Air Swimmers
- RC blimps.... that swim?!
Air Swimmers are a new breed of radio controlled blimp that need to be seen to be believed! Currently available in the form of a shark and a clown fish they actually 'swim' through the air using a realistic tail-flapping motion.
Above: beware the Air Swimmers! Jaws & Nemo are out to get you!
Produced by flying toy manufacturer William Mark Corporation the novel Air Swimmers are sure to be a massive hit, and I'm sure it's no coincidence that the two swimmers currently available (I'm sure more will follow...) are based on two of televisions most popular fish, Jaws and Nemo.
The Air Swimmers are essentially rc blimps with a difference; rather than using electric motors and propellers to power the blimp through the air they use the completely realistic tail-wagging motion that the actual critters do. RC genius!
They work so successfully because air and water both have the same fluid properties; it's the reason why airplane wings and sailboat sails work, and why penguins can 'fly' underwater.
Here is a video of the Air Swimmers in action...
Operating the Air Swimmers is easy, the control is infrared rather than true radio control. By repeatedly pushing the left/right button of the controller you move the tail of the fish to swim it through the air, while to turn you simply push the button more to one side than the other.
Altitude is controlled by changing the centre of gravity of the blimp; pressing the up/down of the controller will slide the receiver/balancing pod that's under the front belly of the fish forwards or backwards, thus raising or lowering the nose of the beast and hence letting it swim in that up or down direction.
Like conventional rc blimps, these fish are filled with inert helium gas that's readily available from party shops or anywhere that sells the helium filled party balloons. Once inflated the swimmers should remain inflated for a few weeks before needing a refill, unless harpooned prematurely of course!
These truly are novelty rc aircraft, if you can class them as that, and they bring a whole new meaning to the name flying fish!
RC Air Swimmers are available here.
Related pages
RC blimps - the conventional kind.