£80.00
Getting an old piece of scrap paper and transferring it into a paper plane is a staple of childhood fun. Indeed, the notion of a simple paper plane has had some serious renovations over the last few years. Most noticeably by PowerUp, who in their latest version, has given the paper plane a high-tech revamp by allowing you to control the paper mechanism through the use of your smartphone. This is definitely an improvement on throwing the paper and hoping for the best, but even with the use of your phone, will the iconic paper plane fly any better?
The PowerUp 4.0 RC Power Plane is a great quirky gadget that is perfect for getting the kids out and about as the weather warms up. Setting up the plane is relatively simple, as somewhat similar to the conventional paper plane, you fold up one of the four paper templates that are given to you in the pack. PowerUp also provides easy-to-follow instructional videos to advise how to fold the plane if you are looking for exact precision.
The four sheets of paper provided allow you to add your own designs so that the plane is personalised. Alternatively, you don’t have to use the paper provided and you can use your own, however, I would recommend using a denser piece of paper, so that it can hold the housing unit effectively.
To put the plane together, you fit the 4.0 smart motor module to the crossbar and propeller, also provided in the pack. The flying mechanism itself consists of a control unit that holds the battery and processor for flying the plane, which connects to a pair of propellers via a lightweight carbon fibre tube. The control unit has an on/off switch to save battery, as well as a USB port so that the unit can be charged up for the flight. You then attach the power mechanism to the plane (using sticky tape not provided in the pack) and hey presto, you are ready to fly.
The plane is controlled via the PowerUp 4.0 which is available on both iOS and Android. The PowerUp4.0 app connects to the plane using Bluetooth. I found the app to be highly advanced but still easy to use. The main home screen of the app has a big throttle, which replicates the control of a real plane. Alongside the throttle is a gauge demonstrating the battery life, and another showing the strength of the Bluetooth. Also similar to the view of a pilot, there is a horizon line behind the throttle, which lets you know where the plane is roughly pointing. I really liked this app display, as it is fun to pretend you’re flying a real plane, and allows you to accurately control the flight path of your PowerUp.
Now down to business! As expected, the PowerUp4.0 is more complex than simply lobbing the paper plane into the air. I was firstly surprised at how powerful the propellers were, as on my first few attempts the plane would just shoot off straight into the ground. Instead, you must carefully angle the plane with one hand, whilst controlling it via the app with your other hand. However, once you have found the careful balance between the two, you have lift off!
I made the fatal mistake of first trying to fly the plane inside, however, I quickly learned that this is very much an outdoor activity. Due to the strength of the propellor, the plane flies incredibly far, so much so that the plane is advertised to have a 70-meter range, and yet despite this, it continues to fly far into the distance. The new generation of PowerUp also has an auto-stabiliser, which works in making sure that it doesn’t dart off in a spin, which I thought worked really well at keeping the plane on a straight path.
The PowerUp 4.0 also has a ten-minute flight time on a single charge. At first, I thought this wasn’t too long, but when flying it, it felt like ample time for entertainment when you consider how each flight only lasts about a minute.
Overall, I found the PowerUp to be great fun as it elevates the standard paper plane into a high-tech gadget that combines the technology of a drone with the old-school enjoyment of a paper plane.
The PowerUp 4.0 can also be found on Amazon.
Pros:
- Provides four paper templates and a spare propeller set.
- Provide easy-to-follow instructional videos.
- Opportunity to personalise your plane.
- Powerful smart unit module and propeller.
- Auto-stabiliser allows the plane to fly in windy conditions without spinning.
- PowerUp 4.0 is easy to use and has a fun display, available on iOS and Android.
- 70-meter control range.
- 10-minute flight time on a single charge.
Cons:
- Requires a big open space to fly effectively, would recommend going to a park rather than inside or in the garden.
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