5 Best RC Blimps of 2019
RC blimp toys provide heaps of affordable fun for kids. Unlike other radio-controlled models, blimps are soft, quiet, and super-easy to control. They don’t suffer from crash damage like hard plastic RC vehicles either. They are the perfect indoor toy. You can find RC blimps in many different shapes, sizes, and designs. The 5 products here each have their unique appeal.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| Angry Birds Fish Blimp |
| 4.2/5.0 |
| Material: Durable nylon |
| Suitable Age: 8+ years |
| Has Auto Swim mode and quick to assemble. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| Air Swimmers Flying Bass Blimp |
| 4.4/5.0 |
| Material: Durable nylon |
| Suitable Age: 3+ years |
| Large scale bass fish and decent control range. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| Zep-air Explorer RC Blimp |
| 4.7/5.0 |
| Material: Durable nylon |
| Suitable Age: 8+ years |
| This is a traditional non-rigid airship. |
| Check Ebay |
How RC Blimps Work
The hull or envelope of a typical toy blimp is made from durable nylon material. You must fill it with helium gas so that it can become airborne and cruise around the home. Helium is a safe, inert gas and easy to find in any local party store. You can probably find it at flower retailers too. All blimps come with a set of instructions on how to fill the envelope with helium and control the toy.
The manufactures recommended age is a suggestion only (see table below). RC blimps are simple to control and don’t take long for younger kids to grasp.
About My ‘RC Blimp’ Guide
RC blimps are niche playthings, so the choices are not overwhelming. The 5 products reviewed here are the most popular at the time of writing. These are fun toys to play with indoors on bad weather days. The first three in the guide are my choice for Best Budget, Best Value, and the Top Pick.
RC Blimps Comparison Table
| Make and Model | Material | Suitable Age | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angry Birds Air Swimmers Turbo Blimp | Durable nylon | 8+ years | Check Price |
| Air Swimmers RC Flying Bass Fish Blimp | Durable nylon | 3+ years | Check Price |
| Zep-air Explorer RC Indoor Blimp | Durable nylon | 8+ years | Check Price |
| RC Silver Baboom Flying Saucer Indoor Blimp | Nylon/plastic | 6+ years | Check Price |
| ZEP-AIR Messenger RC Indoor Blimp | Durable nylon | 8+ years | Check Price |
1. Air Swimmers Turbo Angry Bird Blimp | Best Budget
Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5
This blimp brings Angry Birds into your home using advanced Air Swimmers technology. It glides through the air using a simple infrared controller that kids can grasp in minutes.
Turbo Fish Blimp Highlights
The makers of this air swimmer have used a safe, quality material that’s highly durable. The blimp should stay inflated for weeks, and it’s easy to refill when the time comes. Assembly is a cinch too. The toy comes with a turbo battery that only takes about 15 or so minutes to recharge. Kids know Angry Bird, so bringing it to life in the home is not only magical but hilarious. The mission is to attack the bad piggies. Confused parents needn’t worry—the young ‘uns know how the game goes.
Angry Bird can zoom in all directions using the remote, or you can put it on Auto Swim mode. Remember to get 4 AA batteries and helium in advance if you buy it as a gift.
The Not So Good
The motor that runs the blimp is quite noisy to the point where some parents may find it irritating. The printed instructions are vague, so look to the video tutorial instead.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Model type: Animal blimp |
| Dimensions: 36 x 16 x 28” |
| Product Weight: 11.2 oz. |
| Recommended Age: 8+ years |
| Battery (Blimp): built-in rechargeable |
| Battery (Remote): 4 x AA (not included) |
| Material: Durable nylon |
| Remote Control: Infrared |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Affordable fun |
| Safe, durable material |
| Stays inflated for weeks |
| Can refill multiple times |
| Auto Swim mode |
| Kids love it |
| Quick to assemble |
| Charges from the remote |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Noisy motor |
| Vague printed instructions |
2. Air Swimmers Flying Bass Fish Blimp | Best Value
Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5
The Best Value choice is another Air Swimmers blimp. Meet the remote control flying bass fish. Kids can drive it in all directions and control its tail fin as it swims through the air.
RC Flying Bass Fish Blimp Highlights
You must see the blimp in action to believe it. The big bass swims through the air just as a fish moves in the water. The infrared control range is an impressive 40ft, which plenty for home users. The lightweight material is high-quality safe nylon that stays inflated for a few weeks. You can also bring the fish out and refill it from storage whenever the kids want to play or at special events.
Adults seem to enjoy the toy as much as the children going by the user feedback. This Flying Bass Fish needs four AA batteries, one for its body, and three for the remote control.
The Not So Good
Assembly can be tedious, not helped by the vague instructions and confusing images. It’s a good idea to head straight to YouTube for help if the written guidance proves too much. Allow some time for assembly if you by the fish blimp as a surprise gift. The other negative is the large size of this thing. It’s also a positive, depending on how much space you have.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Model type: Bass fish blimp |
| Dimensions: 57 x 36” |
| Product Weight: 14.1 oz. |
| Recommended Age: 8+ years |
| Battery (Blimp): 1 x AA (not included) |
| Battery (Remote): 3 x AA (not included) |
| Material: Durable nylon |
| Remote Control: Infrared |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Fun for all the family |
| Large scale bass fish |
| Decent control range |
| Easy for kids to control |
| Stays inflated for weeks |
| Refillable |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Assembly takes some time |
| Vague instructions |
| Too big for smaller spaces |
3. Zep-air Explorer RC Indoor Blimp | Top Pick
Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5
The Top Pick goes to the hobby-grade Zep-Air RC indoor blimp. It’s a traditional style eye-catching non-rigid airship. The model is easy to control using its simple 3-channel infrared remote.
