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If you've never been to a radio control show, you're missing out. There are a number of annual shows like the NEAT Fair in New York and SEFF in Georgia which have an enormous variety of models, vendors, and activities, and give any AMA-registered pilot the opportunity to fly too. You can buy DVDs of last year's NEAT FAir or SEFF 2008 from SKS Video Productions to get a taste of what it's like to go. There are also conventions to attend like the WRAM Show, which is all about shopping instead of flying.

In July Zero RC will be attending the SCCMAS Airshow in Santa Clara, California. If you live in the area, come check it out!

Eagle Tree Systems has announced two new sensors in their line of data logger products. What makes these unusual is that they can be used either with a logger like the eLogger V3 or stand-alone, using the built-in LED display. For convenience the sensors can be powered by a spare receiver channel or a second battery.

Lazy boy chairs now have an official buddy: the RC drinks cooler. An invention that would make Al Bundy proud takes a very simple idea and makes it extremely fun. It is a cooler on wheels, and even the bottle top shaped remote doesn't hide the fact that it is a very quirky product. It operates from up to 30 ft. away, and the four sure grip wheels can cover most areas.

I was thinking that maybe I should bring my nephew over to the dark side with me, and teach him about this wonderful hobby. Giving him an RC car from RadioShack wouldn't exactly be bringing him over, so the only other thing that came to mind was FlyZone's SkyFly RTF. The assembly would turn him off, even though it can be done in minutes. But the actual time using the plane would be a completely different story.

I feel really old when I see products like this, because it is easy for me to dismiss it as ridiculous. The same thing challenged my youth when the Sims came out, and I laughed at the idea of a game that simulates your life. RealFlight simulator is a flight simulator for RC planes and helicopters. I can barely control my laughter at this point, but despite my bias it is actually a very necessary tool for the beginning hobbyist.

Rock crawling has slowly been gaining popularity in the radio control scene in the last couple of years. It really skyrocketed in 2007 and is still on the rise in 2008. Multiple companies have introduced and as well as started to produce Ready to Run crawlers, so it is no surprise that Duratrax has joined the ranks. Duratrax is now introducing its 1/14 scale Cliff Climber rock crawler to the scene.

Pulled straight from the 'what will they think of next category', well known toy maker Silverlit is still riding the success of the award winning PicooZ series of toys with an innovative new twist. The Wingsmaster I-Bird is one of the most fun newcomers to the RC world. This video here shows why this hobby will never reach an end.

Earlier I reviewed the R/C Aerial Reconnaissance from the Intel ISEF. A lot of people may wonder what my fascination was with such an amateur product in comparison to the Pilot View FPV 2400, and a look at the price tag of $549.00 may pretty much sum it up. But for the dent it makes in your pocket, it makes up for in fun. The Pilot View lets you turn any mobile* product into a FPV experience.

Spinmaster is well known, and gets even more respect for this product. Slamming a brand new take on laser tag, some fun key elements place these RC helicopters in their own category. Havoc Heli Laser Battle pits two RC controlled miniature helicopters against one another in an air tag battle. Surprisingly, the idea didn't come out as sloppy as it could've been.

The Schumacher Cat SX is making a splash before its initial release, and this summer we'll see if the buzz it created at the Nurnberg Toy Fair was worth it. The Cat SX is one of many new 4wd cars to make it into production, and is a welcome trend for the serious hobbyist. 4wd to me makes the difference between a car you run up and down your driveway, and a car that can run without fear on a country road.