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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from HOUSTON, TEXAS on 4/30/2008
THE BEST VALUE FOR A HELI MODEL THAT YIELDS PERFECT FLIGHTS X HAVE OWNED AND FLOWN FREQUENTLY FOR ONE AND A HALF YEARS ALREADY X OBTAIN ALL PARTS AND SUPPORT BY ADDRESSING COMPANY SHOWN ON THE ORIGINAL BOX [...]CHANGED ONE SET OF BLADES ONLY B/C CAT ATTACKED THE HELI AND CHEWED IT X EVERYTHING STILL IN ORIGINAL OUT OF THE BOX CONDITION X DEFINITELY THIS IS NOT A TOY FOR CHILDREN AND/OR OCCASIONAL USERS X REQUIRES ATTENTION AND SERIOUS PRACTICE UNLESS YOU ARE A RADIO CONTROL FLYER ALREADY. I AM HERE SERIOUSLY REJECTING ALL THE PUBLISHED NEGATIVE COMMENTS AS UNFOUNDED, UNFAIR AND INAPROPRIATE, AGAINST A PRODUCT THAT IS AT THE VERY TOP OF ITS CATEGORY. ABSOLUTELY.I FIND THAT THERE IS NOTHING AT ALL NEGATIVE TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS GREAT MACHINE. Houston 4/30/08
Images shared by: ONE VERY HAPPY HELI FLYER
Tags: Using Product
its a really awesome gizmo. but the rotors are going to break again and again. Have gone to 8 R.S.'s, and no one has a clue about parts. I find Radio Shack salespeople to be inept to begin with, unless one is buying a cell phone plan. But then I called the customer service line, and the woman on the line told me they were not making that product anymore. NOt replenishing supplies, at least. So they are really just trying to dump the rest on people, to get rid of stock, not considering the need the customer will have for parts. Not fair, I say. Too bad. Its a blast until you break a rotor.
The parts are available by visiting a RadioShack store and ordering the particular item(s) through RadioShack Unlimited. Just ask an associate to help you! :-)
No replacement parts are available. I purchased the toy in December 07' and without parts, it is useless.
This is an incredible model R/C helicopter for the cost. The bad reviews here are from people who think that this is a toy like any other toy. It's not. There are some easy ways to make your Mosquito last for quite some time.
1. Stay away from the ceiling. The blades produce a low pressure area above the Mosquito. If you get to close to the ceiling a suction will form and will pin it there. It's hard to recover from this so try and get under it and catch it. Otherwise your mosquito is about to take a 8' fall.
2. Turn off your Air conditioning. The least turbulences in the air make the best flights.
3. If your going outside read rule 2 about turbulence.
4. If your hovering low over anything, something develops called prop wash. The mosquito will lose it's lift and fall, this happens to real helicopters as well.
5. When your prop breaks (and it will) purchase a caulk gun ($5) and a tube of Power Grab Construction Adhesive from Home Depot. Apply it to the break as little as possible so the weight doesn't screw up your balance. I put a little on the opposite blade to match. It will set up well enough in just a few hours that your flying again. This adhesive is very strong and you can shape it well for 10 minutes or so. Trim off extra with a sharp blade.
6. That little battery is a power horse. I always give it a cool off period after a flight before I re-charge it. I still get 10 minute flights from my Mosquito at almost 8 months old!
HAVE FUN
CAN NOT GET REPLACMENT PARTS FOR THIS
It's just awesome..but poor construction other than that not bad.
from ny on 4/1/2008
great fun . but!!!!! the blades are very breakable broke in 10 min. i replaced theblades . now i noticed blades are tearing and we never even hit anything.
this was a lot of fun then I broke the roters. When this was bought my wife was told that there is parts available for repairs and performance kits well my local store is no help at all I use to spend a lot of money at Radio Shack I think I am done with that store! Shop at your one risk
great to use if you're a collector of hellicopters and planes and know how to control... this should be no problem
The design of the helicopter is terrible. It broke within 15 minutes. I tried to make it go forward but the blades touched each other and it crashed. It is not durable and the blades are not sturdy. The blades are weak. There are no replacement blades available in the store or warehouse or online.
I love the product, but it's kind of useless without replacement blades. I have three of them, but feel abandoned by Radio Shack
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY I BOUGHT THIS AT[...]AND CAN'T RETURN. THE WING BROKE THE 30 SEC. WE HAD IT AND CAN'T GET PARTS!!!! PLEASE DON'T BUY THIS PRODUCT..
