I actually want to give this product 4 1/2 stars but... The quality of construction, durability and educational and learning potential are five+ stars. The billing that the average person will be able to make long flights right out of the box brings it down half a star. You'll realize why so much of their video instruction is based on making a paper airplane that flies well (without the PowerUp). It's all about the airplane. This just straps on it's back.
Do not think of this as a radio controlled airplane or something that flies out of the box. This is a small Bluetooth controlled motor and rudder that you can attach to your paper airplanes. If you can't build a good paper airplane this will not fly for you. If you like to tinker and experiment I think you will love the PowerUp 3.0 regardless of your age or experience. I also think this would be a wonderful teaching and learning tool. It's inexpensive, easy to use, incredibly durable and provides instant feedback to aerodynamic experiments.
I got it, charged it and folded the trainer airplane. It worked, only liked turns to the left, and is under powered but I had an airplane flying within minutes. It wasn't a great flyer so instantly I'm thinking "what if I do this..." I can't tell you how fun I find making subtle changes and tweaks and seeing how they perform. Fold a new airplane and see how it does.
I'm a pilot and have built a full size airplane from scratch and have a good grasp of aerodynamics, center of gravity bla... bla... bla and at almost 50 I find this little thing a lot of fun. If you just want to buy something that will fly you might be disappointed but I absolutely love tinkering and experimenting with different airplane configurations and seeing how they turn out. All it takes is a minute to fold a new airplane and give it a try. I'm already thinking of how to shed weight and make it perform even better.
Durability... Well, so far I have not broken it. I've crashed it onto a concrete driveway several times and once at full throttle into a brick wall and it just bounces off and is ready to go for the next flight. Everything is small. Small propeller, tiny rudder... so I don't think it would be appropriate for small children but it's durable enough for any detail oriented or careful handed youngster or old guy.
This great gadget will take some effort to learn, and a VERY VERY calm wind day. But when you find yourself in a large, open, grassy (or beach sand) area it is a complete BLAST to fly! For once, I was happy to purchase a product that worked exactly as advertised.
Note added later: I have had direct interaction with Power Up Toys since my initial review, and have found them to be quickly responsive and generally awesome to deal with. Wish I could tack on another star for great customer service.
Recommendations:
1. Fold a good airplane, with elevator and rudder surfaces cut, that flies well and straight on its own. The "Phantom" model worked best for me as a starter. It was stable but very responsive in turning. Make sure your plane has plenty of dihedral angle, (check the manual), then, when you go to fly it with the module on, notice if the motor makes it turn one way or the other. I had to adjust for the motor on nearly every plane, I think it was right rudder that I added to bring it to straight flight, but observe for yourself, and adjust.
2. Wait for a very VERY calm day. I initially couldn't wait, and tried on a marginal day. I paid for that decision with despair and irritation. Give yourself a break, wait for the calm. You will be rewarded for it.
3. Turn off the "Sleep" mode on your phone, as well as the ability to receive calls or texts, like they recommend in the manual. On my first long flight, I looked down to change the throttle, and found the phone blank. Logging back in to the phone while flying was irritating, difficult, and unnecessary. Make sure the phone stays awake.
4. At first, hold the phone vertically, (up and down), instead of flat when flying. Of course, you will be tipping it all over the place, but do it with the phone perpendicular to the ground, rather than parallel with it. Also, cut the enthusiasm. (Yes, initially I was a maniac. Dancing around, leaning out in both directions etc, while grinning ear to ear.) Smaller, gentler movements will reward you with a smoother, more controlled flight. Later you can engage "movement" based throttle, after getting the hang of flying.
5. Understand that the throttle level will mainly affect two things: first, how much "loft" (the amount of nose-up climb), and second, the altitude at which the plane will fly. Adjustments to the elevator tabs at the back of the wing, in conjunction with the throttle will allow you to find the level flight "sweet spot", but it will usually take a few launches to get it right. Starting with the throttle in the seventies is a great piece of instruction from the manufacturer. Follow it. I found that initially adjustments to the throttle required that I look down at the phone and away from the plane I was trying to fly, so I had to keep them to a minimum.
