FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In our instruction manuals, we offer thorough instructions and specific tips on operating your product. In this section, we offer specific video or pictorial tutorials to answer some more specific concerns.
Click here for self help tutorials
1. My Micro Mosquito or Firefly helicopter keeps spinning to one side - left or right and also does not seems to attain enough lift to hover to eye level
Our BladeRunner series of helicopters uses the latest passive stable rotor system which receives patents worldwide for its unique capability to self-correct its angle of attack. It also uses a twin rotors system which is counter rotating in nature and because of its ability to spin in opposite direction, it is able to achieve the balance it requires for stable flight. If one rotor spins faster than the other, the effect will be the helicopter spinning to one side. To stop the spinning, you can use the trim button on the controller to adjust the trimming. The trims should be able to maintain its position during the flight - there are a few exceptions that may make the trims to become "off trim" or changing (eg. a draft from ventilation, the supply of battery power is weakened towards the end of the drain cycle, various hostile flying conditions). In an ideal case, the helicopter will stay trimmed but where flying conditions are less than ideal, customers are advised to apply steering input to counter steer to enjoy stable flight.
After the adjustments of the trim controls for your Micro Mosquito and FireFly helicopters, if the helicopter still does not stop spinning or does not attain enough height (or lift) whilst flying, please check as you may have lost the end cap at the bottom shaft. This is found at the bottom of the fuselage (or the body of the Micro Mosquito or FireFly). Please click and see the two DIY Self Help instructions - Step 1, Step 2.
My BladeRunner BlackGhost/BlackStorm helicopter keeps spinning to one side. If your Bladerunner Blackghost/Blackstorm helicopter cannot get enough lift or cannot stay trimmed even with the trim button adjusted, first check whether you have the rear rotors in place. In the original package, there are spare rotors. Replace the rear rotor and you can get flying again.
If the rear rotor is not missing, please check rotor blades and the center hub for completeness - checking the different pins that interconnect the rotor hubs and the blades. If these are broken, please consider buying a replacement set of rotor blades.
 
If all of the above is verified to be complete and working, and your Blackghost/Blackstorm helicopter is still not receiving full power and/or the lower rotor seems to be free spinning, then check for damage at the interconnecting spacer on the helicopter fuselage (shown below). This 2 cm long spacer looks like the one below and connects the drive gearbox of the helicopter to the lower rotor. If this spacer is spilt open or not interconnecting with the stem of the lower rotor, it will not provide power to lower rotor blade. If this piece is broken, please click here for replacement parts. To avoid future breakage of this spacer, when foreseeing an impact or less than ideal landing, do not apply any more throttle or increase speed as this will cause this damage.
My Bladerunner or Spider-Man helicopter keeps spinning and not flying properly. If the lower rotor is free spinning and does not seem to connect to the gearbox, please check the connecting white gear (shown below) if it is broken. If this piece is broken, please click here for replacement parts.
  
- What type of batteries are needed?
Most of our Bladerunner series of helicopters (Spider-man, Micro Mosquito, FireFly, BlackGhost, etc) and AirRage Micro R/C planes have built in rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery (aka LiPo) and hence it requires a source of power charging source (either supplied to you in your package as a portable charger or as part of the radio transmitter unit). In the case of R/C Snowmobiles and ATVs, the product is supplied with a wall charger and a rechargeable battery pack: only battery is required for the transmitter. You will not need to purchase additional batteries for the running unit. In most cases, you will need to purchase additional batteries for the transmitter and/or portable charger only. Check for these symbols shown on boxes.
  
