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Another kickstarter success

I've written before about kickstarter campaigns that seem to have captured the hearts and wallets of the world in a way that the originators probably never dreamed possible.

Well here's another one.

Who hasn't made a paper aeroplane (or "dart" as we call them)?

They're quick, simple and easy to make -- and they can be fun to throw around, inside or out.

When you think about it... they're probably the simplest form of model aeroplane and *everyone* likes them, right?

Well what if I told you that there was a Kickstarter campaign that sought to raise $50K to make a part for paper planes but which, with more than 50 days still to go, has already broken the $400K mark?

Yes, the PowerUp 3.0 Smartphone Controlled Paper Airplane looks as if it has become a runaway success story.

Maybe it's just that in the second decade of the 21st century, people demand more of their paper planes than a brief, uncontrolled descent to the ground or the floor.

Perhaps it's simply that they want another app for their smartphone.

Whatever the reason, it seems that huge numbers of people are keen as hell to attach a little motor and control surfaces to a regular old paper plane and fly it around using their iPhone or Android device.

For $40, who wouldn't take a punt on such a fun looking bit of kit?

Kudos to these guys for coming up with the concept and turning one of the simplest forms of model flying into one of the coolest.

As someone who is a full-time promoter of the hobby, I can see this simple, cheap device producing a surge in the numbers of folk who decide to move on to more sophisticated RC flying machines -- and that's great.

However, if I was the office manager of a medium to large business, I'd be keeping an eagle-eye out for these things orbiting above the partitions -- a sure sign that the workers are slacking perhaps?

I wonder what brilliant idea will pop up on Kickstarter next?

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