• PowerUp 3 contains a motor and propeller attached to a carbon fibre shaft
  • It can be fitted to any paper plane and will fly for up to 10 minutes
  • A built-in Bluetooth receiver connects wirelessly to a smartphone app 
  • Pilots control the plane using their handset and get stats including altitude

By Mark Prigg

PUBLISHED: 04:40 EST, 3 October 2013 | UPDATED: 05:25 EST, 3 October 2013

It is the most advanced paper plane ever created - and can even be controlled by an iPhone.

Created by U.S firm Power Up toys, the PowerUp3 is an add-on gadget for homemade paper planes that gives them a small motor and propeller.

When connected to the PowerUp app, the smartphone is used as a remote control to fly the plane wirelessly - and a single charge can last up to 10 minutes.

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Any paper plane can be fitted with the PowerUp motor and a propeller connected to a carbon fibre shaft, pictured left. The plane can then be controlled via Bluetooth using an app on a smartphone, right, which shows the plane's altitude. Power Up's motor can run for 10 minutes on a single charge

The 30 kit, which goes on sale next month, has a Bluetooth receiver built-in so it can communicate wirelessly with the iOS app.

'Pilots' can control the height of the plane, and make it turn left or right, using their handset and the app even gives information such as the plane's altitude.

However, there is one snag - users still need to provide they own paper plane, although the firm helpfully supplies instructions for making what it claims is the ultimate design.

The kit, which clips onto the plane, has a motor connected by a carbon fibre shaft to a propeller. 

'Just build a plane out of a piece of standard paper, attach the motor, and open up the app on your phone - it'll fly for up to ten minutes on a single charge,' the firm said.

It also encourages owners to experiment with their own designs for planes.

'At PowerUp, we strongly encourage experimentation, and part of the fun is tweaking your airplane designs to achieve the best results.'

The firm added the gadget is made of a highly durable carbon fiber composite, so it will not break with normal use - however, it warns 'that does not mean it is indestructible!'

The 30 kit doesn't come with paper planes included, but Power Up has created an instructional guide on how to build the most aerodynamic paper aircraft

The 30 kit doesn't come with paper planes included but PowerUp has created an instructional video, pictured, on how to build the most aerodynamic paper aircraft that will fit the motor and propeller


 

The comments below have not been moderated.

But it is Bluetooth....by its very nature it is only going to have a practical range of 100 m maxium so really you are only going to fly this very close. Plus no real mention of its effect on battery drain - power use? Thought not.

what about tiny solar power fitted onto its wings? (like the calculator kind) so it could fly longer than 10 mins

Big deal DM(!) - there is the ar drone that works with iphone too(!)

10 minute flying time and around 5 hours charge I bet, no thanks.

Fun for only 10 minutes before the battery dies? Not long enough to make it worth purchasing.

shame its not android otherwise i might of just brought one

"might of just" > "might HAVE just" ("might've just" if you're feeling lazy)

I thought I will never buy iPhone again... this is really cool... I change my mind!!

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I hate to tell all of you apple idiots but: nokia> Samsung> apple

Excellent stuff!, now fit it with a camera that sends a picture back to the phone and you will have a world beater!

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