- Can I use rechargeable batteries in the radio controller or portable charger ?
We recommend using alkaline batteries for use with the radio controller and/or portable charger. Good quality batteries can provide optimum performance when comes to the attaining good radio range, efficiency when charging a helicopter, play time, charge cycles and charge time. Rechargeable batteries may work but may also provide less voltage than what is necessary (Common NiMH rechargeable batteries are normally rated at 1.2 volt per cell whereas alkaline batteries are normally rated at 1.5 volt per cell. We do not recommend any of those heavy duties batteries. Always ensure you have the correct polarity (+ and -), very often this is the case for those transmitter that uses 9V battery.
Although the + and - terminal for a 9V battery is distinctively different, customers do however make the mistake of forcing it in sometimes. The transmitter was built to withstand some degree of polarity reversal; but once the unit is switched on for extended period of time, the built in transistor in the PCB may be damaged. This will cause either signal interference or total loss of signals essential to controlling the product.
- Can I use a power adapter?
Where indicated, most portable chargers can accept a DC power source as an alternative to using battery cells; please refer to the individual manual for guidance to the selection of the type of DC power adapters. We do not supply these DC power adapters and these are generally available from electronic stores. Be sure to purchase the right input voltage for your country (eg.
USA
and
Canada
- AC110V and UK/Australia AC220V). Click here to see photo of a sample of the charging requirements for Micro Mosquito's portable charger
For helicopters only, if you consider a charging adapter, do not directly connect the adapter to the helicopter. Please ensure that you plug the adapter to a portable charger. There are different forms of portable chargers that we have manufactured in the past. Click here to see an example of helipad look alike portable charger for Micro Mosquito and FireFly. This specific portable charger will also work with Blackghost/Blackstorm – please click here to order.
5. My plane does not fly/helicopter does not hover?
While this is too general for us to answer, we can often provide the following steps to find out the root cause. First ensure the plane/helicopter is fully charged (according to the instruction manual); then check again for physical damage from impact or when opening the box packaging. For a helicopter, please check the rotors for completeness and whether there are broken parts in the rotor blades, the rotor hubs, and the rotor shafts, and the entire gear train. For an airplane, please check for physical cut or damages on the wing and fuselage that either increase or decrease lift and draft. For MicroFigthers and Razor Micro R/C airplanes - there are an extra set of propellers included in the box packaging, this is taped inside the box.
6. My helicopter can hover and does not travel fast enough?
Our BladeRunner series of helicopters are all designed to have a slow forward flight which means its center of gravity is specially tuned at the factory to achieve only a slow forward motion. For a 2 channel helicopter, it will always move forward whereas in a 3 channel version of the helicopter, there will be extra rotor at the tail of the boom to assist in gaining more forward speed and to reverse. It is therefore important for users to understand that these helicopters are to be flown slowly and in an indoor environment only.
7. Where is the antenna?
ITC has manufactured various types of radio controlled toys. Some are using radio frequency (RF) that requires an antenna (eg. snowmobiles); some other uses Infrared (IR) which does not require an antenna. When you open a packaged item that uses radio frequency, the antenna is normally detached from the transmitter and packed securely inside the packaging. It is essential that you locate the antenna and mount the antenna to the transmitter for use. The antenna is a telescopic antenna and can be extended to a couple of feet to provide optimal radio signals. If the radio controlled toy uses Infrared (IR), it does not require an antenna and its use will be limited to indoor and with a direct line of sight when operating.
8. Are these toys safe for my kids?
The toys that we manufacture are not to be used by ages under 8 years old. This is very important for end customers to know when they first decide to purchase our product as a gift for a minor. Our products follow very strict manufacturing guidelines and testing procedures for distribution worldwide according to different ATSM, RoHS, UL requirements. Appropriate warning labels have been placed on box packaging and instruction manuals. There are also specific age guidelines to help consumers decide on appropriate items.
 