Have tried to buy replacement blades since early January...not available from Radio Shack online...stores run out as soon as they get them in stock.
from Houston, TX on 3/21/2008
This heli is as PERFECT as it can get. [...] Helicopter hobbiests like myself REALLY DO APPRECIATE THIS FANTASTIC operational model.
IT IS REALLY GOOD BUT IT NEEDS ONE THING AND THAT IS REPLACEMENT PARTS. i GOT ONE FOR CHRISTMAS AND PLAYED WITH IT FOR ABOUT 3 CHARGES. Then i crashed a the rotors broke and i have gone to about 3 radio shacks and they dont have any parts. They have some for other one buy not the micro moquito. I had to buy one on the internet for [$] when there only worth 8 bucks.
from cleveland ohio on 3/11/2008
this [$] toy has been broken ( propellers ) since xmas...NO replacement parts are available since ..[...]i think radio shack ought to take it back or come up with the parts !!!!! what a joke ....[...]may be the last time i ever buy a toy there ....
Its a great toy if your using it with the child. I found replacement parts with NO problem from the web site. It takes a little to get the hang of it but its a lot of fun.
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Melbourne, Fl on 3/3/2008
Was fun while it lasted :-( Blades break easily and NO replacements are available? They where on back order on the web site for some time but now they have taken them off completely.Spent[$]for a couple of weeks of fun and now the helicopter is useless.
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
worst toy ever, blades broke the first day. if the company actually cared about the reviews they would make more blades so they can make more money. they advertised the replacement blades but you cannot find them anywhere, not in stores and not online...nowhere
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
It was great for the first day then it broke and Ive been searching everywhere for replacement blades and was just notified after numerious requests that Radio shack no longer carries the replacement blades...[...]
The micro mosquito is a fun indoor toy for the whole family. My husband, two daughters (age 8 & 13) and myself all enjoy flying this toy. If you are thinking of purchasing this product, you will be making a good choice. We've had it since Christmas, and have managed not to break it at all.
This toy is very light and maneuverable out of th ebox, however it does not stand up over time. We found that each time it crashed the wings sustained a little damage until they were completely shredded. I hope they have replacement wings because are not useable anymore.
this toy is a waste of money you can not purchase spare parts when it breaks [...]so go some where else to buy a rc helicopter
I have spend hundreds of dollars over the years for things that fly only once or twice. The Micro Mosquito has been FABULOUS and my 9 year old and I have logged dozens of hours so far.
Helicopters are very complicated machines and I would expect to pay far more for an R/C of this sophisticaiton. The M.M. is amazingly stable and controllable. It is not built like a tank, but tanks don't fly. When you do need spare parts, there are links from the manufactur's web site. While your there, take note of their prices, Radio Shack is a bargain!
Here is my advise for other wanna be pilots: 1 Read the instructions, there are lots of tips that will keep you out of trouble. 2 You will need a moderate sized area, free of obstacles with a flat smooth floor. If you have carpet, lay down a sheet of cardboard. 3 Limit your flights to 15" from the floor while you are learning. 4 Avoid drafts. 5 While learning stay clear of all objects as anything but a flat surface will disturb the lift.
Not only would I recommend this to a friend, I have already purchased one for his next birthday. This is a MUST HAVE for all wanna be pilots!
this helicopter is easy to fly, i had no problems controling it at all.. i bought it yesterday and flew it for 10 minutes and it broke mid flight.. [...] ran out of parts, so im stuck with a broke unit.. i am a very unhappy customer..
from Everett,Wa on 2/11/2008
It took 5 months and 4 Heli's to perfect my flying skills.3 of the Choppers where returned on warranty.An LED burnd out...tail rotor motor quit...front blade motor quit.[...]My Heli runs for 12 minutes on tapped up blades and I can land it on a dime.My Brother has one also and is a better pilotthen me.A great toy...the secret to flying..?Learn to hover first...a must!Follow the tips and instructions that came with.Espically if the Heli just flys in circles.Lastly...make all your RC control movements slow.Wish I could find replacement blades.Happy flying!
The blades lasted about an hour on xmas day. No blades are available since then checked online and all stores. Cannot even order.
