Most of us make paper airplanes as a quick distraction, a fleeting moment of aerodynamic hope before it nose-dives into the rug. Not so for a group of students from Italy's University of Pisa. They decided to go… bigger.
Much, much bigger. We're talking about a paper airplane with a wingspan of over 65 feet and a length of nearly 23 feet. To put that in perspective, that's roughly the length of a bowling lane, crafted entirely from paper and glue. And yes, it actually flew — a respectable 200 feet in a single glide.
Project Icarus Takes Flight
This colossal creation, dubbed "Project Icarus," was unveiled at Italy's We Make Future expo. It promptly snatched the world record from Germany's Braunschweig Institute of Technology, who had held the title since 2013. Because apparently, even paper airplane supremacy is a fiercely contested international sport.
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Start Your News DetoxThe students reportedly started this whole endeavor "almost as a joke" between classes. Which, if you think about it, is the perfect origin story for a project that blends casual fun with serious engineering. Science YouTuber Jakidale documented their journey, showcasing the mountains of computer designs, the endless trial and error, and the sheer dedication required to turn a classroom chuckle into a world-beating marvel.
So, while your desk-sized paper dart might still be struggling to clear your monitor, rest assured that somewhere, a team of Italian students proved that with enough paper, glue, and a healthy dose of ambition, the sky isn't even the limit.
