When it comes to paper airplanes, they usually don’t stay airborne for more than a few seconds. The guys at PowerUp weren’t satisfied with that, so they set their sights on making motorized paper airplanes. We’re now on the fourth-generation of the PowerUp, and it’s the most capable version yet, enabling paper airplanes to fly better and further than ever.
The PowerUp 4.0 consists of a lightweight airframe, along with a pair of motors at the rear and a sophisticated flight control computer in its nose. Working in concert with a smartphone app, it can automatically smooth out flight thanks to the use of both a gyroscopic sensor and an accelerometer. It can even stabilize flight in windy conditions.
The kit includes a design for a basic, reliable paper airplane, but it will work with your own custom designs too, and the motors are powerful enough to fly models made out of cardboard, styrofoam, or balsa wood as well. While the app and computer smarts aboard the plane should keep your flight stable, the frame’s durable nylon and carbon fiber construction means it’ll survive in the event of a crash landing.
Flying is easy – simply tilt your smartphone to steer, and pull the on-screen throttle control to accelerate. Depending on conditions, the weight of your plane, and your flying technique, your plane can fly for up to 10 minutes on a charge. The PowerUp 4.0 also has the best control range of any model so far – up to 230 feet.
You can get your hands on the PowerUp 4.0 smartphone-controlled paper airplane kit over on Amazon for just $79.99. They also sell a companion book with a variety of paper airplane designs for another $19.99.
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