THE thrill of soaring through the sky is something normally reserved for qualified pilots, but now a new drone built from a paper airplane 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.

    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 20 mph (32 kmph) and has a range of 300 feet (91 m) thanks to cutting edge Bluetooth technology.

    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 airplanes.

    “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 airplane.

    “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.”

    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 US$159 and more than US$183,000 has already been pledged in support.(SD-Agencies)