For his birthday, Nigel got an orca Air Swimmer* and has been using it to terrorize Mom. She is scared of the thing (though a bit of that may be dramatization ;)), and he likes to chase her around or surprise her with it. Quite fun.
* Essentially, this is a mylar balloon in the shape of an aquatic animal, with a remote control to operate a small motor, such as can propel the balloon through the air, if inflated with helium to the point of flotation. Whether or not he could, in fact, get the thing to float at the altitude of the Salt Lake valley, was an exercise in frustration for Dad. "Simplify and add lightness," was his mantra, and like Lotus, it took a good bit of engineering, but in the end it worked.
Apparently, Uncle Spencer and Aunt Caryn got Marshal a clownfish version recently, which has worked fine straight out of the box. Perhaps the helium they used was more pure, or perhaps the differences between the models is the explanation. Dad recommends either sticking to the clownfish-style models, or not buying one for use at altitudes of 4400'. He also notes that the box clearly states, "Not for use above 4000' altitude," and wonders why Toys 'R' Us sells them at stores located four hundred feet higher than that, in valleys with no point lower than 4000'?
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