I'm going to do something different today and review a toy that I absolutely love! In August, after repeated failures at getting an expensive ($200+) remote control airplane to lift off the ground, I did some research on inexpensive RC airplanes. I found an article which touted the Air Hogs Aero Ace airplane (it's called the X-Twin outside the US). I found it at my local Target for $30, and decided to give it a try. And boy, am I glad I did!
The Aero Ace is a biplane made mostly out of styrofoam. It has two plastic propellers on the back of its wings and a tiny lithium battery. As a result, it is extremely light.
When I first turned it on, I was suprised at how much forward thrust the two tiny propellers gave. One slight push, and the Aero Ace was off and flying!
The lack of weight of the airplane means that it is very responsive to the controls. A slight, quick push to the left or right on the controls is all it needs. After about 5 minutes, I felt that I had complete control of the aircraft and was flying around my local park with ease. I handed it off to my wife, and she flew it for 5 minutes, around the park, on her first try!
A couple of caveats: you will need a clear area to fly the plane in. After much practice, I have flown it in my tiny backyard, but I crash a lot :) It's best to fly it in an open space. You should also only fly it on days with little wind. Since it is so light, a good gust of wind can take it in unwanted directions.
Overall, the plane will give you at least 10 minutes of flight time. It takes approximately 15 minutes to charge it completely back up. Charging it is easy - you just plug the plane into the remote, and leave it.
This plane has a cult following - many sites have sprung up on the web with modifications you can make to the Aero Ace. Make it faster, more maneuvarable, or add lights or more props. One good modifications site is AeroAceMods.com.
Unfortunately, the word has gotten out on this plane, and it is extremely hard to find. Air Hogs also sells the same plane under the name Power Hawks. Many retailers in the US have sold out, but searches in your local toy stores or eBay might net you one before they completely disappear. Amazon has them here:
For more good RC aircraft, check out this article on the Top 5 RC planes under $100. I also bought the Picco Z RC helicopter, and that is another winner .