SWNSThe history of aviation has seen some truly breathtaking moments. The first hot air balloon, the first transatlantic flight, the first man on the moon. And this is before you even look at the leaps and bounds made in the realm of paper aeroplanes.
The current record held for the longest paper aeroplane flight stands at almost 70 metres, surpassing the wingspan of a jumbo jet.
This is of course impressive, but one dynamic duo are convinced they have the combined skillset necessary to soar far above this record; with a foolproof concoction of engineering know-how and sporting talent.
Virgin Atlantic engineer Andy Currey and Jacksonville Jaguars legend Mark Brunell are combining their powers to leave the previous record in the dust, marking the official partnership between the NFL and Virgin Atlantic.
Being the current record holder, Currey is an old hat in the world of paper planes. Could Brunell’s brawny input put that extra little more wind beneath Currey’s wings?
Currey said:
It’s been several years since I held my world record, so I’m hoping my aeronautical knowledge partnered with the athletic abilities of a top Quarterback will make the perfect combination.
For the live stream event, I’ll be designing and building the paper aeroplane with an A4 piece of paper, and transporting it in an airtight plastic bag to ensure that it’s nimble and perfect for a paper aeroplane’s longest flight.
This sound design, paired with Mark’s throwing technique of speed, strength and momentum, should be just what we need to make the plane travel the distance.
Although lacking Guinness World Records recognition and verification, this will still be an exciting feat to behold; being one very huge leap for the tiny, flimsy plane.
The papery, and presumably passengerless, aeroplane itself has been nicknamed NFL-Y; with plenty of pressure heaped upon its little wings.
With a scheduled take-off time of 11:00am on October 24, its virgin flight will be streamed live via Facebook. Let’s just hope for good weather conditions…
Whether you are into paper planes or not, you can guess the length of the flight in order to be eligible for some very nice prizes indeed.
The person to guess the closest distance will bag a trip to the Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida January 27, 2019, with accommodation included for themselves and three sporty mates.
You can submit a guesstimate for the closest distance here
Good luck and Godspeed!
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.