6. Test max distance a little at a time. I had to keep the plane to within 100 feet or so. They are rated for 200 feet, but I found that the bluetooth connection is twitchy past that point in my area, and every time I pushed the distance envelope, I lost control of the plane. Many onlookers were greatly entertained, watching me sprinting toward that spiraling plane, trying to re-establish contact. It was good cardio, but I would have been better advised to keep the plane closer. And remember, altitude is part of that distance. If the plane is ninety feet off the ground, (yes, it can happen), you need to be within ten feet of straight below it, (again, in my area).
7. Understand that control is an illusion. We do not have true control over these paper planes, or else we wouldn't need so much open space to fly them around in. Our recommendations to turn this way and that are just that; recommendations. These things can and will go anywhere. The slightest stray breath of wind can blow them far off our intended course. Have fun with the idea of making what feels like thousands of steering recommendations a second just to try to keep the ship in the air, and understand that in the end, that is where the fun lies.
8. Last but definitely not least, try the waterproof paper. Regular bond paper reacts so quickly with the ambient moisture in the air, that on a moist day, the plane can and will distort in mid flight, crashing for no apparent reason. If you're flying in a desert, maybe this is less of an issue.
Many thanks to Power Up Toys for so much fun!
Super fun and easy to try out other designs! The cross beam piece is easily breakable and easily lost. But a super fun plane all around.
Got it for the husband for Christmas. He has loved it and been tinkering with different plane designs. I wpuld recomend getting a book to go with it detailing different paper airplanes you can make. Definitely have to ve committed to creating a well crafted paper apirplane first and foremost.
Flies great. Needed some tweaks to trim. I don't understand the negative reviews. I would recommend an open area free of obstacles.
Feature Product
- Bring your favorite "blast from the past" to the present when you turn your paper airplane into a remote-controlled flying Machine!
- This multiple award-winning conversion kit features a crash-resistant design and will give your paper plane a massive 180 ft. (55M) range - truly a gravity-defying experience.
- Equipped with Bluetooth Smart technology, you can control your plane with your smartphone through the power up app (iOS/Android compatible, check Power Up website for more details)
- Simple controls are fun for all ages: tilt smartphone/tablet from right to left to maneuver and use the throttle lever on the app to ascend and descend
- Features battery level, charging status and range indicators plus an air traffic control attribute. New features! For easy on-boarding - boost - Nitro for extra power, in app flight Academy, free template downloads, gesture control and game-pad controls
- Contents: power up 3. 0 Bluetooth Smart module, crossbar, Spare rudder, Spare propeller, 4 sheets of special template paper (2 Cardinal design, 2 invader design), instructions, quick start guide, and mounting display and storage box
- 365 day limited !
Description
PowerUp 3.0 durable, crash proof design makes it an easier and more enjoyable option to traditional, bulky and battery intensive remote control helicopters and planes. The PowerUp 3.0 Bluetooth, Smart Module transforms ordinary paper planes into motorized machines, controllable directly from your smartphone. It’s also an educational experience — PowerUp 3.0 meshes origami, physics and incorporates all the components of STEAM, (Science, Tech, Engineering, Art, Math). This unique combination allows for schools and teachers to educate students on the basic principles of flight, aerodynamics, and lift. With 180 feet/ 55 meter range, and 10 minutes of flight time capability, PowerUp 3.0 is the first choice in flight.
I got this as a present for someone else and they love it
It is amazing how many ways you can try and experiment on new designs. Love it!
This is just too much fun! My brother, 78 year old father, and I went to the nearest park to give out new POWERUP a test flight, and my father was the best pilot of the three of us, which makes us wonder why his driving is so bad :(
Flies amazing
What a fun great way to spend a weekend the Powerup is truly amazing
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