Sky Busters

The Sky Busters are die-cast model aircraft produced under the Matchbox brand, initially by Lesney Products and later by Mattel.

History[]

Lesney began the Skybusters in 1973, producing them with their other Matchbox toys in London, England. During the 1970s, Skybusters competed against Dyna-Flytes, produced by San Diego based Zee Toys.

Skybusters combined military and commercial aircraft models at their earlier stage. The United States Air Force, Air France, Federal Express, Lufthansa, and QX Express were among the first brands to advertise with Skybusters. Some of the first Skybusters released represented Learjet, Airbus A300, Boeing 747 and Corsair A7D airplanes.

The line appeared intermittently until the 2000s, when Mattel decided to release the models each year. The line tends to offer a mix of licensed paint schemes representing real-world companies, and fictional airline names, such as Matchbox Airlines. The list of companies advertising through licensed Skybusters models continues to vary.

Sky Busters have been made in different countries. so here is the list of countries and circa years made: ENGLAND,1973-1982/ MACAU,1984-1989/ THAILAND,1990-1993/2009-PRESENT/ CHINA,1994-2008

Sky Busters (SB)[]

Matchbox Sky Busters can be identified by a mark usually on the bottom of the wing. For example SB-157, meaning Sky Busters 157. The 157th Matchbox Sky Buster is a Lockheed P-38 Lightning

MODEL NAME: / circa YEAR(S) PRODUCED:

