Help-anyone got suggestions for a toy helicopter gift? (vanity)

[tpanther]

I've been looking at these cool little remote-control toy helicopters for my 12 year old son, but does anyone have any experience with ones to get OR ones to avoid?

I'm worried about getting one that only flies for 5 minutes before it needs re-charging, or breaks sooner than that, or is underpowered etc. etc.

Any insight is much appreciated!

[sbMKE]

There’s a new version of the vertibird - it’s branded Command Force and they have miniature versions of it for around $10 at Walgreens. $25-$30 for the really big ones, which are a bit harder to find.

I’m getting the big one for my soon to be 5 year old son this Christmas. I absolutely wore out my Vertibird as a kid - so much fun and the new one’s just look so much more sturdy and strong.

[Badeye]

Hope neither has a Cleft....

[Gator113]

Just make sure that whatever you get, you share it with him from time to time. ;>)

[thefactor]

holy crap you just brought back a boatload of memories!

[arealconservativeforachange]

I bought the Air Hog Heli for my 9 year old last year.
It’s still running and he figured it out pretty quick.
The charge only lasts for about 6 mins though.

[edzo4]

I’ve seen the larger one at target and the original on ebay for about $100

[Ribeye]

I bought my 7 year old the two pack Havoc (Airhogs) heli’s last Christmas. Make the adjustments to the units as per the manual and they fly great. He had very little trouble learning to control them. We still take themn out once a week or so and have battles.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Oh, that brings back good memories. I loved that thing!!

[RJS1950]

Check Radio Shack. They have a couple of models that are pretty good; better quality than the Air Hogs and they have replacement rotors etc.

[Wil H]

One of them is a musician so he probably has a double clef..

[Tramonto]

Heli copter$ co$t a lot of money. What you get him depend$ on how much money you are willing to $pend and how much your $on wants to learn.

What is the $kill level and what are you willing to pay?

There are three basic types of rc heli$, coaxial(two rotor$), fixed pitch(no collective control, can't fly up$ide down), collective pitch (can fly up$ide down)

If you $on really want$ to learn to fly RC Heli$, I would recommend getting him a Honey Bee Fixed Pitch. Thi$ will be difficult to learn on and he will break it very quickly. You will need lots of spare parts so that he can repair it.

Another fixed pitch that i$ decent i$ a Walkera 4#3b. It i$ a tiny helicopter that is hard to fly and learn on but it ha$ a reputation for being tough $o de$pite being harder to fly, it can take more cra$e$.

For a complete beginner, I would recommend a coaxial. They are very $table and are cheaper to operate and repair. The down$ide i$ they can't really fly out$ide.

[edzo4]

I had the vertibird and this giant aircraft carrier that launched these foam planes, I think it was also made by mattel it was like 6 feet long (or maybe I was just smaller then) but I would play for hours with that vertibird picking up the capsule and the astronaut and flying them around and around landing and taking off from the carrier

if I could ever go back in time those would be the days I would go to

[Travis T. OJustice]

THAT what it was called! DAMN! I loved that thing! Probably one of the best Christmas presents i ever got!

[Badeye]

I remember that aircraft carrier! Didn’t have one, but remember it.

We be gettin old my friend....

[Travis T. OJustice]

if I could ever go back in time those would be the days I would go to

The days of vertibirds and tonka trucks (and FLAMING BARBIES) were sure good ones in my life!

[edzo4]

we can’t be too old, at least we remember it

vertibird video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhkRnjLxQBc

[edzo4]

[tpanther]

Flaming barbies!

No girls in our family. Just us two boys, and my brother was nine years younger. But I had an uncle who was 1 year older.

He had the bright idea to steal a lighter and get all his hot wheel tracks and light them, then slings melting hot plastic everywhere.

Right now I’d give an arm for the GI Joe stuff that got tossed out. I could probably finance Christmas!

[tpanther]

Thanks Doogle, and to all for the great ideas!

[Tramonto]

I would go with something like this:

http://jaghobbies.com/rc_planes/ek1h-e035a_cart.htm

Here are some more coaxials:

http://www.xheli.com/coaxialmodels.html

Here is a great site for learning about helis:

http://www.rcgroups.com/multi-rotor-helis-200/