Win a Wi-Fli Helicopter! See details at the end of the review! Don’t forget to enter the I Am T-Pain giveaway too! EDITORS NOTE: Congratulations to Belinda Moore of Etta, MS for winning the Dabble Giveaway! Two more winners to be selected soon. The Ritmo Pregnancy Sound System winner will be announced next week.
While at the Toy Fair tradeshow earlier this year I became interested in how cellphones and iPads were encroaching into toys and games. Several games caught my eye, namely the fun strategic Rush Hour game and the new Solitaire Chess, both from Think Fun Games. These games are a lot of fun to play in the physical world with other people, but now they are also available from iTunes in solitaire mode; they’re very addictive.
Now I’ve Seen Everything!
I continued to look for cellphone/tablet crossovers. I was not disappointed. I walked into a hobbyist dream booth showcasing all sorts of toys from INTERACTIVE Toy Concepts. It was the Wi-Fli helicopter that caught my eye.
Toy flying helicopters have been all the rage these past few years, but I have yet to see one where the remote control is your smartphone or iPad. Nor have I seen one as well-constructed.
The Wi-Fli hobby class helicopter is pretty slick. From its tail to its nose, it measures 12 inches with a body 8 inches in diameter. It includes a balance bar and two sets of rotating blades and one tail rotor. Though mostly made of plastic, there are some metal parts as well. I suspect the plastic is essential for keeping the weight down for flight as well as lessening the impact to the chassis when impacts occur.
Features:
- features exact directional flight – up/down, left/right, forward/backward and 360 degrees
- digital proportional flight control
- rotor gyro for precise flight stability
- 3.7 volt li-polymer rechargeable battery
- includes 2 replacement connectors and one replacement tail rotor (yes, you will crash it)
- uses an enclosed USB Charging cable – helicopter can be completely charged via your USB drives on your computer
- a free Wi-Fli app available in the iTunes and Android stores to control the helicopter with your smartphones or iPad
- a more advanced app option allowing you to use the accelerator in your smartphone/iPad to control flight by moving it in different directions
- this puppy can fly and pretty high too!
- you don’t have another remote to lose! Any smartphone or iPad can control it with the free app
- the app provides for different experience levels…beginner to advanced
- it is a lot of fun to control and provides for much entertainment
- even radio controlled enthusiasts will enjoy this experience
- comes packed with extra rotors and connectors…because you will need them!
- the helicopter ascends very quickly if you choose to do so
- with practice, flying in the home is very possible
- repair parts available for purchase
- if the helicopter flies out of Wi-Fi range, you can no longer control it, you just have to wait for the battery to drain down…and watch it closely to know where it lands!
- the battery charge doesn’t last for long, roughly 5-10 minutes
- it takes nearly an hour to charge the helicopter battery
Ready for take-off, as flown by our teen-aged neighbor.
Headed for the skies!
The advanced version of the app allows you to control the helicopter by tilting the iPad or smartphone
in the direction you want it to fly in.
The Wi-Fli Helicopter can fly pretty high. The higher you fly, the easier it is to control,
as you have less to bump into!
The Interactive Toy Concepts Wi-Fli Helicopter is available in-stores at Target, Radio Shack – for $99.99, and at Macy’s online as well. I could not find it at Amazon.
A Mother’s Perspective
I had a lot of fun playing with the Wi-Fli Helicopter. I still have a ways to go to learn how to fly it properly. But that’s what I love about it. The Wi-Fli Helicopter is a true class hobby chopper with precise control, yet it sells at a toy price.
At first I thought the Wi-Fli Helicopter would be great for my kids to try. Perhaps that would be the case for the helicopters you see at the local fair or toy stores, but not for this helicopter. The packaging says it’s intended for kids 14+ and there is good reason for that. Teenagers will love this chopper…it’s fun, challenging, and a great group activity. Dads will love the Wi-Fli chopper. Heck, even I enjoyed it.
If you’re looking for a great hobbiest-type of toy for your teenagers or husband, this will certainly bring them entertainment…and great bonding moments.
Win It!
Want to try one out for yourself or give a present that is sure to be a WOW! gift for Christmas? Enter to win our contest to score a Wi-Fli helicopter for yourself!
TO ENTER
- Fill out the form below. One entry per person.
- Only USA and Canada addresses please.
- The contest ends December 21st, 12am PST.
- The winner will be chosen by random.org.
- Prize will be fulfilled through the mail (after Christmas).
GET EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN
- Get 1 extra entry for following Well Connected Mom on Facebook.
- Get 1 extra entry for following Interactive Toy Concepts on Facebook.
- Get 1 extra entry for following @wellconnectdmom on Twitter.
- Get 1 extra entry for tweeting on twitter, “I hope to win cool iPhone/iPad controlled Wi-Fli helicopter and @wellconnectdmom http://bit.ly/uEejar. #Giveaway ends 12/23rd.”
* I was given a Wi-Fli Helicopter in return for my honest opinion.
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