Remote Control Dragonfly?

August 2, 2007 9:59 PM

Are these remote control dragonflies as cool as they look?

I'm thinking of getting one for my father-in-law for his 60th birthday. He's an engineer, handy type person. If they really work as billed, I think he'd love it. But if they don't really work, I'd just as soon not spend $40 on a disappointment.

posted by alms to shopping (9 comments total)

There was one at OSCON last week. It definitely caught my attention and I chatted with the guy at the controls. A little more difficult to control than an average remote control airplane, and it won't reverse like an actual dragonfly.
I'm thinking that Portland Telco Project had the dragonfly, but it certainly worked well in the windless environment of an exhibit hall.
posted by lilithim at 10:18 PM on August 2, 2007

Some of these are extremely fragile. They're fun, but you can't fly them outside because they need still air, and if you hit something indoors, which is virtually inevitable within the first hour, you're out forty bucks.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:42 PM on August 2, 2007

Get one of the palm sized helicopters instead. I got one for Christmas and can attest to it being great fun and virtually indestructible.

I wouldn't get it from Hammacher Schlemmer though - what a rip off! I've seen the exact same thing for half what they are charging on the linked website.
posted by worker_bee at 4:50 AM on August 3, 2007

There are a few videos of them in action on youtube that might be worth a look.
posted by TedW at 5:38 AM on August 3, 2007

I've seen one in person and they're pretty cool.

To the comment about needing still air: this is true with inexpensive helicopters as well. My dad recently bought an one ($60? $80? I forget), and unless there is *no* wind it gets knocked around and can't really fly.
posted by rachelv at 6:35 AM on August 3, 2007

Thanks for all the feedback. It sounds like I should only get it for him if I'm willing to accept that it will be fragile and only work in pristine conditions. Hmm.... maybe time to think of another gift.
posted by alms at 8:29 AM on August 3, 2007

I bought one. It is extremely difficult to fly indoors, and you need big space. Like at least 20' x 20' or bigger. I wish I had not purchased it - the mini helicopters mentioned above would be better for my entertainment interest.
posted by yesster at 9:44 AM on August 3, 2007

While I cannot attest to the dragonfly, I bought one of those Airhogs rc helicopters that have commercials on tv. I bought it from Target for $30 and it is pretty awesome as worker_bee states. You can run them full-bore into a wall and they work just fine. Occasionally you'll have to clean hair or cobwebs off of the rotor axles. You only have left/right turning and throttle up/down but the copter has default slow forward flight so it still can move all around. Ceiling fans can move it around quite a bit, but you do still need to be indoors or in incredibly calm air.

(it also makes my cat go crazy trying to get it)
posted by Phantomx at 3:12 PM on August 3, 2007

"The durable carbon fiber body can withstand turbulent landings"

HAAAhahaha... oh man... nothing could be further from the truth. Stay away from these things.
posted by tehloki at 4:02 PM on August 3, 2007