When it comes to technology and gadgets there are loads of different products on offer for the kids of today. The days of playing with a stick and a piece of string in the street are long gone (I assure you, there was a time when we did) and they’ve been replaced by electronic gadgets such as video game consoles and radio controlled models.

Which is better though? Yes a video game console can provide you with countless hours of entertainment and there are hundreds, often thousands, of different games available. The graphics are technically outstanding on consoles such as the PlayStation 3 or the Xbox 360, and the gameplay has reached new levels. But what of your health and fitness? Playing video games works the mind, and it sure gives the thumbs a good workout, but sitting in front of a TV screen does nothing for the physical health, or the cholesterol level.

Instead, you should try radio controlled models as these allow you to leave the house and move around. Getting children outside can be difficult in this day and age, and toys such as radio controlled cars and RC helicopters allow kids to leave the house and enjoy the fresh air. Plus they also teach children about technology and engineering, as they’re very educational toys.

If you’re interested in getting a radio controlled helicopter, you have to decide whether you want to buy an indoor one or an outdoor one. Which one you buy depends on where you want to fly it (makes sense really).

If you’re more inclined to play indoors, such as the home or the office, then you’ll want a smaller, cheaper, Micro RC helicopter for indoor use. They’re usually much cheaper than the larger outdoor models, and they can be flown with little or no experience. They’re also very resilient, as if you crash one into the wall it should be OK, and survive to fly another day.

Outdoor helicopters are much more difficult to fly, tend to cost a lot more and some are even powered by petrol, as opposed to electric and batteries. If you’re flying an outdoor RC helicopter you’ll need more experience and patience, and crashing one into the floor could prove costly, both financially and to your helicopter.

So whether you plan on using one indoors or outdoors is one way of deciding which type to get, but an equally good question to ask is how much experience you have with RC models. If you have none at all, you might be better off with an indoor RC helicopter.

One of the largest model aircraft shows of the year took place this weekend in Perry, USA, as 4,000 RC planes and RC helicopters enthusiasts met up to share their interests. The RC airshow, the 2009 Southeastern Model Show, took place over two days on Friday and Saturday.

The show featured RC fans of all ages, from young children to more ‘senior’ flyers, who all shared a love of flying RC models.

David Duarte was one such fan, and has been a fan of RC models since he was in his twenties, back in 1964.

It took me about a month because I not only had to build the airplane, but I had to build the radio. It was a Ken Willard Schoolboy, a popular model.

To show just how difficult and taxing some RC models are to fly, RC enthusiast Norm Deputy explained how he really struggled with his first model.

It took me almost a year to build my first airplane. Now they’re done in 18 hours. They call them ARFs: ‘almost ready to fly’.

The air show is classed as the largest of its type in the world, and attracted RC model fans from as far afield as Ohio, California and Hawaii.

As it’s now March, and winter is (touch wood) well behind us, the days are starting to get longer and the evenings are lighter. It’s also getting warmer, in some places in the UK at least, which means there are more opportunities for a good family day out.

One of the best days out a radio controlled enthusiast can have is an RC day, which are held throughout the UK in fields. RC days feature radio controlled enthusiasts and dealers who gather together to share and enjoy their hobby. You’ll see stalls of RC models, such as cars, boats, planes and helicopters. You’ll find parts for your RC models, you’ll mingle with like minded people who love radio controlled toys, and best of all you’ll see and even take part in races.

RC days often feature off-road dirt tracks for radio controlled cars and trucks to race along, often with prizes for the winners. Many RC shows also have air displays, with RC helicopters and planes flying around to show you their skills.

You might even get the chance to try out an RC helicopter or a plane to see if you like it, and if you’re able to handle them.

Radio controlled helicopters may be cool toys, but it’s important to remember that they’re not just for kids. Children love toys like RC helicopters because they help them with their imagination and allow them to act out things that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to do.

The same applies to adults too! Adults love toys, even though they won’t always admit it. For example, for Christmas or Father’s Day men often get gifts like shaving foam and socks, but it’s not what they really want. Men remember the moment in life when they start getting cool presents such as gadgets, transforming robots, MP3 players and radio controlled toys, and they start getting socks. It usually starts in the high teens somewhere and gets progressively worse as you get older.

This doesn’t have to happen though. You can at any time choose to buy something like a radio controlled helicopter and show your dad that his presents for the next twenty years don’t have to be novelty socks, they can be cool RC presents too.

He’ll appreciate it for sure, and you’ll get to have a go when he’s at work – unless of course he takes it with him.

If you’ve seen the film Starship Troopers you’ll know that bugs can be scary. They maybe small and squishy, but for their size they’re extremely strong and powerful, so if a bug such as a cockroach was the same size as a man, there’d only be one winner in a fight.

Therefore a radio controlled giant flying cockroach wouldn’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but just as similarly, it would be right up some people’s street. If you’re one of those people, you might be interested in the RC flying cockroach that’s creating quite a buzz on the Internet right now. It’s a radio controlled helicopter (sort of) in the shape of a cockroach.

Your grandmother or sister will love you for this!

The cockroach, or helicopter, takes just thirty minutes to charge up to full power and then lasts for five minutes of terrifying flight time. Imagine the shock on everyone’s face as you make a few sweeps of the room, without them knowing you have a radio controlled flying cockroach.

One tip though, if you happen to be in a restaurant, you’re probably better off not flying around just in case you get the place closed down.

Are you a lover of all things tat and cheesy? Of course you are, which means you probably remember classic Eighties TV shows such as Knight Rider, The A-Team and Airwolf. These were the type of TV shows that made you want to be called in for your tea when you were playing in the street, just so you could sit in front of the tele and pretend you were B.A. Baracus, Michael Knight or Stringfellow Hawke!

Thankfully, those of you who know that the Eighties was the best decade, and everything from it is brilliant, the news that a new Mini RC Helicopter that looks just like Airwolf has been released will be music to your ears. Presumably Eighties TV theme music of course.

The Mini RC helicopter is able to fly up and down, forwards and backwards and yes, even left and right. It won’t fly at a supersonic speed or fire missiles though, you’ll have to pretend that part.

The little chopper takes almost 30 minutes to charge and lasts up to 9 minutes flying. The best part is, bizarrely this RC helicopter isn’t available in the USA, but it is in the UK.

That’s one in the eye of Uncle Sam!

A radio controlled helicopter and a video camera are two of the best gadgets you can have. An RC helicopter allows you to soar through the skies, doing tricks and stunts, and gaining the sort of freedom you wouldn’t ordinarily get. A video camera gives you the means to make your own movies, or record family and friends so that you can watch back those embarrassing moments whenever you want.

They’re two great gadgets, but geniuses have put them together to create one fantastic toy. There are radio controlled helicopters available that come equipped with video cameras, which means you can fly them around like normal RC helicopters, but you can also record footage with them.

This means you’re able to make videos of the sort of footage that you couldn’t possibly get any other way, footage of soaring through the sky, swooping down to the ground and past you, as you control it with the transmitter. You can also use the video camera Spycopter to spy on your neighbours and friends, with the video footage broadcast directly to your computer.

Doesn’t that sound like one of the greatest gadgets ever made?