Following the success of their Robosapien line of robotic toys, Wow Wee is launching a new and additional line – flying robots. The first one is due out this spring and it’s called the Flytech Dragonfly. The remote-controlled robotic insect has a 16” wingspan and is capable of going 18 mph. At the Canadian Toy & Hobby Fair there were several companies showcasing R/C micro-fliers, most being helicopters of various sizes. The Dragonfly outdoes them all in every aspect. For starters it’s dual wing design and rotary tail blade allows the insect to fly forwards, to climb and dive, and not just float up and down or spin about. It has a 2 channel digital wireless connection which gives it a remote control range of 50 feet and its rechargeable batteries will give up 10 minutes of flight time for every 20 minutes of charging. That’s about ten times the range and battery life of the mini R/C copters I saw from other companies. The batteries also power small LED lights in the eyes, which themselves serve to tell you when the batteries are drained. When the insect’s eyes begin to dim, it’s time to connect it to the remote controller for another charge. There’s two control settings – beginner and expert – that make it easier to first learn how to fly the device and then, when you’ve mastered the controls, to access the range of movements to perform advanced aerial stunts, to discover corkscrews, swoops, and flutters. Putting the controls to “Expert” sets the Dragonfly to perform tighter circles and sharper movements. The controls themselves are just the standard two toggle sticks. One for the throttle, the other for steering and elevation. Unlike most airplane-styled micro-fliers, which you have to learn to throw at full throttle to get them airborne, the Dragonfly can perform a take-off from the ground or any flat surface. This makes it easier to keep both hands on the controls for the trickiest part – the first shaky moments of getting airborne. Finally, and this might be the best part, the Dragonfly is a tough micro-flier to brake. With a carbon fibre body and plastic wings, the design allows for the toy to absorb most of the impact in crashes. I personally destroyed my first micro-flier (the Plantraco Butterfly) in my first attempts to learn how to pilot it. The Dragonfly, by contrast, is ideal for first time fliers as you can run it into walls, down stairs, crash it into furniture and tangle it into blinds without having to worry about wrecking it. It’s also lightweight and soft enough that it won’t hurt anyone it runs into. When it arrives this Spring in stores, it will be available in two colours – green and blue. Each will come packaged with an optional tail ribbon (to slow it down for practice), a pair of spare wings, spare propeller, and a detachable antenna for the remote control. It’s recommended for ages 8 and up, will cost about $60 and will be available in two frequencies – 27 and 49 Mhz (so you can have two of them flying in the same room without interference). This is just the first flying toy from Wow Wee and its exceptional. I can only imagine what’s to follow.