Parrot AR.Drone Quadricopter w/ iPhone, iPad & Smartphone Controls + Live Video Streaming! $205

Quote from travfar : Well other than the Walkera not having cameras and autopilot. For those, I'd pay the extra $40 for this.

I would tend to agree if you've already got a device to run the Parrot.

I've got a ladybird and it is fun in a different sort of way. Definitely not as user friendly and *much* quicker and smaller. I've already broken a motor mount on it....nothing that super glue couldn't fix though

Here's one video of the flyaway problem. There are plenty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyL8ASSbrHc

But according to parrot support site posts, it's a known problem and based on serial number, Parrot will send you a replacement that doesn't fly away.

Quote from zontor : Not true - got one sitting in my office

Where did you get it from?

Quote from jbounce : Where did you get it from?

Brookstone. Shipped far earlier than their estimate. Got it yesterday.

The different colors seem to have different ship dates. When I ordered I picked the one with the earliest date.

You can also find 'em on eBay but you'll pay a lot more....

The thing to remember about all drones and probably RC in general is that you will break stuff and parts will wear out much faster than you think. Get extra propellers and a battery and an extra motor if you can afford it.

It's just the nature of the hobby and you'll want to be somewhat mechanically adept (or learn to be or know someone who is) to fix stuff. Arguably that's part of the 'fun'.

If you've never done anything like this, start with the $20 Syma helicopters on Amazon -- they're a lot of fun for the money and you can decide if you want to venture further.

True. The most amazing "helicopter" I had was a Vectron. More a flying saucer than a helicopter though. Way way way before the double axis helicopter. It was crazy stable and uber tough. I would let random people fly it and it would bounce off the walls like crazy. Did more damage to the wall then to the Vectron. I never understood why they didn't keep making those things. Dirt cheap too. They just make the baby ones now.