Product Description

Tyco R/C, creators of the original hovercraft, bring you Airblade, the next generation in radio control hovercrafts. Airblade features not one but three air cushions. Hover over land, snow, ice, and water. Airblade is watertight and fully amphibious. Tilt and rotate the rear air cushions by radio control to steer and propel Airblade instantly, unlike previous hovercrafts. Airblade vehicle's new high power rechargeable 12-volt NiMH battery system pushes runtime and performance to new levels. Tough construction and awesome styling make Airblade rise above the rest. Requires 12V battery and charger and one 9V battery for transmitter, all included.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32673 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Mattel
• Released on: 2006-06-12
• Dimensions: 16.20" h x 15.00" w x 8.00" l, 5.55 pounds

Features

• The next generation in remote control hovercrafts featuring 3 air cushions
• Hover over land, snow, ice, and water
• Tilt and rotate the rear air cushions by radio control to steer and propel your Airblade
• Watertight and fully amphibious

Amazon.com Review
For those remote control vehicle buffs who have grown weary of cars and airplanes, the Air Blade hovercraft is sure to liven things up! This amazing vehicle has the unique ability to float on air and make contact with the ground in order to produce high speeds and tight turns. When air is drawn into the top grille of the vehicle, it becomes pressurized and is then directed out the three bottom air pods. The hovercraft actually floats along the ground on a cushion of air. Players pilot the craft by moving the controls on the transmitter so that the two rear air pods tilt, rotate, and touch the ground. The hovercraft works equally well on (or over) land, snow, or water, as long as the "terrain" is relatively smooth (no pebbles, powdery snow, choppy water, shag carpeting, etc.). The Air Blade is a sleekly designed vessel, with slick graphics and racing stripes…every bit the vehicle of tomorrow! 12V NiMH battery and charger are included.--Emilie Coulter

Customer Reviews

Sturdier Structure Than Other Hovercrafts--Buy Different Frequencies Needed if Children Play Together With This Item
Living on a lake on a flat grassy point with a sand beach (and hardwoods inside), my son has had every hovercraft made. Most hovercrafts have one large balloon-type rubber bottom supported by styrofoam. The rubber has always pulled away from the product (causing the air not to fill and support it) and/or the styrofoam has cracked, causing an early demise. The 3 rotor "wheels" on this product appear to make it sturdier and easier to repair. GRANDPARENTS, ETC., IF YOU ORDER MORE THAN ONE OF THIS PRODUCT FOR CHILDREN WHO WILL PLAY TOGETHER WITH IT THEY MUST HAVE DIFFERENT MHZ FREQUENCIES. ORDER THE TYCO 27 MHZ (BLUE ONE) BY MATTEL AND THE TYCO 49 MHZ (RED ONE) BY TYCO OR THE PRODUCT WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE 2 CHILDREN ARE EMPLOYING THEIR REMOTES AT THE SAME TIME.

Good on land, but not what I expected on water
Goes great on flat surfaces, but doesn't move on water like I had expected. When moving across water, it's not on a cushion of air. It basically has tires that are mounted sideways. These tires spin in the water, and make the craft move. It's not "floating" over the water. It's like a really slow boat in the water.

Ideal conditions toy
Seems to work ok. The battery life seemed to last just long enough. Operation was tricky - hard to control - not much fun inside the house. We've only had it outside once on hard packed snow. Where it was level and smooth, the hovercraft really flew - it was a blast. Judging from the little experience we've had with it, I don't think it would be much fun on water or uneven terrain. The dead weight of the inactive front wheel seemed to cause control problems. Sometimes it was more fun to drive it backwards. Overall, don't make this the crown jewel if you're gift giving.