A boy and his hog

Model Airplane News, Dec 1998 by Chianelli, Chris

Here's yours truly pumping up the engine on one of Spin Master Toys Air Hogs. I know, right now you're asking, "Why is he putting a toy in `Air Scoop'?" Well, every so often, something that's quite interesting and usable in our RIC hobby comes from the toy industry. Air Hogs happen to be such things-no, not the ARF foam airplane itself, but the air-pressure engine that powers it. When I pumped up the plastic air tank, the engine really did put out enough thrust to carry the model the length of a football fieldjust as promised on the box.

As you read this, two of our more inventive contributors are building a slow-flying indoor/outdoor RIC model using an Air Hogs engine (and a 1-liter soda bottle to increase duration). Rumor has it that they have worked out an on/off motor control. I'll keep you posted. As for my own Air Hog, it flew into the highest tree in town, and I've been kicking a can in a big sulk ever since.

Spin Master Toys, 250 The Esplanade, Ste. 400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada MSA 1J2; (416) 364-6002; fax (416) 3648005.