TWICE THE FUN: TOY TAKES TO LAND AND AIR REMOTE-CONTROL XPV DEBUTS.

Byline: JULIA M. SCOTT Staff Writer

One if by land, two if by sea, three if by land and air?

Toy-lovers can navigate both dirt and sky with the XPV, a new radio-controlled gizmo made by JAKKS Pacific Inc. in Malibu. The ultra-lightweight toy looks like a jet on two thin plastic wheels.

``We're the first to combine car and plane in one toy,'' said JAKKS marketing executive Michael Bernstein.

But they're being pursued closely by rival toymaker Spin Master, which will launch Air Hogs Storm Launcher about a month after the XPV debuts.

JAKKS designed the XPV to be cheaper and easier to fly than hobby-grade planes, which can cost hundreds of dollars, but with top-notch performance for a toy.

The hard foam gizmo zips along at about 25 mph and can take off from the ground or by tossing it in the air. The XPV, which stands for Xtreme Performance Vehicle, can soar at altitudes of 250 feet.

It runs on a lithium ion battery, similar to what powers cell phones, and lasts for five to 20 minutes before needing a recharge. The car-jet should hit the shelves next month.

The XPV is JAKKS' first foray into radio-controlled flying objects, and it already has competition.

The Storm Launcher travels at similar speeds as the XPV and has a comparable battery life, according to Conor Forkan, brand development director at Spin Master. The Storm Launcher should be on the market in September.

The XPV is cheaper at $59.99, compared to Storm Launcher's $79.99 sticker price. Both require batteries that sell separately for $29.99 each.

The Storm Launcher has three operating settings, beginner, intermediate and advanced, and is for ages 16 and above.

``It takes some practice, some getting used to,'' said Harold Chizick, a marketing executive at Spin Master.

The XPV is geared toward the 8-year-old and up crowd, but still takes practice to fly.

``They're both pretty cool,'' said toy analyst Jonathan Samet, publisher of The Toy Book. He's seen videotape of both vehicles in action and said the Storm Launcher's ability to skim water is an ``added feature.''

``They're absolutely going to be in competition,'' said Samet, who added that ``the marketplace is big enough for both of them.''

One issue that both toys face is durability.

Hobbyist Robin Hambley, who runs Robin's Hobby in Glendale, says his main complaint about flying toys like the XPV and Storm Launcher is that they don't last.

``Typically those little planes are good for one flight,'' said Hambley, who has not flown either toy. ``They crash and then that's it. But I'd have to check it out. If I can get parts for it, I can probably repair it.''

Hobby planes often have wood components, which can be replaced or repaired.

During a recent 45-minute test of the XPV, two red and black jets held up fairly well. The nose bounced off of parked cars and the body remained intact after skirmishes with buildings. One XPV did lose a marble-sized chunk of foam after careening into a wood beam, but it flew afterward.

Both JAKKS and Spin Master say they will provide spare parts or replacement through customer service. Clear tape is a great fix for the XPV, Bernstein said.

Toy analyst Samet doesn't think durability will be much of a problem -- as long as the devices are flown in open areas.

``I would highly recommend not flying them with lots of trees.''

julia.scott(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) JAKKS marketing executive Michael Bernstein flies an XPV remote-controlled toy car-plane at Jakks Pacific Inc. headquarters in Malibu on Tuesday. The toy is equally at home in the air and on the ground, its makers say.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer