Air Hogs Storm Launcher - an R/C Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang

I’m not really sure how to classify the new Storm Launcher from AirHogs. It’s fun to drive around on the ground (even on grass). It’s fun to pilot around on the water. And, most importantly, it’s fun to fly. So, do you classify it as it a car, a boat, or a plane? I guess it’s really all three, which explains why I’ve found it next to other R/C cars, boats, and planes, depending on which store I’m in.

Technically, the Storm Launcher is a boat (a hydrofoil) which happens to have skid plates on the bottom of its sponsons so it can be driven on the ground and an elevator on the back so it can fly. The Storm Launcher uses the same thrust-steering that Air Hogs uses with its Aero Ace line (see my other posts on the Aero Ace biplane and the Aero Ace jet). There are no control surfaces other than the elevator on the back so steering is accomplished by speeding one motor up and slowing the opposite motor down. That means that if you cut the power to the motors you can’t steer (you can, however, plummet to the ground, as I’ve proven more than once). This technique of using the motors to steer will be familiar for pilots accustomed to turning with the Aero Aces but it will take some getting used to for pilots who are used to using rudders and/or ailerons for control.

If you’re a beginner R/C pilot looking to take the next step beyond the Aero Aces the Storm Launcher is a great choice. It’s an easy way to learn how to fly a plane that has elevator control. Best of all, you can learn to fly one hop at a time. Zip the SL across a soccer field and pull back on the stick a little bit (a very little bit) — the SL will launch a few feet into the air. Push the stick forward and it’s back on the ground. Once you get used to using the elevator you can increase the amount of time you spend in the air. When you’re ready to initiate a turn while in the air remember to keep power going to the motors or you’ll see for yourself how nicely the SL can perform a cartwheel. Soon you’ll discover just how well this boat can fly (and that’s something that you can’t say about most boats).

Don’t worry too much about breaking it, though — the Storm Launcher is one tough bird — er, I mean boat. It’s made mostly of high-density styrofoam with a bit of high-impact plastic thrown in. I’ve tumbled, rolled, and cartwheeled my SL. I’ve flown it straight down into the ground, straight into a tree, and straight into a pond. Considering its very light weight it handles punishment remarkably well. If it does get damaged it’s pretty easy to repair. Like most toys made out of styrofoam it can usually be glued back together using some CA glue.

For more experienced pilots the SL can perform a surprising number of tricks. In its stock configuration it has a thrust-weight ratio pretty close to 1:1. Loops, barrel rolls, and high-alpha flying are possible in the SL’s stock configuration, but if you remove some of the “excess” weight the thing really flies well. Trim a few grams of foam away (it’s easy to remove the fake air intake and exhaust), remove the prop guards, and get rid of the horizontal wing between the fins (the developers say that it’s just there for looks and to add some stability to the fins) and you have a surprisingly agile plane (er, “boat”) on your hands. Replace the motors and add some stronger LiPo’s and the sky’s the limit. Literally.

As of this writing (October 2006) the Storm Launcher is available for $79 at Toys-R-Us and Target and for $69 at Wal*Mart. (It’s also available at a number of web sites for about the same price.) Don’t forget the batteries — you’ll also have to buy a separate LiPo battery and charger for $29. The developers say that there will also be a “complete” kit which includes the SL and the battery but I haven’t seen it on the shelves yet.

Whether you’re a beginner who wants to get a feel for what it’s like to fly a plane that has an elevator control or an experienced pilot who wants a new “toy” to play around with I’d highly recommend the Air Hogs Storm Launcher. It drives well, it floats well, and it flies well — not bad for a “toy”.

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