Italian Students Build World's Largest Paper Airplane
A team of Italian students built the world's largest paper airplane, measuring 7 meters long with a 20-meter wingspan, and successfully flew it 59 meters to break the Guinness World Record previously held since 2013.
Guinness World Records certified! A team of Italian students has created the "world's largest paper airplane," measuring 7 meters long with a wingspan of over 20 meters, gliding 59 meters through the air and successfully breaking the previous record.
While paper airplanes might seem like simple toys many have folded since childhood, the student team from Pisa, Italy has transformed this ordinary creation into a world-class achievement by building the "world's largest paper airplane" and earning official recognition from Guinness World Records.
This giant paper airplane measures 7 meters in length, has a wingspan of 20.04 meters, and weighs 28.49 kilograms. It was constructed from numerous sheets of paper and several liters of adhesive. Despite its massive size—far too large to be called a simple "toy"—every component still adheres to authentic paper airplane principles.
Breaking the world record isn't judged by size alone. Guinness rules require that the aircraft be released by a single person and must glide through the air for at least 15 meters—a challenge far more difficult than most people realize, given the aircraft's enormous dimensions and weight.
To meet these requirements, the Icarus project development team spent months designing and continuously testing. They analyzed structural strength, weight distribution, flight stability, and aerodynamic principles to ensure the aircraft could actually fly.
Throughout development, the team used over 300 kilograms of paper and more than 60 kilograms of adhesive across numerous prototypes and countless trials before achieving the most efficient design for record-breaking performance.
The key innovation was using a honeycomb structure, which increased the fuselage's strength without adding excessive weight, allowing the aircraft to remain durable and properly suited for gliding flight.
On June 25th, inside the Bologna Fiere Hall, a team member released the giant paper airplane solo, and it glided an impressive distance of 59 meters—far exceeding the minimum 15-meter requirement. This success allowed the Italian team to claim the new world record.
The record surpasses the previous champion, held since 2013 by researchers from Braunschweig University of Technology in Germany, who had created a 5-meter-long paper airplane weighing 24 kilograms with an 18-meter wingspan that glided approximately 18 meters. Now, the Italian team's achievement stands as the latest world record holder.
