World Record Paper Airplane
A far cry from the folded paper airplanes kids make in the classroom, these giant creations are in a class by themselves. The AMA does not have a category for these monsters—but the Guinness Book of Records does.
Students from four southern Virginia high schools, under the aegis of and with the help of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA/Hampton Roads Section) and the Virginia Air and Space Center, constructed the world's largest paper airplane. It had a 30-foot, 6-inch wingspan, weighed less than eight pounds, and was flown 114 feet, 9 inches.
Among the engineers from NASA's Langley Research Center and its contractors who advised the students on aeronautical design principles were W. Hewitt Phillips and Richard Whitcomb.
Advisors
- W. Hewitt Phillips — A renowned indoor modeler and longtime member of the Brainbusters Model Airplane Club of Hampton, Virginia (celebrating its 50th anniversary of modeling activity).
- Richard Whitcomb — A Collier Trophy winner known for the discovery and experimental verification of the area rule, which yields higher speed and greater range with the same power.
Project purpose
The project was designed to stimulate interest in aeronautical engineering and to motivate students to pursue careers in engineering and science.
Coordinator
Ferdinand W. Grosveld of Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Company coordinated the project. He commented that the students learned the importance of teamwork in engineering, as powerfully demonstrated by the recent capture of the Intelsat satellite.
Participants
- From the AIAA: Jim A. Penland; Wilmer H. Reed III; Mohammed A. Takallu; Edgar G. Waggoner
- From the Virginia Air and Space Center: Ralph T. Johnston, director
- From the Hampton city schools: Susan Booth; Susan McBurney; Dale E. Rose; Joyce A. R. Weeks
- Bethel High School:
- Teacher/advisor: Beneta Brown
- Students: Russell Bascomb; Brian Harley; Sean Harley; Caroline Hill; Greg Selby; Ben Spencer
- Hampton High School:
- Teacher/advisor: Betty H. Long
- Students: Tony Bordeaux; Phillip Check; Kumaravel Jagasivamani; Kevin Kelley; Richard Mack
- Kecoughtan High School:
- Teachers/advisors: Marc Caristman; Don Johnston; Debra Mortimer
- Students: Amy Nichols; William Perry; Becky Richey
- Phoebus High School:
- Teacher/advisor: James Sherrard
- Students: Ian Bilyj; Jon Davis; Kristin Wallio; Michael Whitlock
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
