First of all, if anybody else remembers those old foam propellor planes you'd get from the dollar store, this is like the ultimate evolution of that.
Instead of sliding in the single wing to the fuselage, and then the single tail wing to the rudder like the dollar store ones, this one has so many different pop-in tabs that it guarantees that it will remain secure and stable.
But that's where the issue I had started:
It's so secure in fact that the front to the plane actually hinges open, and you have to slide the airframe into the hinged open cockpit section.
Nowhere on the instructions does it tell you this, and the most infuriating part is that the instruction video from the QR code is inexplicably SPED UP, and is so compressed and pixelated you can't even really tell what he's doing.
Thankfully, the video is somewhat helpful in that you can see the hand motions of the guy, and know what NOT to do (only connecting the cockpit/propellor section to the rest of the frame is the scary part)
But the atrocious instructions on the back that are only done in pictures reminds me of that one meme about how art books will show you step 1, draw two circles, and step 2 is to draw the rest of the owl.
This can all be easily fixed by the seller by fixing the quality of the video on their site.
That being said, the foam popped out so easily that I was at no point afraid I'd snap it unintentionally.
And as for the main feature:
It flies.
It flies super well.
I actually felt like a little kid again, and got giddy when I first turned it on:
You can feel the plane want to take off, and it tries to pull its way out of your hand.
Assuming you're getting this for your kids, a super fun thing you can do with this is try and set up a runway for it. Just ensure that it is low friction, and the ramp is fairly gradual (15 degrees maybe).
The plane wants to fly, and it does.
I really wish it was USB-C, and this is the main factor for me rating it 4 stars.
Given how small the battery is, and the fact you would be taking this out doors or on trips with your kids....
Wouldn't it make sense to use the same charging port that literally everybody (as of like 2023) has for their battery banks?
So, to summarize:
Pros:
-It has a lot more torque than you'd expect; I could definitely see it cutting into the wind.
-Once understood, assembly is a breeze, and if so if you're nervous about snapping the puzzle piece connectors, I'd insert it partially and then king of jiggle/slide it in rather than apply downward pressure.
-Made me feel like a kid again; I'm 32 as of writing this. It's an evolution of one or my favourite toys as a kid.
-Propeller protector is a great; at first I was thinking it would just add drag, and wouldn't be too bad without it, but with how fast it's spinning, it's a must for safety.
Cons:
-As I went on in depth about, the instruction on the back are terrible for the first like 3 steps, and the video instruction without exaggeration looks like sped up flip phone footage from 2004. It's inexplicably bad.
-It’s 2025; no device should be using micro usb ports anymore. They have been outdated for a decade, and it's akin to selling a modern TV to RCA cables instead of HDMI.
But even with these cons, it's a definite recommend. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
| Model Number | XYPMFJ |
|---|---|
| Assembly Required | Yes |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Material type(s) | Foam |
| Colour | Blue |
| Manufacturer recommended age | 3 years and up |
| Item model number | XYPMFJ |
| Product Dimensions | 2.54 x 2.54 x 1.27 cm; 50 g |
| ASIN | B0F3VWN1VD |
