Flight Lab Limited Hong Kong / Shenzhen studio Est. 2009
Flight/Lab Flight R&D

Flight R&D since 2009

From innovative toys to the frontiers of efficient flight.

Flight Lab is the flight R&D studio of aerospace engineer Sean Frawley, founded in Hong Kong in 2009, with a workshop in Shenzhen. After more than 20 flying toys for major brands, the work now turns to efficient flight. This is where the projects are shared.

28.0m
Span
87.8kg
Takeoff
239W
Shaft power

HPA / 28 — design figures, not flight data

Rendered model of the HPA / 28 human-powered aircraft: a long, gull-winged white wing braced by thin wires to a pilot hanging below.
Fig. 01 — HPA / 28, perspective View project →

Current work

Projects

Front view of HPA / 28: the wing arches up from the centre and is braced by fans of wires to the pilot below.
● ActiveHuman-powered aircraftExperimental

HPA / 28

A study in lightness: air-filled spars, tensioned wires, and a single human at the heart of it.

Open project →
A pilot in a yellow helmet hangs below a long silver wing, flying a Birdman glider against a slate-grey sky.
GlidersWorthing Birdman2010–2015

Birdman gliders

Launched off the end of Worthing Pier. In 2015: 88.6 m, the longest flight ever in the Leonardo da Vinci class.

Open project →

Selected inventions

Flying toys, 2007–2021

Working with major brands, Flight Lab has brought more than 20 products to market, with cumulative sales above 5 million units, under RC brands and licensed IP from Disney and DreamWorks. A selection:

20+
Products to market
5M+
Units sold
2009
Founded, Hong Kong
  • WowWee Dragonfly, an RC flapping-wing insect
    DragonflyA01WowWee · 2007
  • WowWee Lightstar micro indoor flyer
    LightstarA02WowWee · 2009
  • Tinker Bell RC flying fairy
    Tinker Bell RC fairyA03Disney · 2009
  • Air Hogs RC Ejector jet with pilot parachute
    Air Hogs RC EjectorA04Spin Master · 2013
  • Cyberdactyl flapping pterodactyl
    CyberdactylA05Wow! Stuff · 2014
  • How to Train Your Dragon glider
    How to Train Your Dragon gliderA06DreamWorks licence · 2014
  • Animal Planet RC flapping bat
    Animal Planet RC batA07Toys R Us · 2015
  • Air Hogs Sonic Rocket on its launcher
    Air Hogs Sonic RocketA08Spin Master · 2016
  • Rage RC Jetpack: an action figure with a quadcopter jetpack
    Jetpack CommanderA09Rage RC · 2016
  • Realflyers pterosaur glider
    Realflyers gliderA10Flight Lab · 2016
  • Realflyers dragon glider
    Realflyers dragonA11Flight Lab · 2016
  • Realflyers shark glider
    Realflyers sharkA12Flight Lab · 2016
  • Realflyers eagle glider
    Realflyers eagleA13Flight Lab · 2016
  • Air Hogs Big Air Board: a figure riding a flying hoverboard
    Air Hogs Big Air BoardA14Spin Master · 2017
  • Air Hogs Flight Rider: a motorbike that flies on four rotors
    Air Hogs Flight RiderA15Spin Master · 2017
  • Innovator RC drone
    Innovator RC droneA16Flight Lab · 2018
  • Innovator RC airplane
    Innovator RC airplaneA17Flight Lab · 2018
  • Innovator RC hovercraft
    Innovator RC hovercraftA18Flight Lab · 2018
  • Innovator RC robot
    Innovator RC robotA19Flight Lab · 2018
  • Innovator RC tank, exploded view
    Innovator RC tankA20Flight Lab · 2018
  • Innovator RC snake
    Innovator RC snakeA21Flight Lab · 2018
  • Power Rocket kit with rocket, launch stand and fins
    Power RocketA22Blue Marble · 2021

Developed for

  • Spin Master
  • WowWee
  • Wow! Stuff
  • Hasbro
  • Blue Marble
  • Zuru
  • Zing
  • Kandy
  • Eolo

Licensed IP: Disney · DreamWorks · ITV

Studio

About

Sean Frawley in a yellow helmet, hanging from the harness of a Birdman glider.

Flight Lab Limited was founded in Hong Kong in 2009 by Sean Frawley, an aerospace engineer with more than 15 years of experience designing and producing flying toys.

For its first decade the studio invented flying toys for major brands, taking products from a sketch to mass production. The work now happens in a workshop and studio in Shenzhen, and is turning towards efficient flight: light structures and human power.

The site is a working portfolio. New projects are added as they fly.

Recognition
2007TIME, Best Inventions of the year Dragonfly (WowWee)
2008CES Editors' Choice Bladestar (WowWee)
2009Max-It Best New Toy Design, UK
2014Toy Inventor of the Year, nominee
2015Worthing International Birdman, first place Leonardo da Vinci class record, 88.6 m
2017Maker Pro, Shenzhen Maker Faire
2018Specialty Toy of the Year, Australia

04 — Contact

Get in touch →

For projects, collaborations or questions. Messages go straight to Sean.