Estes Viper RC Airplane with Motion Sensing Control

Once you get comfortable flying, you can learn to do tricks. View larger.

The motion-sensing controller lets you maneuver the plane by tilting left or right. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Plane really flies, rechargeable design, easy to repair. The Bad: Steep learning curve, plane inevitably takes on damage, requires a very large open field. In a Nutshell: Radio-controlled plane can fly and perform tricks but requires a lot of practice and a large grassy space. At a Glance Ages: 12 and up Requires: 6 AA batteries, large grassy space, packing tape and glue to repair the inevitable damage.

Like a Real Plane, Piloting Takes Practice
Our first attempt at flying was met with resounding failure -- a beeline straight into the ground! After checking to see if the plane was all right (it was), we tried again. Another crash. It took a few tries before we got it stay in the air, and then we had several adjustments to make in order to get the plane flying as we desired.

As stated in the instructions, bending various parts up and down helped steady the plane, make it climb, or keep it from veering left or right. Along the way, we broke a wing, sliced through the body, bent a tip, and did further damage. Fortunately, fixing the plane was as simple as applying some packing tape. The plane didn't look as good, but flew just fine.

When we finally got the hang of it, it became obvious that our park was not big enough to hold the plane. Simply put, you need a very large open space to fully enjoy this toy. The instruction booklet recommended a soccer field, which is not always easily accessible, and not always empty when you get there. Fortunately for us, once we had the room to maneuver the plane, turning it gently left and right and performing tricks was a piece of cake.

Motion-Detecting Remote Control
The Viper R/C Jet Plane uses a remote control unit that looks like a flight stick with a trigger. The remote control itself is one piece, and to turn the plane you tilt the entire unit to the left or right; a motion-sensor inside detects whether you are tilting a lot or a little, and the plane turns accordingly. The plane has two rotors, one on each side, which are controlled by the trigger. When you pull on the trigger all the way, the rotors are at full strength and the plane climbs. With the trigger halfway, the rotors pulse and the plane stays steady without climbing. We wished there was some way of gauging the halfway point, but over time we were able to get a feel for the remote.

Overall, we found the plane to be great fun, but you must be willing to invest a fair amount of training time with it. Even though the plane is designed for ease of use, it still has a very steep learning curve. We spent an hour crashing the plane and repairing it before we were able to exert some control over its many functions. But if you are willing to put in the work, and if you have access to a big field, you'll love this toy.

What's in the Box
Plane, remote control unit, decals, instructions.