in prison or use the blaster to rescue Cole and his friends. Assembling the 449-piece kit will help older kids develop hand-eye coordination, concentration and fine motor skills. The Ninjago legacy set is a great holiday or birthday present for LEGO Ninjago fans.

5. Sky Bandits GMP 27 Balsa Wood Gliders

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: Granite Mountain Products

Age: 8+ years

The Sky Bandits GMP 27 Balsa Wood Gliders come disassembled in a pack of four, and kids can build them quickly using the easy tab and slot construction. The planes have a plastic propeller powered by a rubber band, so kids can simply wind it up and launch. The plane’s 12-inch wings allow it to glide up to 25 feet. The classic design has been around for decades, and parents may remember building and flying this style when they were kids. The set of four toy gliders can be used for birthday parties, goodie bags, stocking stuffers and more.

4. Syma Remote Control Helicopter S107H-E

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: Syma

Age: 8+ years

The Syma Remote Control Helicopter is a more challenging remote-control flying toy that’s better for older children with parental supervision, teens and even adults. For easier handling, the RC Syma has one-key takeoff and landing controls and an altitude lock function that allows it to hover at a fixed height. The body of the helicopter is made of a sturdy durable metal alloy that stands up to crashes and collisions, and the controls include an emergency stop function that immediately shuts off the rotor. A built-in gyro enables a full range of flight motions.

3. POWERUP 2.0 Electric Paper Airplane Conversion Kit

Year released: 2012

Manufacturer: Tailor Toys

Age: 8 to adult

For most kids, their first toy plane was made out of a sheet of paper. Getting it in the air usually involved a lot of running and throwing. The Powerup 2.0 Electric Paper Airplane Conversion Kit delivers a more efficient version. Kids can fold up a sheet of paper into a plane, attach the battery-powered carbon fiber propeller shaft unit and launch. The heavy-duty unit charges in 20 seconds and gives the plane a full 30 seconds of flight. The kit includes directions for making four different types of planes.

2. LBKR Tech Remote Control Styrofoam Airplane

Year released: Unknown

Manufacturer: LBKR Tech

Age: 14+ years

The LBKR Tech Remote Control Styrofoam Airplane is strong and durable and won’t break even if it crashes. The lightweight, easy-to-use plane is suitable for beginning remote-control flyers. Kids can launch the plane by either throwing or sliding, and the six-gyro system makes the plane stable in the air. The remote control has a range of 250 to 300 feet, and the plane’s rechargeable battery gives it about 20 minutes of flight time. The manufacturer recommends that kids under 14 years have adult supervision while using it.

1. POWERUP 4.0 Electric Paper Airplane Conversion Kit

Year released: 2021

Manufacturer: Tailor Toys

Age: Teens to adult

The Powerup 4.0 Electric Paper Airplane Conversion Kits lets you turn paper, foam or balsa wood planes into an app-controlled DIY remote-control toy. The unit features a battery-powered carbon fiber shaft unit with twin propellers and a flight computer that corrects course and prevents nosedives. Connect the converted plane to a smartphone via Bluetooth, and use the Power Up app to control flight. The app includes an Acro mode for automated stunts, including loops, barrel rolls and hammerheads. The Powerup 4.0 unit stands up to crash landings and gives 10 minutes of flight time on one charge.