SB-1 LEARJET / 1973-1996

SB-2 CORSAIR A7D / 1973-1993

SB-3A AIRBUS A300 / 1973-1980

SB-3B NASA SPACE SHUTTLE / 1979-1996

SB-4 MIRAGE F1 / 1973-2001

SB-5 STARFIGHTER F-104 / 1973-1981

SB-6 MIG-21 / 1973-2002

SB-7 JUNKERS 87B / 1973-1990

SB-8 SPITFIRE / 1973-1986

SB-9 CESSNA 402 / 1973-1997

SB-10 BOEING 747/ 1973-1997

SB-11 ALPHA JET / 1973-1990

SB-12A SKYHAWK A-4F / 1973-1979

SB-12B PITTS SPECIAL / 1979-1996

SB-12C MISSION CHOPPER / 1989-1990

SB-13 DC-10 / 1973-2009

SB-14 CESSNA 210G / 1973-1981

SB-15 PHANTOM F4E / 1973-2002

SB-16 CORSAIR F4U-4 / 1973-1991

SB-17 RAM ROD / 1975-1981

SB-18 WILD WIND / 1975-1991

SB-19 PIPER COMANCHE / 1977-1995

SB-20 HELICOPTER / 1977-1987

SB-21 LIGHTNING / 1977-1991

SB-22 TORNADO / 1977-2006

SB-23 SUPERSONIC AIRLINER / 1978-1997

SB-24 F-16 / 1979-2007

SB-25 HELICOPTER RESCUE / 1979-2004

SB-26 CESSNA 210 FLOATPLANE / 1982-1997

SB-27 HARRIER JET / 1982-2001

SB-28 AIRBUS A-300 / 1982-2004

SB-29 SR-71 BLACKBIRD / 1989-2003

SB-30 F-14 TOMCAT / 1989-2003, 2018-PRESENT

SB-31 BOEING 747-400 / 1990-2000

SB-32 FAIRCHILD A-10 THUNDERBOLT / 1990-PRESENT

SB-33 BELL JET RANGER / 1990-2002

SB-34 LOCKHEED C-130 HERCULES / 1990-1994

SB-35 MIL MI-24 HIND / 1990-2000

SB-36 LOCKHEED F-117A / 1990-2002, 2019-PRESENT

SB-37 BAE HAWK / 1992-1994

SB-38 BAE 146 / 1992-1996

SB-39 STEARMAN / 1992-1993

SB-40 BOEING 737-300 / 1992-1994

SB-41 BOEING 777-200 / 1997-2005

SB-42 MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD-90 / 2000-2007

SB-43 CESSNA CITATION / 2000-2004

SB-44 RESCUE HELICOPTER / 2002-2007

SB-45 STEALTH FIGHTER / 2002-2005

SB-46 ATTACK JET / 2002-2005

SB-47 N/A

SB-48 N/A

SB-49 N/A

SB-50 BUSINESS JET / 2003-2006

SB-51 MILITARY HELICOPTER / 2003-2005

SB-52 TRANSPORT PLANE / 2003-2005

SB-53 N/A

SB-54 FIGHTER JET / 2004-2005

SB-55 RESCUE HELICOPTER / 2006-PRESENT

SB-56 RESCUE PLANE / 2002-2006

SB-57 SEARCH PLANE / 2002-2009

SB-58 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER / 2002-2012

SB-59 N/A

SB-60 N/A

SB-61 TRANSPORT PLANE? / 2006 ONLY

SB-62 AIRLINER / 2004-PRESENT

SB-63 N/A

SB-64 MISSION CHOPPER / 2004-PRESENT

SB-65 CESSNA CARAVAN / 2005-2015

SB-66 BOEING B-1B LANCER / 2005-2008

SB-67 BOEING 777-200 / 2006-2008

SB-68 BOEING 747-400 / 2007-PRESENT

SB-69 HYDRO PROP / 2007-2011

SB-70 HYPERSONIC JET / 2007-2015

SB-71 BOEING 737-800 / 2008-2010

SB-72 SKY CARGO / 2008-C.2016

SB-73 STUNT PLANE / 2008-2015

SB-74 TILT ROTOR / 2008-2010

SB-75 CESSNA CITATION X / 2008-PRESENT

SB-76 BOEING F/A-18E SUPER HORNET / 2008-PRESENT

SB-77 BOEING 787-8 DREAMLINER / 2008-2011

SB-78 NORTHRUP GRUMMAN B-2 / 2008-PRESENT

SB-79 ROBINSON R44 RAVEN II / 2008-PRESENT

SB-80 NEW STUNT PLANE / 2009-2013

SB-81 SIKORSKY S-92 HELICOPER 2009-PRESENT

SB-82 PUSHER PROP / 2009-PRESENT

SB-83 TWIN BOOM / 2009-PRESENT

SB-84 SEA PLANE / 2009-PRESENT

SB-85 BI-PLANE / 2009-PRESENT

SB-86 AIRBLADE / 2010-PRESENT

SB-87 BLAZE BUSTER / 2010-PRESENT

SB-88 DIVE BOMBER / 2010-2013

SB-89 SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER / 2010-PRESENT

SB-90 LOCKHEED MARTIN F-35B LIGHTNING II / 2010-PRESENT

SB-91 CIRRUS VISION JET / 2010-2015

SB-92 STEALTH LAUNCH / 2011-2016

SB-93 SNOW EXPLORER / 2011-PRESENT

SB-94 DRONE / 2011-2017

SB-95 LOCKHEED F-117 NIGHTHAWK / 2011-2012

SB-96 EURO FIGHTER TYPHOON / 2011-2016

SB-97 BATTLE RAPTOR / 2011-2014

SB-98 SEA ARROW / 2011-PRESENT

SB-99 BOEING AH-64 APACHE / 2012-PRESENT

SB-100 BLADE FORCE / 2012-PRESENT

SB-101 TILT ROTOR II / 2011-2015

SB-102 AERO BLAST / 2012-PRESENT

SB-103 TWIN BLAST / 2012-2015

SB-104 FLIGHT STRIKE / 2012-2015

SB-105 SUBSONIC INTERCEPTOR / 2012-2015

SB-106 TURBO TORNADO / 2013-2017

SB-107 SKY SCORCHER / 2012-PRESENT

SB-108 SKY SAFARI / 2013-2017

SB-109 THE BAT / 2012-2013

SB-110 RESCUE BLADE / 2013-2014

SB-111 AIR BLITZ / 2013-2015

SB-112 FLYING CAR / 2013-2018

SB-113 FANG FIGHTER / 2013-2016

SB-114 STRATO SAUCER / 2013-2015

SB-115 DUEL TAIL / 2013-PRESENT

SB-116 STRATOS STORMER / 2014-2016

SB-117 AIR GRABBER / 2014-PRESENT

SB-118 1932 GEE BEE SPORTSTER R1 / 2014-PRESENT

SB-119 BOEING F-15 EAGLE / 2014-2017