I bought it a couple of days ago and must say - they are actually hard to find! I had some experience with similar micro helis (Picoo Z, Air Hogs, etc.) and I knew what to expect: these things are designed for a 5 minute fun indoors. Of course as long as you know what you're doing. If you do not have any idea about areodynamics or you just don't care - I would recommend to get a shovel (a good one, be carefull not to brake it) and start helping your wife in the garden instead of posting negative comments here. BTW: I cannot believe how can you brake it on your first day. And it's not a waste of money like somebody said - it's actually a waste of Micro Mosquito. Anyways - this gizmo is actually better than I expected. It hovers very, very stable, moves in 6 directions (forward, backwards, left, right, up, down), it's very responsive to your controller and you can actually fly it very precise around your room. After 30min of charge it gives you about 10-15min of non-stop flight. You can even charge it shorter and fly shorter if you want. This is very long comparing to Picoo Z or Air Hogs which fly around 5 min if you're lucky. As far as its constuction it's a nice piece of engineering and the other guys are not even close (it's like comparing Geo Metro to BMW). For those last couple of days I used it about 15 times for a total time in the air of about 3hrs. It still works perfectly. Flimsy? Yes. It has to be - come on, it's only 20 grams. Parts hard to find? Yes. [...] Easy to brake by kids? Yes. This product is NOT for kids.
Blades constanty break and need replacing. Now Radioshack does not have blades to replace. Blades are Out of stock. Helicopter is now useless.
from new york on 2/6/2008
chep breaks easely radioshack has no parts[...]
from Orlando, Florida on 2/6/2008
I love(d) flying it! The first one lasted only 2 flights and one of the main motors stopped functioning. Radio Shack replaced it but I had to wait 2 weeks for one to be obtained.
I enjoyed the second one for over 100 minutes of flight and became pretty good too, before a motor on it failed as well.
I damaged the first set of blades learning how to control it, but the second set lasted quite a while and were still in good shape when the motor died.
Helpful tip: I was able to repair the damaged blades several times with scotch tape. Just remember to balance the weight with an equal sized piece on the opposite blade. One blade was broken in half, I taped it and flew several more times before damaging them beyond repair.
I would reccomend it but be prepared to purchase at least a second rotor set. Of course I am disapointed in the quality of the drive motors as well.
For the price, the heli works very well and is a lot of fun. But, you are guaranteed to eventually break the blades, which are impossible to find. [...]
from Morristown, NJ on 2/3/2008
I bought this unit for Christmas 2007 and was told that I can purchase replacement blades. After having the blades broken within the first day, I've been to numerous Radio Shacks and no one has the blades. I've now even checked on line and they are not even carried there. What a waste of $49.95 for a few flights.
The product is great. The kids love it and play with it all of the time. They crash and it just does not break. I reccomend anyone who like rc to buy this.
replacement parts are pricy and hard to find
from JAX FL on 1/31/2008
I don't think Radio shack chairs about the consumer
or thay would stock the parts 4 this if you order them els were thay cost more then the toy
this thing has cheep blades that ante cheep
$$$$$$$$im kinda disappointed in Radio shack
Had wanted one of these since I saw them advertised. Thought they were pricey for kids, so never got one. Good thing Wife surprised me with one of these moderately expensive toys. Upon first attempt, multiple crashes due to learning controls. Rotors broke extremely easily! Good thing wife bought spare set, but after two more attempts these also shattered and were garbage. Used this for grand total of 30 minutes ( took longer to charge & repair than time used) [...] is ALWAYS out of stock on these replacement parts, even on-line is impossible! On their behalf, it isn't the store's fault [...]didn't plan for better stocking for these items. Resorted to [@] for generic replacements, but paid huge shipping costs so didn't save anything. Rotors still were typical Chinese quality ( garbage!) So for a toy which costs around [$]. dollars total, this was a bust. Should have used the cash to buy PS3 games :(Sorry this wasn't as fun as I hoped. My cats enjoy batting around the damaged "BIRDY" more than I did. Kinda expensive cat toy though.....
from San Diego, CA on 1/28/2008
I really enjoyed the Mosquito, especially since most indoor copters tend to IR controlled, this one give you more freedom & with its 3 channel control, handling is quick to pick up. The only drawback is is construction, all it takes is a good hard crash & your grounded till you can find some replacement blades, which seem to be in short supply. I highly recommend this product but I also highly recommend you get yourself some extra blades at the time of purchase in any are available.
from hummelstowm, pennsylvania on 1/26/2008
this thing is frikin awsome. it easy to fly and loads of fun. i recommend getting a wall charger. you will save alot on batteries. i highly recamend it.
