Tag Archives: remote control

Come Fly with Me: Remote Control Helicopters

This week, we review four different remote-control (RC) helicopters (there are so many more that we’ll be reviewing more in the not-too-distant future). Each is a little different, but they do have some things in common. To start with, you’re going to need a lot of batteries. In most cases, the remote control unit (not the actual helicopter) takes 6 AAs. The choppers themselves have rechargeable batteries that will give you 10-15 minutes of flight time between plugins. They also all have a built-in stabilizer (sometimes called a gyro) that, as one of the manufacturers put it, lets you focus on flying instead of on trying to keep it from crashing. Finally—and most importantly—they’re a fantastic way for dads and kids to have a ton of fun playing—and learning about the physics of flight—together.

 

Hercules Unbreakable Helicopter (World Tech Toys)

hercules unbreakable helicopter parents@playOne of the biggest complaints people have about RC helicopters is that they’re fragile—sometimes breaking on the first flight. The Hercules has resolved that issue by making something that is amazingly durable. We didn’t test their claim that the body can withstand 200 pounds of force, but we did crash the helicopter from altitudes that would have permanently grounded any other bird. The Hercules uses the standard dual-joystick controls: one side controls up and down and speed, the other controls front, back, left, and right.  Sounds complicated by you’ll get the hang within seconds. $82.95. http://worldtechtoys.com/

 

Cobra Air Combat Helicopter Set (Cobra RC Toys)

cobra RC fighter helicopters parents@playThis set takes RC flying to a whole new level by allowing pilots to compete head to head in a game of aerial laser tag. The set comes with two small, infrared-equipped helicopters, each with its own dual-joystick controller. But what makes this especially cool is that pilots shoot each other’s chopper with blasts of infrared beams. The first time you get hit, your bird starts spinning. The second time it spins the other way, and the third, it loses power and lands. Because maneuvering and firing takes more coordination and control, this one’s recommended for ages 14 and up (although my 10-year old daughter had no problem kicking my butt). $85.  http://www.cobratoys.com/

 

Force Flyer Motion Controlled Helicopter (Regal Elite)

force flyer motion controlled helicopter parents@playThe Force Flyer stands out by completely changing the way you fly. Instead of the dual-joystick controller, you use an accelerometer-equipped glove and a single, thumb-operated stick that controls speed and up/down.  The glove allows you to move forward, backward, left, and right just by subtly moving your hand the same way as if you were pretending that your hand itself was the chopper. Flying any of the RC helicopters is great fun, but Force Flyer makes the whole experience even better. Regal $35.95. http://forceflyers.com/

 

Puzzlebox Orbit

puzzlebox orbit brainwave controlled helicopter parents@playIf you think glove controls are amazing, get ready to pick your jaw up off the floor. The Orbit dispenses with joysticks and gloves and instead uses… your brain.  No kidding. Setting up the Orbit is a little more complicated than the others. You’ll need to download a free app and strap on a special EEG headset. Then, by clearing your mind and focusing at the same time (harder than it sounds but it’s completely doable and gets easier with practice), you achieve lift off.  Easily the most amazing flyer we’ve seen, the Orbit is actually less helicopter and more like set of rotor blades inside of a protective ball—a great feature. For now, the technology enables you to only get the helicopter to go up. But for the geniuses at Puzzlebox, it’s only a matter of time. $189.00. http://puzzlebox.info/

Electronic Toys That Aren’t Video Games

With the constant barrage of ads for video games and game consoles (Xbox, Wii, and the like, as well as the myriad of games and options for PC like league of legends boosting to name just one), it’s sometimes easy to forget that there are a ton of other cool, imagination-capturing electronic toys that don’t have a screen at all-and don’t need one either. Here are a few of our favorites.

Slot car sets
slot cars from carerraIf you haven’t driven a slot car since you were about 10, you’re long overdue. Today’s cars are made with digital switches, meaning you can have more than two on a 2-lane track. Our set from Carrera (carrera-toys.com) accommodated up to six, each with its own controller. With digital, the cars move from lane to lane at different switching points allowing for passing and intense action while speeding around the track. Expect to pay around $300 for a good set that includes two cars. But you and your kids will have so much fun that on an hourly basis, the purchase price isn’t all that bad. Be prepared for some serious squabbles over who gets the “best” cars.

Pinball
When bowling became cool again a few years ago, it was only a matter of time before pinball followed. For about $500 you can pick up a vintage game that’s fun to play and makes a great piece of modern art. Games that might have lasted only a few years in a smoky bar (or bowling alley), can last a lifetime in your rec room. Pinballs aren’t maintenance free, but they won’t break you, since the games themselves are simple collections of wires, switches, and cheap bulbs-simple enough to also provide years of lessons in basic circuitry and great joint, dad-kid projects.

>Remote control helicopters
remote control helicopter from swannThese have been on the market for five or six years and boy, has the technology evolved. The earliest ones had rotors that usually snapped during the first flight, ruining any hope for quality time-and making parents wince every time junior took the controls because of the repair costs. New choppers, like the Military Thunder by Swann (swann.com/helicopters), use multiple flexible rotors that make flying a breeze, right out of the box. Apparently, it’s all about the “twin counter-rotating coaxial rotors.” You’d never find that technology in a real helicopter, but it makes the scale models a lot more stable and increases lift. The only downside that we can see (aside from knocking Ming vases off shelves), is that you get only 5-10 minutes of flight time per charge.

Remote-control boats
If you’re near a toy-boat-friendly lake or pond, remote-control boats, like the Balaenoptera Musculus, are great fun. But be sure to spend time researching battery life. You don’t want to schlepp all the way to the park for a 5-minute boat ride and then have to head home to recharge. Want to discover all the different types of RC toys? You can find out more at myrctopia.com.

Lazer Stunt Chasers (lazerstuntchaser.com)
lazer stunt chasersA new-and very unique-entry in the burgeoning remote-control toy market is the Lazer Stunt Chaser, which you can steer by pointing a laser beam where you want the car to go. The cars are two-sided so, with the included flip ramp, they’re up and moving whichever way they land-at scale speeds up to 300 MPH. At a 1:32 scale, Stunt Chasers are a comfortable size. Unfortunately, at about $65, they’re a little pricey, but still a ton of fun for dads and kids.