A Foray into the World of RC Micro Aircraft

The skies have been busy lately as millions of Americans have indulged their dreams of flight. They didn't have to stand in long lines, take off their shoes, pass through security, or endure a layover. All they had to do was recline in a comfortable chair. The toy industry unleashed a torrent of miniature remote control (RC) aircraft in 2007. There have been tiny aircraft in living rooms, dining rooms, garages, and kitchens all over the country. I recently flew three of the diminutive RC aircraft.

My first RC flight attempts were using a SkyScrambler Wireless Indoor Helicopter from BlueHat Toy Company. The miniature helicopter was available at my local Rite Aid drugstore for only $20. It has an extremely lightweight Styrofoam body that measures 7-inches long from nose to tail and the main rotor is 5 3/4-inches in diameter. It comes in three colors red, yellow, and blue. Each different color operates on a different infrared frequency so that a three-ship flight of helicopters can be operated simultaneously. The SkyScrambler helicopter has a blinking LED light for increased visibility. The helicopter is powered by six AA batteries in the controller. A wire from the controller plugs into a port on the side of the helicopter and the itty-bitty whirlybird charges in about 30 minutes. I found the charging wire to be a little short and the charging port in the helicopter to be very tiny. However, it worked and the helicopter seemed to get plenty of power.