SB-120 SKY SENTRY / 2014-PRESENT

SB-121 SKY SHREDDER / 2014-2017

SB-122 N/A

SB-123 HYPER JET / 2015-2016

SB-124 ROTO WARRIOR / 2015-2017

SB-125 BATTLE BOMBER / 2015-2018

SB-126 TILTIN' TURBO / 2015-2016

SB-127 BACKDRAFT / 2015-PRESENT

SB-128 BAT WING / 2016-2018

SB-129 SKYCLONE / 2016-2017

SB-130 METAL EAGLE / 2016-2017

SB-131 HONDA JET / 2016-PRESENT

SB-132 SEA SOARER / 2016-PRESENT

SB-133 STUNT PLANE / 2015-2019

SB-134 MBX HYPERSONIC JET / 2021-PRESENT

SB-135 CESSNA CARAVAN / 2018-PRESENT

SB-136 ROCKET FYR-1 / 2017-2019

SB-137 BOEING 747-8 / 2017-PRESENT

SB-138 CLASSIC ATTACK / 2017-PRESENT

SB-139 AIRBUS A400M / 2017-2019

SB-140 STRIKE HAWK / 2018 ONLY

SB-141 AERO JUNIOR II / 2019-PRESENT

SB-142 FLYING DAGGER / 2019-PRESENT

SB-143 DREAM CHASER / 2019-PRESENT

SB-144 RUTAN BOOMERANG / 2019-2020

SB-145 AIRBUS HELICOPTER H130 / 2019-PRESENT

SB-146 AUGUSTAWESTLAND AW139 / CANCELLED

SB-147 BOEING CH-47 CHINOOK / 2019-PRESENT

SB-148 MBX PRIVATE JET / 2019-PRESENT

SB-149 N/A

SB-150 N/A

SB-151 DARKSTAR / 2020-PRESENT

SB-152 ENEMY STRIKE JET / 2020-PRESENT

SB-153 NORTH AMERICAN P-51 MUSTANG / 2020-PRESENT

SB-154 MBX CROP DUSTER / 2021-PRESENT

SB-155 MBX 6-2 AIRLINER / 2022-PRESENT

SB-156 BUBBLE COPTER / 2021-PRESENT

SB-157 LOCKHEED P-38 LIGHTNING / 2021-PRESENT

SB-158 SPACEX FLACON HEAVY / 2024-PRESENT

SB-159 SPACEX STARSHIP / 2023-PRESENT

SB-160 SPACEX DRAGON / 2023-PRESENT

SB-161 N/A

SB-162 N/A

SB-163 MBX EHELI / 2023-PRESENT

SB-164 JET FUELER / 2024-PRESENT

SB-165 RIVER FLYER / 2023-PRESENT

SB-166 MBX STUNT PLANE II / 2024-PRESENT

SB-167 N/A

SB-168 MBX SKY CRUISER / 2024

SETS (SB)[]

SB-150 GIFT SET

SB-801 3-PACK

SB-805 SKYBUSTERS

SB-806 SUPER VALUE PACK

SB-820 AIRLINES OF THE WORLD / 1993 ONLY

SB-822 THE RED ARROWS

SB-840 AIRPORT

Skybusters production line by date of casting initial release[]

1973[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-1	LearJet	Gates
SB-2	Corsair A7D	Ling-Temco-Vought
SB-3	A 300B	Airbus
SB-4	Mirage F1	Dassault
SB-5	Starfighter F-104	Lockheed
SB-6	MIG 21	Mikoyan-Gurevich
SB-7	Junkers 87B	Junkers
SB-8	Spitfire	Supermarine
SB-9	Cessna 402	Cessna
SB-10	Boeing 747	Boeing
SB-11	Alpha Jet	Dassault/Dornier
SB-12	Skyhawk A4F	Douglas
SB-13	DC10	McDonnell Douglas
SB-14	Cessna 210	Cessna
SB-15	Phantom F4E	McDonnell Douglas
SB-16	Corsair F4U-4	Vought

1975[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand	Photo
SB-17	Ram Rod	Matchbox
SB-18	Wild Wind	Matchbox

1977[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-19	Piper Commanche	Piper
SB-20	Army Police Helicopter	Generic
SB-21	Lightning	English-Electric
SB-22	Tornado	Panavia

1978[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand	Photo
SB-23	Supersonic Airliner	Matchbox

1979[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-3B	NASA Space Shuttle	Boeing/Rockwell
SB-12B	Pitts Special	Pitts
SB-24	F-16A	General Dynamics
SB-25	Helicopter Rescue	Matchbox

1982[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-26	Cessna 210 Floatplane	Cessna
SB-27	Harrier Jet	Hawker/BAe
SB-28	Airbus A-300	Airbus

1989[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand	Photo
SB-29	SR-71 BlackBird	Lockheed
SB-30	Grumman F-14 Tomcat	Grumman

1990[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-31	Boeing 747-400	Boeing
SB-32	Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II	Fairchild/Republic
SB-33	Bell Jet Ranger	Bell
SB-34	Lockheed C-130 Hercules	Lockheed
SB-35	Mil Mi-24 Hind	Mil Helicopters
SB-36	Lockheed F-117A 'Stealth'	Lockheed

1992[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-37	Bae Hawk	Bae
SB-38	Bae 146	Bae
SB-39	Stearman	Stearman/ Boeing
SB-40	Boeing 737-300	Boeing

1997[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand	Photo
SB-41	Boeing 777-200	Boeing

2000[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand	Photo
SB-42	Mcdonnell Douglas MD-90	Mcdonnell Douglas
SB-43	Cessna Citation	Cessna

2002[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-44	Rescue Helicopter	Matchbox
SB-45	Stealth Fighter	Matchbox
SB-46	Attack Jet	Matchbox
SB-56	Rescue Plane	Matchbox
SB-57	Search Plane	Matchbox
SB-58	Transport Helicopter	Matchbox

