Flying toys to keep all ages entertained this summer
(27/07/2010)

Be brave and leave the Nintendo DS behind for once; here are the Magnificent Seven most popular activities to keep all ages, even couch potatoes, entertained, whether on the beach or in the park.

Aerobie Pro Ring 13"
This flying ring should be right at the top of any list of things that a man shouldn’t be without. With incredible aerodynamics, the astonishing Aerobie Pro Ring 13” is a ‘longest thrown object’ Guinness World of Records setter: at over 400 metres. Wonderfully simple to throw over a long distance and a doddle to catch thanks to its soft rubber finish, the world’s best flying ring will guarantee hours of fun.
Price: £9.99 from JJB, Blacks, Millets, Halfords and Cotswold Outdoor .

Nerf Vortex Mega Howler
A modern classic, the Nerf (standing for Non-Expanding Recreational Foam) Mega Howler is tough enough for serious outdoor fun yet sufficiently squashy not to damage car windscreens that get in the way of the game. Its aerodynamic design, including finger grip zones and built in tail fin, help the Howler to spin faster for greater accuracy while the three built-in whistles make it guaranteed to attract attention, as it rockets through the air. Although durable, it’s surprisingly light and fits easily in a backpack ready for the beach.
Price: £9.99 from Halfords, JJB, Blacks, Millets.

Frisbee Freestyle Sport Disc 160g
Learning to throw a Frisbee should be one of those compulsory lessons in life, along with riding a bike, understanding the off-side rule and boiling an egg. Master the Frisbee basics and you’ll be welcome at any party. This one’s a great all rounder, throw the disc and see it glide and hover.
Price: £8.99

X-zyLo
Weighing less than an ounze, the X-ZyLo is the original flying gyroscope that can soar up to 100 yards, fascinating people of all ages and intriguing scientists with its unique flight characteristics. Simple to throw and catch.
Price: £6.99

Stomp Rocket
An absurdly simple concept: just stamp onto the launch pad with all the force you can muster to propel the ‘rocket’ a staggering 400ft into the air – there’s no need for batteries, nor for fuel. And the harder you stomp, the higher it goes. This set comes with 6 re-usable high performance rockets, so that if rockets get lost in trees or in a neighbour’s garden, the fun doesn’t have to stop.
Price: £9.99 from Amazon

ArrowCoptor
A refreshingly unsophisticated toy, the Arrowcopter can soar up to 300 feet with nothing but a rubber band, a stick and a good ‘ping’. Pull back, point up and fire – giving the launcher stick a slight flick at the instant of launch. Then watch the Arrowcopter as it flutters back to earth like a sycamore leaf. Magic!
Price: £3.99 from the Science Museum.

Symphony Beach 1.3 R2F Kite
Be the envy of other families on the beach. Tons of fun to fly, these easy to handle two line power kites provide hours of worry-free entertainment. Stable in flight, they offer a remarkable pull for their size at a surprisingly fast speed with no solid frame, giving relatively crash proof experiences. Complete with winder and wrist-strap, this is a great first power kite. Price: £19.99