9. My toy starts running and spinning by itself when switched on. Why is that? Is the transmitter safe to be used?
Always switch on the transmitter first before switching on the toy helicopter, plane, snowmobile or ATV. This is a practice that all customers should keep in mind. Once you switch on the toy - before you switch on your transmitter - your toy (no matter which type it is) will start receiving signals around you whether they are electronic noise, interference and static in the atmosphere or another electronic toy transmitting signals in similar frequency. IN general, these toys will not be affected by cellular phones, cordless phones and Wi-Fi network equipment. Our products are toys and are safe to be used as such and are in compliance to the regulations for use by FCC and Industry
Canada
.
10. Can I overcharge or over-discharge any of these toys?
Most of these toys have a built in circuit to safeguard customers from either overcharging or over discharging the battery in the toy. In the case of helicopters, our Bladerunner series of helicopters and AirRage Micro R/C planes will slow down the spinning of the rotors to ensure a safe landing once it reaches a preset threshold of battery voltage. At this point, customers are advised to stop attempting to fly it anymore and simply put the craft to another recharge cycle. In the case of snowmobiles and ATV, over discharging does not happen very often since the craft itself will slow to a dead stop. Although most electronics and charging mechanism have a built in threshold, it is advised to all customers to supervise during the charging process at all time and do not leave the charging process unattended.
11. Can I do my own repair on ITC's helicopter or products?
We do not recommend customers to do their own repair on ITC product other than replacing official parts from an authorized source. Doing so will void the warranty. While basic DIY quick fix like using tape and glue to affix temporarily a broken set of rotor blade or a section of the craft is acceptable, opening the fuselage of a craft to get to the electronics is not recommended and will void the warranty.
12. Where can I find more information about my plane or helicopter?
We have received a lot of suggestions from customers who venture themselves into the next level beyond making their own DIY repair. These customer groups are generally experienced hobbyists who have interest in modifying our original design for enhancing the craft's performance. Such groups and communities do exist and customers are encouraged to check out these forums and discussion groups on the internet to increase their understanding of the product. www.RCGroups.com has a dedicated vendor forum for our Bladerunner, click here to find out more (Disclaimer: ITC is not associated with the forum but ITC staffs regularly provide inputs and assistance at that forum).
13. Can we send in the helicopter for ITC to repair or service?
For products within the valid warranty period, we can offer assistance at our
North America
technical help desk in evaluating and troubleshooting on the functionality of the product. If the item is deemed defective (and not damaged by abuse), ITC will gladly offer a replacement product if within the 30 day warranty period. For products outside warranty period, we can offer replacement products (limited to current production units only) at a nominal cost. Please inquire with our customer service agent first, Call 1-866-214-2220 or email us
14. How many helicopters can be flown at the same time?
For all helicopters, up to 2 units can be flown at the same time – Blackghost/Blackstorm (A or B), Micro Mosquito, Micro Mosquito 3.0, Micro Mosquito 4x4, Bladerunner3, FireFly (27Mhz or 49Mhz). This can be easily identified by a picture emblem on the box.
15. How to charge the toy?
Most of the flying toys are already equipped with its own light weight Lithium Polymer battery which itself is rechargeable. Customers do however need to purchase battery for the transmitter and/or portable charger.
Micro Mosquito BlackGhost/Black Storm iFly
  
16. Flying a helicopter over 4000 ft above sea level
If you live 5000 ft above sea level, your helicopter may have a tough time getting enough lift due to the fact of thinner air density. Click here to see a relationship between altitude and air density and how any toy helicopters may be affected.
17. Is my product a genuine ITC product or is it a counterfeit product?
All our products packaging clearly identifies on the front that it is manufactured by Interactive Toy Concepts with our company logo. Various efforts have been used to protect the intellectual property of the original design and the helicopter rotor systems share a very similar design and have received patents worldwide. We have noticed that there are a lot of counterfeit products in the market place that appear to be our products. We have received various phone calls in the past for asking for customer support. Customers should be advised to check that only genuinely ITC's manufactured products will receive customer service. The majority of these counterfeit products are manufactured below the testing standards imposed by various government regulating bodies. It is therefore recommended that you purchased only the genuine ITC products from our retailers or e-tailers. Please ensure to look for this logo on the box packaging.
If you have any specific concerns that you still need clarification with, please email your inquiry to info@interactivetoy.com.
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