Tila Tequila

Electromagnetic propulsion using neodymium magnets?

For a project we need to create an electromagnetic propulsion system for a paper airplane. We cannot create propulsion through coils of wire alone, i.e. electromagnets, but we aim to use magnets, in tandem with a circuit to produce linear motion. We have a seen a very basic demonstration of the principle using two copper strips attached in parallel to a block, a narrow metal cylinder completes the circuit, lying across both strips perpendicularly. When a large horseshoe magnet was placed over the rod, and the current was turned on, the rod was propelled along the track. We aim to use a track of neodymium magnets, all south facing up (strapped together) with a neodymium magnet facing north down, attached to the component that replaces the rod in the previous example. This will take the form of a metal sheet that lie across the conductive strips. The question is, will readily available neodymium magnets provided a strong enough field for what we want to achieve, and secondly can the magnet be mounted directly to the conductive sheet, (the carriage of our machine that will support the plane) or will this interfere with the effect.
I appreciate that this is a very vague question, but any help would be useful,
cheers