from Asheville, NC on 1/23/2008
This little thing is great fun for a "big kid." I'm 30 and still like to get a toy every Christmas, this was my toy this year. I play / tinker with it just about every morning before work and every evening after work. I'll try to organize my review below in a useful manner:
What "I" liked: (1) It is complex with some adjustments and part replacements that have kept me interested after the "toy" novelty wears off; (2) It is a ton of fun to fly around and improve your skills, especially trying to land on small elevated places or attacking my wife's head; (3) flying it in complete darkness, the lights actually make it easier for me to fly in the dark; (4) a true 3-channel radio control mini helicopter, i.e. up/down, clockwise/counterclockwise, and forward/backwards; (5) lots of internet information for problems is available; (6) the actual body/copter is very durable but see below about parts; (7) it was perfect right out of the box, I haven't been able to get it to fly as well since my first rotor repair; (8) it scares the hell out of our cats and did I mention is it fun!
What I don't like: (1) short fly time, about 8 min at most, I might have gotten 10 min once; (2) frail rotors - you will need extras and the replacements are not nearly as good as the originals - I've found it flies dramatically different depending on the rotors I put on; (3) the charger doesn't come with an AC adapter - but you can buy one that works at RS - a must have;(4) longer than advertised recharge times, mine takes closer to an hour to get full charge than the 20-30 minutes advertised - I use AC adapter; (5) ever changing flight conditions - it seems to fly a little differently each time making it harder to improve flying skills - I believe it is a result of new rotors, occassional falls, and decreasing power life; (6) EXTREMELY sensitive to air movement, turn off the heat/AC while flying and don't event think about outside.
General Observations/Comments/Recommendations: (1) READ the warning this is for ages 12 and over, I'm 30 and find it challenging to fly and maintain - but that is why I like it; (2) buy as many repair kits as you can find from RS as they are 1/3 the cost of other retailers and you will need more rotors; (3) the version I just got seems to be an improvement from earlier versions sold at RS based upon online forums I've read - this one already has the more aggresive tail rotor and better center-gravity weighting; (4) don't buy this if you like a toy that never requires tinkering, this is like a hobby toy, it is fun to mess with it; (5) you can find lots of videos of this little guy on youtube before you buy it; (6) watchout for walls, once you hit one, give up - it gets sucked into a wall and can't get away; (7) there are knockoffs of this online, but the original Bladerunner by Interactive Toy Concepts sold by R.S. was great right out of the box and has lots of parts options, whereas the knockoffs do not. You can buy new circuit boards, motors, propellers, and rotors for this thing online - so far all I have needed is the main rotor kits.
Despite the Cons, I love this thing and give it a 5star rating. Enjoy!
from Charleston, SC on 1/21/2008
Take it slow. Learn to hover 18" high over one spot. I'm on my 2nd.Port front leg has antenna covered with thin plastic that rides up the leg after many heavy landings. Quality and flt traits differ widely from 1st & 2nd models.Reviewer suggested weight in front to impruv 4ward motion.Sounds interesting. Herds our 4 dachshunds effectively.Friend bought on my rec.His wife is mad at me but he & his 4 kids luv it.If they just wudnt fly it into the bathroom when she's in shower he'd hv no problem.IS VERY sensitive to HVAC air currents.Strange behavior close to walls. Strange tendency to fly into them.Do not mess w/ antenna. Port engine died when I tried to fix antenna cover.May hv broken tiny copper wire.Have always used heli until battery absolutely spent.Read about letting battery cool,will give that a try.Anyone know how to replace onboard battery?Replacements other than blades and tubes?Schematics on guts?It's taking more of my time than I can afford but is cool and fun.
My Son is eight, this is his thrid RC Helicopter.The Mosquito has been the best helicopter he has had yet. Although the wings are delicate,Radio Shack has very inexpensive replacement kit. [$]
I purchased a cheaper micro helicopter and had a really hard time keepingit in the air. After numerous crashes and broken parts I purchased the Micro Mosquito. It flew perfectly out of the box. I did have a few crashes and broke the blades but was able to find replacements which were easy to install, and now I am an expert flyer. Its rather easy to control but does take some getting use to. Getting the trim right before each flight is key. The charge lasts about 7-8 minutes which is pretty long, and gives you plenty of flight time to have fun. I would go with this as a first Heli. Have Fun!
