25 Whirley Birds Must Be Won! (feature)

25 Whirley Birds Must Be Won! was a competition printed within TV Century 21 in partnership with Lincoln International. Although the main prize was unrelated to the Doctor Who universe, the prizes for runners-up were Anti-Dalek Jet Immobilisers and thus tied-in to the ongoing narrative surrounding the 2060s Dalek invasion of Earth.

The competition was started in TV21 84 where the rules and prizes were outlined. It was set largely in-universe by focusing on the hover-jets used by the World Government Salvage Corps. Pictures of four hover-jets were printed on the page with three captions beneath each picture. For a chance of winning, readers had to select the caption they thought best described what each craft was used for, and send in their answers on the coupon provided. In case of tie-breaks, they were also asked to complete the sentence "Hover-jets aid rescue attempts because...". The closing date was 8 September 1966. It was stated that the entries would then be examined by the judges with the twenty-five correct entries which gave the most original completion of the sentence being declared the winners. There was also fifty runners-up.

The winners were rewarded with a Lincoln International Whirley Bird each which TV21 stated was otherwise obtainable at all leading toy shops for a price of 9/11d. The fifty runners-up won a Doctor Who Anti-Dalek Jet Immobiliser each, also obtainable at leading toy shops for 9/11d. It does not appear as if the names of the winners or the correct answers were ever printed in the magazine.

Hover-jet options

 * Hover-jet A
 * (a) An Army reconnaissance craft
 * (b) A World Army Ambulance craft
 * (c) A World Army Mountain rescue craft


 * Hover-jet B
 * (a) Jungle rescue craft
 * (b) Reconnaissance craft used to measure the depths of lakes and rivers
 * (c) Rescue craft for attempts made underwater


 * Hover-jet C
 * (a) Fire fighting
 * (b) Building demolisher
 * (c) Television observation craft


 * Hover-jet D
 * (a) Arctic/Antarctic rescue
 * (b) Sea rescue craft
 * (c) Lunar exploration