2003[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-50	Business Jet	Matchbox
SB-51	Military Helicopter	Matchbox
SB-52	Transport Plane	Matchbox

2004[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-54	Fighter Jet	Matchbox
SB-62	Airliner	Matchbox
SB-64	Mission Chopper	Matchbox

2005[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand	Photo
SB-65	Cessna Caravan	Cessna
SB-66	Boeing B-1B Lancer	Rockwell/ Boeing

2006[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-55	Rescue Helicopter	Matchbox
SB-61	Transport Plane	Matchbox
SB-67	Boeing 777-200	Boeing

2007[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-68	Boeing 747-400	Boeing
SB-69	Hydro Prop	Matchbox
SB-70	Hypersonic Jet	Matchbox

2008[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-71	Boeing 737-800	Boeing
SB-72	Sky Cargo	Matchbox
SB-73	Stunt Plane	Matchbox
SB-74	Tilt Rotor	Matchbox
SB-75	Cessna Citation X	Cessna
SB-76	Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet	Boeing
SB-77	Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner	Boeing
SB-78	Northrop Grumman B-2	Northrop Grumman
SB-79	Robinson R44 Raven II	Robinson

2009[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-80	New Stunt Plane	Matchbox
SB-81	Sikorsky S-92 Helicopter	Sikorsky
SB-82	Pusher Prop	Matchbox
SB-83	Twin Boom	Matchbox
SB-84	Sea Plane	Matchbox
SB-85	Bi-Plane	Matchbox

2010[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-86	Airblade	Matchbox
SB-87	Blaze Buster	Matchbox
SB-88	Dive Bomber	Matchbox
SB-89	Space Shuttle Orbiter	Boeing/ Rockwell
SB-90	Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II	Lockheed Martin
SB-91	Cirrus Vision	Cirrus

2011[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-92	Stealth Launch	Matchbox
SB-93	Snow Explorer	Matchbox
SB-94	SB94 Drone	Matchbox
SB-95	Lockheed (Martin)F-117 Nighthawk	Lockheed (Martin)
SB-96	Eurofighter Typhoon	Eurofighter
SB-97	Battle Raptor	Matchbox
SB-98	Sea Arrow	Matchbox
SB-101	Tilt Rotor II	Matchbox

2012[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-99	Boeing AH-64 Apache	Boeing
SB-100	Blade Force	Matchbox
SB-102	Aero Blast	Matchbox
SB-103	Twin Blast	Matchbox
SB-104	Flight Strike	Matchbox
SB-105	Subsonic Interceptor	Matchbox
SB-107	Sky Scorcher	Matchbox
SB-109	The Bat	Wayne Enterprises

2013[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-106	Turbo Tornado	Matchbox
SB-108	Sky Safari	Matchbox
SB-110	Rescue Blade	Matchbox
SB-111	Air Blitz	Matchbox
SB-112	Flying Car	Matchbox
SB-113	Fang Fighter	Matchbox
SB-114	Strato Saucer	Matchbox
SB-115	Duel Tail	Matchbox

2014[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-116	Stratos Stormer	Matchbox
SB-117	Air Grabber	Matchbox
SB-118	1932 Gee BeeSportster R1	Granville
SB-119	Boeing F15 Eagle	Boeing
SB-120	Sky Sentry	Matchbox
SB-121	Sky Shredder	Matchbox

2015[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-123	Hyper Jet	Matchbox
SB-124	Roto Warrior	Matchbox
SB-125	Battle Bomber	Matchbox
SB-126	Tiltin' Turbo	Matchbox
SB-127	Backdraft	Matchbox
SB-133	Stunt Plane	Matchbox

2016[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-128	BatWing	Wayne Enterprises
SB-129	Skyclone	Matchbox
SB-130	Metal Eagle	Matchbox
SB-131	HondaJet HA-420	Honda
SB-132	Sea Soarer	Matchbox

2017[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-136	Rocket FYR-1	Matchbox
SB-137	Boeing 747-8	Boeing
SB-138	Classic Attack	Matchbox
SB-139	Airbus A400M	Airbus

2018[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand	Photo
SB-135	Cessna Caravan	Cessna
SB-140	Strike Hawk	Matchbox

2019[]

Series No.	Model Name	Brand
SB-141	Aero Junior II	Matchbox
SB-142	Flying Dagger	Matchbox
SB-143	Dream Chaser	Sierra Space Corporation
SB-144	Rutan Boomerang	Scaled Composites
SB-145	Airbus Helicopters H130	Airbus Helicopters
SB-147	Boeing CH-47 Chinook	Boeing
SB-148	MBX Private Jet	Matchbox