Zep-air Explorer RC Blimp Highlights
This blimp boasts multi-speed lift and directional thrusters. Combined, they give it more control than single speed toys. It also comes with a multi-player mode that allows 4 Zep-air Explorers to fly together. That can provide kids and adults with some exciting game opportunities. Skilled pilots can use the included rescue lift attachment for additional challenges.
The balloon is reusable and powered by a rechargeable 2.4V NiMH battery. The remote controller uses a 9V battery and 2 AAs for recharging (not included).
The Not So Good
The main gripe with the ZEP-AIR blimp is the common issue with vague instructions. Fortunately, fans of the product upload set-up and usage instructions on YouTube.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Model type: Non-rigid airship |
| Dimensions: 32 x 16” |
| Product Weight: 4.8 oz. |
| Recommended Age: 8+ years |
| Battery (Blimp): 2.4V NiMH AAA |
| Battery (Remote): 9V (not included) |
| Material: Latex |
| Remote Control: Infrared |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Traditional non-rigid airship |
| Hobby-grade blimp |
| Multi-speed thrusters |
| Multi-player mode |
| Rescue lift attachment |
| Rechargeable battery |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Poorly written instructions |
4. RC Silver Baboom Flying Saucer Indoor Blimp
Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5
The Baboom Flying Saucer is an indoor blimp, but it’s not as cute as the others on this page. However, it’s a fun and safe product for those who prefer the hot air balloon style.
Flying Saucer RC Blimp Highlights
The silver saucer here does 360° turns and other precision movements. It has a control range of around 200ft. The 2-channel remote couldn’t be simpler, which makes it an ideal gift for kids six years and older. The balloon has a quality metallic silver nylon envelope with a 38” diameter. It inflates with regular helium (not included) available at any party store or florists.
The Not So Good
There aren’t any vertical controls, which is a surprise considering the highish price tag. It’s a sound blimp for introducing kids to radio control flying, but it’s not the most exciting of models.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Model type: Flying Saucer Blimp |
| Dimensions: 5 x 9 x 5” |
| Product Weight: 12 oz. |
| Material: Metallic silver nylon |
| Remote Control: 2CH 27MHz |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Super simple to control |
| 360° turns |
| 200ft range |
| Durable nylon |
| The Cons |
|---|
| No vertical controls |
| Quite expensive |
5. ZEP-AIR Messenger RC Indoor Blimp
Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5
The last of the 5 picks go to the ZEP-AIR Messenger. It’s a 3 channel infrared RC micro-sized blimp for indoor use. It arrives void of any print so that kids can customize the balloon in any way they like.
ZEP-AIR Messenger Blimp Highlights
The reusable foil envelope inflates with regular helium found at regular party stores. The remote is comfortable for smaller hands to use and simple to operate. Options include multi-speed movements for lift and directional control. The model lets 4 blimps fly together with its 4 player mode. It’s the same as the Zep-air Explorer above with the difference being the customizable envelope.
The Messenger comes with a rescue lift attachment to challenge pilots. The blimp gets its power from the included 2.4V NiMH battery. The remote control needs a 9V battery plus 2 AAs for the recharging. Overall, it’s an interesting non-rigid airship and the blank canvas makes it more fun for creative kids.
The Not So Good
The included instructions are not clear, and they have confusing illustrations (at the time of writing). Anyone who struggles with the user manual should head over to YouTube instead.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Model type: Non-rigid airship |
| Dimensions: 32 x 16” |
| Product Weight: 4.8 oz. |
| Recommended Age: 8+ years |
| Battery (Blimp): 2.4V NiMH AAA |
| Battery (Remote): 9V (not included) |
| Material: Latex |
| Remote Control: Infrared |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Non-rigid airship design |
| Quality materials |
| Multi-speed controls |
| 4 player mode |
| Rescue lift attachment |
| Rechargeable battery |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Poorly written instructions |
Contents
- How RC Blimps Work
- About My ‘RC Blimp’ Guide
- RC Blimps Comparison Table
- 1. Air Swimmers Turbo Angry Bird Blimp | Best Budget
- Turbo Fish Blimp Highlights
- The Not So Good
- 2. Air Swimmers Flying Bass Fish Blimp | Best Value
- RC Flying Bass Fish Blimp Highlights
- The Not So Good
- 3. Zep-air Explorer RC Indoor Blimp | Top Pick
- Zep-air Explorer RC Blimp Highlights
- The Not So Good
- 4. RC Silver Baboom Flying Saucer Indoor Blimp
- Flying Saucer RC Blimp Highlights
- The Not So Good
- 5. ZEP-AIR Messenger RC Indoor Blimp
- ZEP-AIR Messenger Blimp Highlights
- The Not So Good