TERRY DUNN
terrydunn74@gmail.com
Rudder control is not proportional.
It is either full left, full right, or free fl oating. Rudder inputs can be commanded with either of two movements. You can twist the phone about an imaginary axis going from the top to the bottom, or you can rotate it about an axis going from back to front. Choose the movement that you prefer and be careful to avoid movement in the other axis. It only requires a few degrees of tilt in either axis to activate the rudder. Flying with the PowerUp 3.0 is interesting. If you don’t have access to a sizeable indoor facility such as a basketball court, scout out an unused soccer fi eld on a calm day. You may not need that much room, but it’s better to have extra space rather than too little. When everything goes well, full
power will give the Invader a gentle climb while rudder inputs serve to keep the airplane nearby. To maintain altitude or descend gently, ease back the throttle as necessary. During these ideal fl ights, my primary thought was, “I can’t believe I’m actually controlling a paper airplane!” The tiny rudder doesn’t have much
control authority, but that’s a good thing. After all, it is only a paper airplane. The paper easily twists and contorts during fl ight, so subtle movements are in order. It’s probably better to think of this as a Free Flight model with throttle control and yaw “infl uence.” It would be unrealistic to expect consistent fl ight performance from the Invader or any other paper airplane with the PowerUp. There are simply too many variables to contend with. Even a gentle landing is likely to tweak the position of one of the paper elevators, guaranteeing different trim for the next fl ight. Roughly a third
of my fl ights ended within a few seconds and a stone’s throw from the launch. It could be because of
an unrecognized trim change, or maybe just a poor launch. The more successful fl ights might last 30 seconds or even longer than a minute. I usually end the fl ight on purpose because the model is drifting too far downwind. I’ve not yet fl own an entire charge on one fl ight (approximately 7 minutes), but I’m sure it’s possible. Despite the short fl ights and botched launches, fl ying with the PowerUp is fun. It’s hard to be upset about crashing a paper airplane. The rubber bumper on the front of the Smart Module has prevented any damage to the unit— even with nosedives onto concrete. Most of the time, I can just pick up the airplane, check the trim with a quick test glide, and then launch it for another powered fl ight. I’m still getting used to fl ying with my smartphone. The controls and Bluetooth connection have never faltered; it’s merely an unusual fl ying interface for me. Given the slow rudder response, I sometimes use a lot of exaggerated body English when fl ying with the PowerUp. I’m sure it’s comical to watch. Someone whose brain is less rigidly hardwired to traditional RC transmitters might fi nd using the phone interface more intuitive. Although I enjoyed fl ying the
Invader and Nakamura, I realized that the utility of the PowerUp concept is hindered by the structural limitations of paper airframes. It seemed reasonable to consider that other materials might provide more consistent fl ights. A representative from PowerUp suggested that using thicker, more
SPECIFICATIONS: PRICE: $49.99 INFO:
poweruptoys.com
WHAT’S IN THE BOX: >> PowerUp 3.0 Smart Module >> Mounting display and storage box >> Micro USB cable for charging >> Spare rudder >> Spare propeller >> Invader templates (for beginner pilots) >> Nakamura templates (for advanced pilots) >> DuPont waterproof template >> PowerUp 3.0 Guide
FEATURES: >> RC control through Bluetooth, smartphone, or tablet >> Free mobile app >> 180-foot range
rigid paper could improve the fl ying characteristics. I am interested to try it, but I have not yet done so. My experiments so far have focused on thin foam. I found that 2mm Depron foam is roughly half the weight of the paper templates, while being much more rigid. This has prompted me to create a handful of foam airframes to integrate with the PowerUp Smart Module. I enjoy the challenge of creating
and tweaking designs around the fi xed dimensions of the Smart Module. Some fl y well right off the bench, while others are incurable duds. Either way, enjoyment comes from learning by doing. In many ways, the PowerUp 3.0 is providing the same type of satisfaction for me that paper airplanes did so long ago. As advertised, the PowerUp 3.0
is a way to add remote control to paper airplanes. It certainly delivers in that regard, and I’m sure many people will enjoy it as packaged. Yet, the Smart Module offers another equally appealing function. It provides a practical and affordable way for anyone, young or old, to fuel his or her fascination with aviation. Whether you use paper, foam, balsa,
or something else, the PowerUp 3.0 offers a means to give your own fl ying designs power and control. You might also want to check out the simpler and less expensive PowerUp 2.0 system ($16.99). It is also intended to clip onto a paper airplane, but it provides a 30-second motor run and no rudder.
Photos by Terry Dunn
This is the Nakamura model in flight. The small rudder provides gentle yaw authority.
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