Made by Czech craftsmen
It looks like it will break if you touch it
Model airplane.

A rubber band-powered airplane made by a Czech craftsman. It was called the Carbon Butterfly.
The wings and tail of the aircraft, which weighs just 1.8 grams, are covered with a thin Mylar film that glitters faintly like an insect's wings, making it truly beautiful.

Originally, it was designed for playing indoors, such as in the living room, or in indoor halls.
It was made by the Czech company IKARA as a model airplane specifically for "home flying."
My first encounter with it was at Yoshida Aircraft in Gifu about 10 years ago.

Yoshida, who has seen model airplanes from all over the world, was amazed at how exquisite this is, saying, "It's unprecedented to see such a delicate model airplane, and in a finished state." However, while he was planning to introduce it in FRAGILE BOOKS, it went out of print. The previous owner passed away, and it is no longer possible to make them.

I repeatedly asked Yoshida if it would be possible to reprint the "Carbon Butterfly" in Japan, but it seems that reproducing the carbon material in particular is quite difficult, so the idea was put on hold.

So, unfortunately, I can’t give in.


Text by Osamu Kushida