Ever wanted to fly a PAPER plane? Gadget turns folded creations into drones that can be controlled from 300 feet away with a virtual reality headset

  • PowerUp FPV can convert any paper plane into a remote controlled drone
  • It features two propellers and an on board camera that streams to an app
  • Putting the phone into a VR headset gives puts the user 'in the cockpit'
  • They can control the drone by tilting their head side to side or up and down

The thrill of soaring through the sky is something normally reserved for qualified pilots, but now a new drone built from a paper aeroplane could allow everyone experience it for themselves.

The PowerUp FPV is a battery-powered unit that can be fitted to an ordinary paper plane to convert it into a powered aircraft rather than just a simple glider.

The gadget features two propellers and an on board camera that streams live to a smartphone app, which can be viewed through a virtual reality headset, giving the sensation of being in the cockpit.

A gadget that can be fitted onto a paper aeroplane converts the simple gliders into a powered drone that can be flown up to 300 feet away. The PowerUp FPV (pictured) can be controlled using a smartphone app and a camera mounted on the front allows users to experience flying in the cockpit themselves

A gadget that can be fitted onto a paper aeroplane converts the simple gliders into a powered drone that can be flown up to 300 feet away. The PowerUp FPV (pictured) can be controlled using a smartphone app and a camera mounted on the front allows users to experience flying in the cockpit themselves

By tilting their head from side to side, the user can control the direction of the paper drone, allowing it to be flown around.

It can fly for around 10 minutes at speeds of up to 20mph and has a range of 300ft thanks to cutting edge Bluetooth technology.

HOW THE PAPER DRONE WORKS

Fold It: Simply fold a piece of paper into a paper airplane

Attach It: Attach the smart module to the paper plane with clips underneath

Connect It: Start the app to connect to the gadget via Bluetooth

Fly It: Push the throttle to full and launch the paper airplane high up into the sky. Tilt your smartphone to the left or to the right to steer your plane, increase or reduce throttle to go up or down.

Get in the cockpit: Fit your smartphone into a virtual reality head-mounted display and you can experience flying on the drone for yourself 

The gadget even has its own autopilot to take over if the user wants to take a break.

Shai Goitein, a former pilot from Haifa, Israel, came up with the idea in an attempt to give everyone the chance to experience the thrill of flying a plane.

He said: 'As a pilot I wanted to give people the same feeling of sitting in the cockpit and being the controls with the simplicity of paper aeroplanes.

'With a live video experience straight to your cell phone or virtual reality headset, you can control the plane with movements of your head, giving you the sense that you are flying through the air, riding your paper aeroplane.

'Users can control their flight using their Google Cardboard or other smartphone-powered head-mounted display, or use the PowerUp App's onscreen gamepad to control the drone.

'Featuring a fully rotating wide-view camera, users are able to stream their flight while looking forward from the cockpit, off the wings; or even take the ultimate selfie with a rearview shot as users launch their planes.'

The drone uses two propellers that are attached to a battery module at the front (pictured). A camera mounted on top streams footage from the paper plane back to the user's smartphone

The drone uses two propellers that are attached to a battery module at the front (pictured). A camera mounted on top streams footage from the paper plane back to the user's smartphone

Fitting the smartphone into a headset (pictures) allows the user to experience flying their drone as if they were in the cockpit. They can take control by tilting their head from side to side and back or forward

Fitting the smartphone into a headset (pictures) allows the user to experience flying their drone as if they were in the cockpit. They can take control by tilting their head from side to side and back or forward

Mr Goitein has launched a Kickstarter campaign in an attempt to develop his device further after building a prototype of the smart module.

The gadget can be pre-ordered for $159 - around £100 - and more than £120,000 has already been pledged in support.

It is the second invention from Mr Goitein, who was behind last year's hit toy the PowerUp 3.0, the world's first smartphone-controlled paper aeroplane.

The PowerUp FPV is expected to go into production in June 2016.

The nose mounted camera streams back live video to the smartphone (pictured) over a Bluetooth connection. Costing around $159 (£100) it can fly at speeds of up to 20mph

The nose mounted camera streams back live video to the smartphone (pictured) over a Bluetooth connection. Costing around $159 (£100) it can fly at speeds of up to 20mph

By connecting to a smartphone the PowerUp FPV can be controlled using a smartphone app. By turning on the first person view, the user can experience what it is like being in the cockpit (pictured) while it also has an autopilot to prevent the plane from crashing should the user want to take a break

By connecting to a smartphone the PowerUp FPV can be controlled using a smartphone app. By turning on the first person view, the user can experience what it is like being in the cockpit (pictured) while it also has an autopilot to prevent the plane from crashing should the user want to take a break