from Eagle River, Alaska on 1/21/2008
This is a nice unit but there are others to be had at a much better price with more power, better blades,longer flight times and much more difficult to break. I have bought about 10 various mini choppers from different manufactures and also fly the bigger birds. I would rate this machine a good 8 out of 10 overall. it is very easy to fly out of the box and with some minor tuning, you can make it much quieter and add time to your flight. The great thing about this heli is that parts are readily available from your local radio shack and most stores keep them in stock although there are some who wont stock anything! Beware if you need replacement blades. Buy a set or two with your chopper, you will need them. [...]. You won't need blades if you have any coordination at all. It comes from china and you have to wait, but well worth it. I have three micros from radio shack that I am currently playing around with different kinds of mods to increase performance. I can now sneak up on my cat and get real close before he notices that something is coming for him.lol. Remember, hovering in one spot facing the same direction is key to maneuvering. Trim your heli until this can be achieved or un-repairable damage will occur. Add tiny amounts of weight to front or rear of heli until a still hover can be achieved.(usually the tail) A very tiny amount goes a long way. Try pieces of tape first. Hope I've helped but all this talk makes me want to fly one. Later......K-
This is a fun little toy. However, while your learing to fly this toy for the first time, you have to prepare for crashes. The blades are cheap plasitic and will break. The problem is, Radio shack never has these replacements in-stock. [...] I wouldn't have purchased this toy if I had known I couldn't get replacment parts. This wasn't worth the money I paid for 1 hour of use.
This is not a bad product. As complex as controled fleight is, this little machine does a good job. It takes great patience to master, though. I spent several flights just learning to hover. Of course it's flimsy... It needs to be incredibly light. The product should come with at least one spare set of blades. Be sure you can get plenty of replacement blades before purchasing the mosquito, though.
from Ofallon MO on 1/19/2008
Out of the box the helicopter just spun in circles. The trim control was no help. I replaced the stock blades with the extras I purchased and it flew beautifully. Radio Shack does sell the replacement blades but they are as hard to get as the helicopter itself. Just my theory, but I think Radio Shack is waiting for the 30 day extended Christmas return policy to expire to get more in. Alot of first time flyers have crashed hard and need a new one. Minor crashes this thing can take. Hard crashes you will need to replace some parts. Fly low and away from everything until you learn. The chopper does fly slow in comparison to others but can get away from you. First timers expect to crash! Cannot recommend for young children, adults who aren't used to having fun or people with Parkinsons.
When we opened this present on christmas morning, much excitement. Much less excitement the first time we had to exchange it because the lower rotor never worked out of the box. Even less excitement when we exchanged it for the second time because the tail rotor never worked out of the box! Third time, disgusted, the manager tried to push the store display model, all rotors were chewed up and it flew sideways! Apparently the bottom line is more important than customers.[...]
This thing broke in one week and I did not crash it at all !!!
The helicopter is fun and a challenge to fly but beware if you crash and need to replace the blades they are imposable to find. Mine is out of commission for two weeks now with no replacement blades available. [...] I cannot recommend this product as RS does not support it with replacement parts that you WILL need.
from Fort Collins, Colorado on 1/15/2008
I live in colorado at ~5,000 ft above sea level and I cannot get enough lift to keep it above the floor. It will take off from a table, but then gradually sinks to the floor within 10-15 seconds. I checked the manufacturers web site and found an altitude chart that shows the operational envelope to be below than 4,000 ft above sea level. I read the review from the guy in Colorado Springs who says his works great at 6,500 ft... either his is an anomoly or mine is an anomoly. I love it when it is in the air and it seems to have great "fun" potential...but forward flight is impossible and hover is very short lived in my basement. My basement also has a radon mitigation system that keeps the basesment at a slightly negative pressure...which undoubtably makes the lift even less than normal. I'll have to try flying the Mosquito upstairs away from the negative presure created by the radon mitigation system or the fire place or the furnace or...maybe if i open all the windows - there is still hope!
The helicopter was easy to fly and a lot of fun with everyone. However, after only having it for 5 days, one of the motors quit working. I returned it for another, only to find out that the new helicopter's remote did not work. After that I just decide to give it up. However, if the second helicopter would have worked, I would have given this product a 4 or 5 star rating even after having to exchange the first helicopter.
This is a great chopper. If anything breaks on it i know that i can get the replacement parts. it flies great, and is very easy to control. Great to show off to all your friends. Charge lasts quite a long time, and its fun to fly.
