I really dig these radio-controlled flying fish from Thinkgeek. Not only do these helium balloons look convincing at a glance, but their swimming movement also looks realistic. Check out the video:

If it were up to me, I’d swap out the fish with the flying balloon-like Boo from the Super Mario games. It too moves slowly and not all that gracefully. I’m hoping that the tail and wing-like arms can help propel it like the flying fish. The tongue could also be used as a rudder perhaps. If it’s possible, a voice chip could be added for his “laugh” sounds.

But why stop there? There are plenty of other geeky things known for flying that could be used:

1. A flying droid briefly seen in the Star Wars: A New Hope (Special Edition onwards). I chose it because it has a rudder and wings. 2. Metroid. Would make for a beautiful balloon. 3. Lakitu, an enemy-turned-friend, also from the Super Mario games. 4. A City Scanner robot from Half Life 2. Looks like a product of Aperture labs. 5. Laserbeak! Okay, probably wouldn’t work as a balloon. 6. Probe Droid from Empire Strikes Back. 7. Torture Ball droid from A New Hope. And you thought your dad was harsh. 8. Orko from He-Man. I’d enlist his large elf-like ears to be the wings, and his hat tip for the rudder. He’d be life-size, I believe.

Anything you’d like to see as a flying toy?