With your budjet the Air Hogs are about your only option but should keep a 9 yr old entertained for a little while. The only one I have seen fly is the biplane and it seemed to fly well (stable and slow). Being slow and light crash damage would be minimal I imagine but it is delicate foam and won't put up with rough handling. It would make a pretty cool Christmas gift for a 9 yr old... Heck I would take one as a stocking stuffer Fly it in the office...