It does not respond to controls, other than up and down. The charger did not work and I had to exchange it. Forget about trying to make this thing fly.
from Erie PA on 1/13/2008
Bought two for grandsons. Rotors broke on both on second day of use. From Christmas until now,1/13/08, no one has been able to keep either one airborne. Both boys have above average hand to eye coordination.
from Utica Mi. on 1/12/2008
High tech fun for older kids and adults who love to tinker with high tech toys. A unique rc heli.
from Chapel Hill, NC on 1/12/2008
I've bought three RC copters in the past 3 months. The first two were no-name-brand worthless items that self destructed as soon as you learned how to fly them. This one however flew beautifully right out of the box. For someone who's never done it before, flying this will take a little practice, but the 6-direction controls: unlike ANY OTHER RC COPTER make it really easy to learn. I mastered it on the first charge. The protective ring around the rotors makes this helicopter immune to minor crashes, and the build quality and design continue to amaze me. The green lights on the front look really cool too! The best [$]I've ever spent. Period.
This is the most fun Miniture helicopter on the market. It has long battery life, and if very easy to control after you get the hang of it. Only con is that mine broke after falling and breaking the wing.
Well, mine flew horrible and is nearly impossible to trim. It constantly circles and dives into a crash. I practiced for hours, even trying mods and to no success. Won't hover, turn, go backwards and if you attempt to go forwards it spirals and dives. Not worth the price of batteries alone if it were free.
I have read many of the reviews on this toy, and found them to be all over the place. It almost sounds like everyone purchased a different toy!! Those who did not like it, either have a short attention span, or DID get a defective product. Some say it is flimsy. I feel the product was made to be flexible therefore reducing the amount of damage that may occur during a crash, but at a casual glance it may appear flimsy. Mine has survived many crashes! (A willow tree that bends in the wind will survive better than than the strong oak that will snap) It IS difficult to learn to use and it does have adverse responses to AC gusts and transmission quirks. I suspect that the transmitter does occasionally fail or goes weak since the toy will sometimes go crazy on its own without any input or change on your part. I never thought I would enjoy a helicopter, but it was given to me as a gift. It is addictive because of the challenge trying to make it work smoothly. Bottom line, if you like a challenge and if you get one that doesn't have an obvious defect, it is a lot of fun.
This helicopter hovers very well if you continually adjust the trim. It will not go backward and if you try to go forward it will rotate uncontrollably. It is basically imposible to get this thing to consistently go where you want it. It does go up and down nicely, but for the price that gets old pretty quick. It is very flimsy and will break even when it is not crashed. There are no directions to speak of and you have to go to the manufacturers old site to find the directions that actually tell you how to fly this. For what it does you are better off buying one of the many much cheaper versions and just pitching it in the trash when you get tired with it.
from Charlotte, NC on 1/6/2008
We bought two of the mosquito helicopters as Christmas presents for our twin 10-year-old boys. But we will be returning both of them for two reasons:
(1) Very fragile blades - both helicopters had damaged blades with less than 30 minutes of flying time each. And yes, we were being careful with them in a large indoor room. But unless you have a large padded room with absolutely no obstacles, you WILL damage your blades quickly. Sometimes you can repair them with scotch tape, but in one case the tiny metal axels that balance the blades came out of one and it is no longer flyable. I will be replacing both with new sets of blades and then returning them.
(2) The forward and backward flying controls are very difficult to master. I was never able to do it well, and my boys never even came close. So about the only thing we were ever able to do is fly them up and down - very boring. As soon as you try to fly the heli forward or backward, power is diverted from the main blades to the tail blades (to lift or lower the tail). But this power diversion disturbs the counter-rotational balance of the main blades, which is what is keeping the main body from spinning. As a result, the heli will always rotate at the same time you try to fly forwards. You have to try to counter this effect by steering it in the opposite direction while also trying to fly forward, which is difficult to do. All I could ever do was fly it small circles or in random directions as I tried to fight the rotational effect. Oh, and even if you do get it going forward, it is very slow.
I was always interested in RC helicopters, and this is a perfect entry into the hobby. Easy to fly if you play a lot of video games are are used to compensating for trim issues. Don't be persuaded by other reviews that say the thing is flimsy - this is not a plastic toy for 3 year olds and it will break if you abuse it! It is an RC indoor helicopter for older children and adults who have hand-eye coordination. That said, I have had some minor crashes and the heli is still working fine.
My only real complaint is that it is difficult to fly the heli forward and backward. The up-down control is very easy, and the heading of the helicopter is easy to control, but it is just not well suited to fly forward as easy. I am hoping it will get easier as I keep learning how to fly it.