Designed in Hong Kong, the flying Vectron Blackhawk is popular with children in the US and Europe

Outer space buffs will be delighted this Christmas with a Hong Kong-designed gift that looks and behaves like a flying saucer.
 
Dubbed the "next generation of flying toy", the Vectron Blackhawk was launched this year by Hong Kong company Edu-Science (HK). It has proved especially popular in the US and Europe, where more than 200,000 models have been sold so far.

Recently, the toy won the company a Product Design Award in the 2002 Hong Kong Awards for Industry.

The Blackhawk is the first in a fleet of vector thrust controlled flying machines suitable for indoor play, according to marketing director Pearl Tam.

"The next generation of flying machines has arrived," Ms Tam says of the toy, which has an automatic stability control system and an inbuilt computer controlling the three motors via a joystick.

Founded in 1987, Edu-Science has its headquarters in Hong Kong and a factory in Dongguan in the Pearl River Delta, with a combined workforce of 2,000.

The company manufactures an innovative line of "learn-as-you-play" educational toys designed to stimulate a child's creativity and intellectual development. Microscopes, telescopes, binoculars and magnet sets are part of the product line-up.

Hong Kong toymakers say that electronic products, video games and action figures will dominate the next toy generation.

"Children are growing up faster and faster these days, and they start playing with computers at a young age," said Edmund Young, honorary chairman of the Hong Kong Toys Council and chairman of the Trade Development Council's Toys Advisory Committee. "They look for toys that have new technologies and can interact with computers."

He added that Hong Kong toy manufacturers are quick to adapt to new trends, and that as soon as new technologies are available, they incorporate them into new designs.

"Hong Kong has a very strong and well developed electronics industry, which is the source of technology and the source of ideas. This is our major selling point, and the reason why Hong Kong has become the biggest toy manufacturer in the world."

Related links:
Hong Kong Toys Council www.toyshk.org/hktc
TDC www.tdctrade.com
Hong Kong Toys Industry  www.toys.tdctrade.com