Are those simple old Chinese remote control ICs still available?
I haven't seen a radio controlled product use 27MHz for about 30 years and all the infrared toy helicopters use more than one IR LED so the beam can be wider and more powerful.
I dont know whether they are available, I just found the circuit in the above site. But can you give the circuit diagram for an another remote control circuit with more available components.
Radio control transmitters and receivers are inexpensive and are available in hobby stores. Mine operate at 2.4GHz and the servos are proportional, not simply maximum movement then no movement.